Daddy Freddy
Encyclopedia
S. Frederick Small better known as Daddy Freddy is a ragga
vocalist.
and grew up in the city's Trenchtown
district. His house was a few minutes walk from Coxsone Dodd
's influential record studio Studio One.
His neighbours were Jacob Miller
and Ranking Joe
. Ranking Joe took Freddy under his wing and taught him the basics skills of performing. Freddy's natural ability meant he was quickly enlisted to work with Lt. Stichie (Of "Natty Dread" fame) and then later with Sugar Minott
. It was performing on Minott's soundsystem that founded Freddy's fame in Jamaica
.
He recorded his first single ("Zoo Party") in 1985 for Studio One.
.
After successful touring in the US
under the Chrysalis record label, Freddy came to England in 1987. His first UK
work was a collaboration with Asher D called, Raggamuffin Hip-Hop. This album created a new style of music that was a fusion of Jamaican ragga
and UK hip-hop
. The anthemic title track has the much sampled vocal, "The ragga-muffin, the ragga-muffin, hip-hop". Freddy also managed to influence and support fledgling UK reggae stars, Top Cat
, Tenor Fly and Prento Youth who went on to the legendary Coxsone Sound and the record label Congo Natty.
This album created even more interest for Freddy. Artists such as Dr. Dre
, Cypress Hill
, David Morales and Norman [Cook] all requested collaborations and others like The Prodigy
, Me'lissa Morgan ("Through the Tears"), Salt 'n' Pepa and KRS-One
all sampled his unique voice.
This fame culminated in Freddy attempting and breaking the World Record for World's fastest rapper in 1989 as part of the Capital radio Music Festival. Eventually Freddy broke the record four times taking it from 346 to 598 syllables a minute. First and second time in UK (in Covent Garden and on BBC's Record Breakers
show where he appeared with Roy Castle
) and two times in America (New York Empire State Building and in Washington). Renowned live performances have always been Freddy's hallmark, most notably at the New Music Seminar in New York and Tim Westwoods live rap shows on Capital radio.
He signed to Chrysalis Records
in 1991, releasing the album Stress.
in 2000 to make the new album, Old School – New School (Third Eye Music).
Since then Freddy has been making new music and recording and training dancehall artists.
Ragga
-Origins:Ragga originated in Jamaica during the 1980s, at the same time that electronic dance music's popularity was increasing globally. One of the reasons for ragga's swift propagation is that it is generally easier and less expensive to produce than reggae performed on traditional musical...
vocalist.
Early life
Small was born in Kingston, JamaicaKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
and grew up in the city's Trenchtown
Trenchtown
Trench Town is a neighborhood located in the parish of St. Andrew which shares municipality with Kingston, the capital and largest city of Jamaica. In the 1960s Trench Town was known as the Hollywood of Jamaica. Today Trench Town boasts the Trench Town Culture Yard Museum, a visitor friendly...
district. His house was a few minutes walk from Coxsone Dodd
Coxsone Dodd
Clement Seymour "Sir Coxsone" Dodd, CD was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond...
's influential record studio Studio One.
His neighbours were Jacob Miller
Jacob Miller
Jacob Miller was a Jamaican reggae artist who first recorded with Clement Dodd. While pursuing a prolific solo career, he became the lead singer for reggae group Inner Circle with whom he recorded until his death in a car accident at the age of 27.-Biography:Jacob Miller was born in Mandeville,...
and Ranking Joe
Ranking Joe
Ranking Joe aka Little Joe is a reggae deejay who rose to prominence in the 1970s and had continuing success in the 1980s.-Biography:...
. Ranking Joe took Freddy under his wing and taught him the basics skills of performing. Freddy's natural ability meant he was quickly enlisted to work with Lt. Stichie (Of "Natty Dread" fame) and then later with Sugar Minott
Sugar Minott
Lincoln Barrington "Sugar" Minott was a Jamaican reggae singer, producer and sound-system operator.-Biography:...
. It was performing on Minott's soundsystem that founded Freddy's fame in 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...
.
He recorded his first single ("Zoo Party") in 1985 for Studio One.
Gaining fame
He released his first album, Body Lasher, in 1986, and that year had six top ten hits in Jamaica, including a number one with "Joker Lover", a collaboration with PinchersPinchers
Pinchers born Delroy Thompson, 12 April 1965, Jamaica) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist.He released one album as a teenager in Jamaica for Blue Trac Records, before moving to the UK in 1985....
