Big Youth

• Genre: Reggae

About

Before Bob Marley was the best-selling artist in reggae, Big Youth was the man, blowing up Jamaica with the classic motorcycle hit "S. 90 Skank" and one of reggae's undeniably classic albums, Screaming Target. His pre-rap, half-singing style helped promote Rastafarian beliefs with clever rhymes and a sense of humor that barrelled competing DJs over with ease. Chanting and toasting over Dub tracks of famous hits by Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown and American R&B stars made Big Youth's flashy red, gold and green capped teeth a common sight in the Jamaican scene of the '70s. It's hard to deny an exclamatory "hnnnn!" or "telya!" when it comes from one of the founding fathers of the raggamuffin style.

- Jessy Terry