Posts tagged: The Notorious B.I.G.

Heds & Dreds: A Brief History of Jamaican Women Talking Smack on Rap Records

May 6, 2013

Words by Jesse Serwer—

Remember when having a Jamaican chick talking trash in thick patois was a thing in hip-hop? Dr. Dre kind of set it off on the intro to his classic “Let Me Ride” from The Chronic. Two years later, Biggie (and producer Poke of Trackmasters) had a young Diana King adlibbing something fierce at the beginning of “Respect,” from Ready to Die.

Tags:Busta Rhymes, Diana King, Dr. Dre, Dubstep, Eve, Fluffy Diva, Let Me Ride, Miss Kitty, Pharell, Pusha T, Ready to Die, The Notorious B.I.G.

Toppa Top 50: Fifty Great Jamaicans

August 6, 2012

9 Comments

Words by LargeUp Crew—

Jamaican-flag-LargeUp50

Tags:Arthur Wint, Barrington Watson, Barry Chevannes, Bob Marley, Buju Banton, Bunny Wailer, Carl Bradshaw, Christopher Wallace, Claude McKay, Colin Powell, Courtney Walsh, Coxsone Dodd, Cricket, dennis brown, Devon Harris, Diane Abbott, Edna Manley, Edward Seaga, Gerald "Bogle" Levy, Grace Jones, Harry Belafonte, Jackie Mittoo, Jamaica, Jamaica 50, Jimmy Cliff, Ken Spencer, King Tubby, Lee Scratch Perry, Lennox Lewis, Leonard Howell, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Lorna Goodison, Louise Bennett-Coverley, Marcus Garvey, Merlene Ottey, Merritone Sound, Michael Holding, Michael Manley, Millie Small, Miss Lou, Mortimo Planno, Mr. Wacky, Naomi Campbell, Norman Manley, Oliver Samuels, Orlando Patterson, Patrick Ewing, Peter Tosh, Prof. Rex Nettleford, Ras Daniel Hartman, Riddim Twins, Robbie Shakespeare, Sean Paul, Shabba Ranks, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Sly and Robbie, Sly Dunbar, The Notorious B.I.G., The Wailers, Trevor Rhone, Tyson Beckford, Usain Bolt, Winston "Merritone" Blake, Yvette Clarke

Toppa Top 9: Kardinal Offishall on the Greatest Jamaican MCs

July 18, 2012

5 Comments

Words by Kardinal Offishall, as told to Jesse Serwer—
Heavy-D-LargeUp

Tags:Biggie Smalls, Chubb Rock, Grand Puba, Heavy D, Hip Hop, Just-Ice, Kardinal Offishall, KRS One, Pete Rock, Phife Dawg, Slick Rick, Special Ed, The Notorious B.I.G.

Biggie 101: The Notorious B.I.G. x Jamaica

May 21, 2012

0 Comment(s)

Words by Jesse Serwer—

Exactly a year ago, we published one of our most ambitious and most popular Toppa Top 10 lists, highlighting the influence of Jamaican culture on the lyrics of the Notorious B.I.G, from lamb’s bread weed references to collaborations with JA singer Diana King and Super Cat. As we celebrate what would have been the iconic Brooklyn rapper’s 40th birthday today, on the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence, we’re back in that state of mind. Check out some of our favorite yard-ified Biggie tunes below, or read the whole Toppa Top 10 here.

Tags:3rd Eye, Biggie Smalls, Brooklyn, Diana King, Junior M.A.F.I.A., patois, Puff Daddy, Super Cat, The Notorious B.I.G.