.
After successful touring in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
under the Chrysalis record label, Freddy came to England in 1987. His first UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
work was a collaboration with Asher D called, Raggamuffin Hip-Hop. This album created a new style of music that was a fusion of Jamaican ragga
Ragga
-Origins:Ragga originated in Jamaica during the 1980s, at the same time that electronic dance music's popularity was increasing globally. One of the reasons for ragga's swift propagation is that it is generally easier and less expensive to produce than reggae performed on traditional musical...
and UK hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
. The anthemic title track has the much sampled vocal, "The ragga-muffin, the ragga-muffin, hip-hop". Freddy also managed to influence and support fledgling UK reggae stars, Top Cat
Top Cat
Top Cat is a Hanna-Barbera prime time animated television series which ran from September 27, 1961 to April 18, 1962 for a run of 30 episodes on the ABC network. Reruns are played on Cartoon Network's classic animation network Boomerang.-History:...
, Tenor Fly and Prento Youth who went on to the legendary Coxsone Sound and the record label Congo Natty.
This album created even more interest for Freddy. Artists such as Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
, Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
, David Morales and Norman [Cook] all requested collaborations and others like The Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
, Me'lissa Morgan ("Through the Tears"), Salt 'n' Pepa and KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
all sampled his unique voice.
This fame culminated in Freddy attempting and breaking the World Record for World's fastest rapper in 1989 as part of the Capital radio Music Festival. Eventually Freddy broke the record four times taking it from 346 to 598 syllables a minute. First and second time in UK (in Covent Garden and on BBC's Record Breakers
Record Breakers
Record Breakers was a British children's TV show, themed around world records and produced by the BBC and originally presented by Roy Castle with twin brothers Norris McWhirter and Ross McWhirter. It was broadcast on BBC1 from 15 December 1972 to 21 December 2001...
show where he appeared with Roy Castle
Roy Castle
Roy Castle OBE was an English dancer, singer, comedian, actor, television presenter and musician. He attended Honley High School, where there is now a building in his name...
) and two times in America (New York Empire State Building and in Washington). Renowned live performances have always been Freddy's hallmark, most notably at the New Music Seminar in New York and Tim Westwoods live rap shows on Capital radio.
He signed to Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
in 1991, releasing the album Stress.
Career break
By the end of the 1990s Freddy was exhausted. His hectic life-style had taken it out of him so he found time to return to Jamaica and re-discover his roots. Whilst he still lent vocals to prominent dancehall tracks in Jamaica his next major work did not come until he came back to the UK, with a new lease of life. Freddy teamed up with renowned dub producer The RootsmanThe Rootsman
The Rootsman is a musician and DJ based in Bradford, England.-Biography:His musical career began when he was living in Edinburgh, Scotland and taught himself to play guitar in 1978 at the age of 13 and formed his first punk band. With his group "State Oppression" he made his debut gig in 1981,...
in 2000 to make the new album, Old School – New School (Third Eye Music).
Since then Freddy has been making new music and recording and training dancehall artists.
Albums
- Body LasherBody LasherBody Lasher is the debut album of Daddy Freddy on the Sunset label. The album as pressed to 12" vinyl for release.-Track listing:#"Miraculous" - 3:43#"Body Lasher" - 3:55#"In A Me Prime" - 3:46#"Jah Jah We Need" - 3:44...
(1986) - Ragamuffin Hip-HopRagamuffin Hip-HopRagamuffin Hip-Hop is an album by Asher D & Daddy Freddy.-CD:#"Ragamuffin Hip Hop" - 5:30#"Africa" - 2:55#"Brutality" - 5:10#"Summertime" - 3:00#"Don't Stop, Do It" - 5:55#"Posse Rock & Move" - 5:45#"Rough And Rugged" - 5:45...
(with Asher D) (1988) - Cater Fe SheCater Fe She-Track listing:#"All Night Passion" - 3:56#"Birthright" - 3:54#"Daddy Freddy Come Again" - 3:46#"No Pressure Me" - 3:47#"Bad Boy Patrol" - 3:53#"Have Faith" - 3:52#"Cater Fe She" - 3:39#"She Bran New" - 3:31...
