Biography
One of reggae's best and most recognizable toasters, Big Youth broke new ground as a deejay in the early '70s with a flowing chant-like cadence that was equal parts melodic, relaxed, and invigorating. His peak years -- 1972 to 1979 -- spawned roots classics like Screaming Target and Isaiah First Prophet of Old, further solidifying Big Youth's style of applying his infectious vocal approach to heavy social and political lyrical topics. Things slowed down for the deejay in subsequent decades, but he remained active well past his '70s heyday, sporadically releasing new music like the 2005 album Musicology, and Beyond the Blue, his 2021 collaborative album with French dub producer Brain Damage.