LargeUp TV: Johnny Osbourne, Red Fox + Screechy Dan Meet The Roots

Words by Jesse Serwer, Photo by N. Corren Conway

Coming into December’s Okayplayer Holiday Jam, we had quite the task before us. Last year we brought out Shaggy and Patra, among others, for an all-star session with The Roots that turned out to be the hip-hop legends’ first-ever dancehall jam. How could we possibly outdo that?

Fortunately, we had some surefire legends in our corner for the 2012 edition of the annual holiday party, namely Mr. Budy Bye, Johnny Osbourne, and the all-star combination of Red Fox and Screechy Dan. Fresh off his appearance in Major Lazer’s “Jah No Partial” video (a tune based on a sample of his “Mr. Marshall”), Johnny joined The Roots (and Rahzel) for a performance of “Budy Bye,” while Red and Screechy followed with their signature combination tune “Pose Off,” and also performed Red’s classic “Bashment Party” with Screechy standing in for Rayvon.

Watch the video of their performances here, and check out some more photos and video from the party—which also featured appearances by A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, A$AP Rocky and Bilal (who was joined onstage by our friend, conga monarch King Errisson)—over at Okayplayer. Then start guessing what we’re gonna pull off next year…

Produced By: Allison Swank + Emmai Alaquiva
Videographers: Jay Sprogell, Rob Lee, Chinisha Scott, Alex Gaylon, Loren Hicks
Edited by: Jason Zucker

Johnny Osbourne. Photo: Terrence Jennings

Red Fox. Photo: Terrence Jennings

From L to R: DJ Gravy, Johnny Osbourne, Red Fox, Screechy Dan. Photo: Winifred Chane