(1989) - StressStress (Daddy Freddy album)-CD:#"Intro" - 0:13#"Go Freddy Go" - 5:06#"Talking Beatbox" - 5:07#"Born Christian" - 4:02#"Haul & Paul Badboy" - 0:19#"Daddy Freddy's In Town" - 5:07#"Ragga House " - 4:57#"Article Don" - 4:23#"Up To Full Speed" - 0:20#"Nuff Respect" - 4:52...
(1991) - Raggamuffin Soldier (1992)
- The Big OneThe Big One (Daddy Freddy album)-Track listing:#"Love Sick" – 5:18#"Keep Talkin'" – 4:39#"Pain Killa" – 5:07#"Rude Boy" – 5:19#"Thru The Dancehall" – 5:01#"The Girl Is Fine" – 5:10#"Spanish Lingua" – 5:07#"Mikey" – 0:10#"Boo Yaka" – 5:50#"How We Do It" – 4:20#"The Big One" – 5:15...
(1994) - Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (Daddy Freddy album)Greatest Hits is a compilation of music by Daddy Freddy. It has been released multiple times with a different cover, but same track listing.-Track listing:#"Pain Killa"#"Love Sick"#"Ragamuffin Hip Hop"#"Ragga House"#"Keep Talkin'"#"Respect"...
(1996) - Old School New SchoolOld School New SchoolOld School New School is an album with vocals by Daddy Freddy and production by The Rootsman, credited to "Daddy Freddy Meets The Rootsman".-Track listing:#"Keepin A Session" – 3:15#"No Carbon" – 4:07#"Back Pon Dem Case" – 3:28...
(with The RootsmanThe RootsmanThe Rootsman is a musician and DJ based in Bradford, England.-Biography:His musical career began when he was living in Edinburgh, Scotland and taught himself to play guitar in 1978 at the age of 13 and formed his first punk band. With his group "State Oppression" he made his debut gig in 1981,...
) (2000) - Hardcore (2004)
Singles
- Ragamuffin Hip Hop (with Asher D) Music Of Life (1988)
- Brutality (with Asher D) Music Of Life (1988)
- Summertime (with Asher D) Music Of Life (1988)
- We Are The Champions (with Asher D) Chrysalis (1989)
- Daddy Freddy's In TownDaddy Freddy's In TownDaddy Freddy's In Town is a song by Daddy Freddy released on several singles as well as the album Stress.-1:*Release date: 1990*Format: 12" vinyl picture disc*Record label: Chrysalis*Catalog number: V 23703Side A...
Chrysalis (1990) - Ragga House (with Simon Harris) Music Of Life (1990)
- Respect Music Of Life (1990)
- Don’t Stop the Music Living Beat Rec (1990)
- Freddy’s Back (with Duke/Royal Family) Music Of Life (1990)
- The Crown Music Of Life (1991)
- Haul and Pull Chrysalis (1992)
- Dancehall Clash (with Tenor Fly) Live (1992)
- Respect Due (with Heavy D & Frankie Paul) Music Of Life (1993)
- Respect Due (Sly & Robbie Remixes) Music Of Life (1993)
- Pain Killa Music Of Life (1994)
- Freddy’s in the Jungle (Japanese Single) (1997)
- MuggleMuggleMuggle, a term from the Harry Potter book series by J. K. Rowling, refers to a person who lacks any sort of magical ability and was not born into the magical world...
(Ragga Meridional Crew) (2007)
Compilation & guest appearances
- 1989: Kreem of the Krop; songs: "Dance Hall Clash", "Must Want A Man", "Rude Boy" and "Advert" http://www.discogs.com/release/500001
- 1989: Hustlers Convention; song: "Live Jam", "The Ragamuffin Duo Take Charge", Come Selector" and "Grand Finale"
- 1989: Silver On Black; song "Londons Finest" by Simon Harris featuring Asher D and Daddy Freddy http://www.discogs.com/release/572273
- 2003: Smojphace EPSmojphace EPThe Smojphace EP is a 2003 EP by electronic music artist Richard D. James under one of his commonly known aliases, AFX. The EP was released through MEN Records, a Rephlex Records sublabel....
; song "Run The Place Red (AFX Mix)" - 2007: VavamuffinVavamuffinVavamuffin is a Polish raggamuffin, roots reggae and dancehall band from Warsaw. They were formed in 2003 and have released four albums under the label Karrot Kommando. The band members are Pablopavo, Reggaenerator, Gorg, Emili Jones, Jahcob Junior, Raffi Kazan, Mothashipp, Dubbist and Barton...
; song "Poor people (feat. Daddy Freddy)"