Bigga Haitian
Encyclopedia
Charles Andre Dorismond better known by his stage name
Bigga Haitian, is a Haitian-American entertainer who rose to fame in the 1990s. He is known as "the first Haitian singer to break into the Jamaica
n reggae
scene", tearing down national and cultural walls and paving the way for the next generation of Haitian artists. Today's most talented Haitian artists, such as Wyclef Jean
and Mecca aka Grimo, credit Bigga as an influence.
. Bigga knew that he was destined to become a reggae singer after seeing Admiral Bailey perform his hit tune "Big Belly Mon" at Manhattan's Reggae Lounge in 1981.
Bigga released his first single, "Haiti A Weh Mi From" (Flames Records), in 1989. The track reached #1 on the Haitian charts, and is still a staple of Haitian radio to this day. Bigga's first full album, 1997's I Am Back (Royal Productions/Jomino/Roots International), features a remix of this dancehall anthem.
In 2002, Bigga released his second album, Binghi Mon. The title track was inspired by racial profiling of Rastafarians and other groups following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Also called "The Osama Tune," the song rails against violence, denouncing the Taliban and Osama bin Laden.
Over the next few years, Bigga performed with many reggae legends, sharing the stage with luminaries such as Shabba Ranks, Cocoa Tea and Junior Reid. Bigga's unique brand of toasting enabled him to cross over into hip-hop, opening for Lil Kim and Jay-Z
.
In 2006, Bigga signed with his current label, New York-based independent, Walkup Records. Several years earlier, Walkup co-founder Marc Lawrence had signed Bigga to a publishing deal with another company. In February 2006, Lawrence brought Bigga to Walkup's other co-founder Brett Smith's home studio to demo some new songs. Smith and Lawrence recognized the potential in the reggae veteran's material and signed him immediately. In an interview with Skope Magazine, Bigga offered high praise for his new label, "After twenty years of making reggae music, just now, I feel that I'm in the music business because of these guys' professionalism."
Later that year, Bigga's first track for Walkup, "Gi Me Da Weed" was released as a digital single to "monster downloads from iTunes, Rhapsody and eMusic" and "heavy airplay on reggae radio stations." A full album, Sak Pasé was released online in 2009 and is scheduled for release on CD in early 2010.
On August 12, 2009, "King of Glory" from 2003's Binghi Mon and "London Massive" from 2009's Sak Pasé were featured in the series finale of NBC
's The Philanthropist
.
who was killed by members of the New York Police Department on March 16, 2000. Bigga honored the memory of his late brother with "Tribute to Patrick Dorismond" a track released as a 7" single by Jah Life Int'l Records and later included on Bigga's 2003 album, Binghi Mon. Revered reggae artist Barrington Levy
donated his anthem "Murderer" to serve as the basis for the track. "Tribute" was produced by Jah Life, who also produced the original Barrington Levy recording.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Bigga Haitian, is a Haitian-American entertainer who rose to fame in the 1990s. He is known as "the first Haitian singer to break into the Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
scene", tearing down national and cultural walls and paving the way for the next generation of Haitian artists. Today's most talented Haitian artists, such as Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
and Mecca aka Grimo, credit Bigga as an influence.
Early life
Born Charles Dorismond in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Bigga hails from a musical family. His father, Andre Dorismond, was the lead singer of The Webert Sicot Group, pioneers of Haitian dance music known as Kompa. Bigga immigrated to New York City at the age of 8 and grew up amidst the pulsating rhythms of reggae music in the vibrant Jamaican community of Flatbush, Brooklyn. Bigga knew that he was destined to become a reggae singer after seeing Admiral Bailey perform his hit tune "Big Belly Mon" at Manhattan's Reggae Lounge in 1981. At this moment, reggae sensation Bigga Haitian was born.Musical career
Bigga hails from a musical family. His father, Andre Dorismond was lead singer of the Webert Sicot Group, pioneers of Haitian dance music known as KompaKompa
Compas is a musical genre derivative of the Haitian Méringue, the national music of Haiti that people have been dancing and playing since the 1800s. written as Compas Direct in French, and Kompa or konpa in Haitian Creole. Worldwide, several festivals annually feature Compas music and other aspects...
. Bigga knew that he was destined to become a reggae singer after seeing Admiral Bailey perform his hit tune "Big Belly Mon" at Manhattan's Reggae Lounge in 1981.
Bigga released his first single, "Haiti A Weh Mi From" (Flames Records), in 1989. The track reached #1 on the Haitian charts, and is still a staple of Haitian radio to this day. Bigga's first full album, 1997's I Am Back (Royal Productions/Jomino/Roots International), features a remix of this dancehall anthem.
In 2002, Bigga released his second album, Binghi Mon. The title track was inspired by racial profiling of Rastafarians and other groups following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Also called "The Osama Tune," the song rails against violence, denouncing the Taliban and Osama bin Laden.
Over the next few years, Bigga performed with many reggae legends, sharing the stage with luminaries such as Shabba Ranks, Cocoa Tea and Junior Reid. Bigga's unique brand of toasting enabled him to cross over into hip-hop, opening for Lil Kim and Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
.
In 2006, Bigga signed with his current label, New York-based independent, Walkup Records. Several years earlier, Walkup co-founder Marc Lawrence had signed Bigga to a publishing deal with another company. In February 2006, Lawrence brought Bigga to Walkup's other co-founder Brett Smith's home studio to demo some new songs. Smith and Lawrence recognized the potential in the reggae veteran's material and signed him immediately. In an interview with Skope Magazine, Bigga offered high praise for his new label, "After twenty years of making reggae music, just now, I feel that I'm in the music business because of these guys' professionalism."
Later that year, Bigga's first track for Walkup, "Gi Me Da Weed" was released as a digital single to "monster downloads from iTunes, Rhapsody and eMusic" and "heavy airplay on reggae radio stations." A full album, Sak Pasé was released online in 2009 and is scheduled for release on CD in early 2010.
On August 12, 2009, "King of Glory" from 2003's Binghi Mon and "London Massive" from 2009's Sak Pasé were featured in the series finale of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's The Philanthropist
The Philanthropist
The Philanthropist is a quarterly academic journal devoted to the legal, management and accounting issues facing charitable and not-for-profit organizations in Canada. It was founded as an occasional publication of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Canadian Bar Association - Ontario in...
.
Patrick Dorismond
Bigga is the brother of notable police abuse victim Patrick DorismondPatrick Dorismond
Patrick Moses Dorismond was a security guard and father of two children who was killed by an undercover New York Police Department officer during the early morning of March 16, 2000...
who was killed by members of the New York Police Department on March 16, 2000. Bigga honored the memory of his late brother with "Tribute to Patrick Dorismond" a track released as a 7" single by Jah Life Int'l Records and later included on Bigga's 2003 album, Binghi Mon. Revered reggae artist Barrington Levy
Barrington Levy
Barrington Levy is a reggae and dancehall artist from Jamaica.-Career:In 1976, Levy formed a band with his cousin, Everton Dacres, called the Mighty Multitude; the pair released "My Black Girl" in 1977...
donated his anthem "Murderer" to serve as the basis for the track. "Tribute" was produced by Jah Life, who also produced the original Barrington Levy recording.
Albums
- 2009: Sak Pasé (Walkup Records)
- 2003: Binghi Mon (BH Records)
- 1997: I Am Back (Royal Productions/Jomino/Roots International)
Singles
- 2006: Gi Me Da Weed (Walkup Records)
- 2006: Hail Up the King (Etaste Music)
- 2003: Tribute to Patrick Dorismond (Jah Life Int'l Records)
- 1994: Red CarpetRed CarpetRed Carpet is a software management tool for Linux that was developed as part of the Ximian desktop. Ximian and therefore Red Carpet is now owned by Novell....
(Big Ship) - 1994: Sexy Body (Big Ship)
- 1992: Mad Over Jah (Justice)
- 1990: Gimme Mi Country (Flames Records)
- 1989: Haiti A Weh Mi From (Flames Records)
Compilations
- 2009: Focus Riddim (Raw Moon/Top Tier)
- 2009: Tribe of Kings Presents: Bigga Fiyah Mix (Strictly Vibes Vol. 3) Mixed by Dash Eye and Hosted by Bigga Haitian (Tribe Of Kings)
- 2008: Ragga Kreyol (Chevry Records)
- 2006: Love Roots & Culture (Gyasi)
- 1995: Best of the Best, Vol. 5 (Freddie McGregor Presents: Best of Big Ship 1) (RAS Records)