LargeUp Premiere: Mr. Williamz — “Raggamuffin Business”

Words by Jesse Serwer

For our first premiere of 2015, we’ve got new music from the artist behind one of our favorite albums of 2014, Mr. Williamz.

A mainstay on the U.K. dancehall scene (check some early coverage of him in our old Cockney and Yardie column), the London-based deejay with the old-school Super Cat-style swagger is starting to get his props overseas as well. Williamz was one of the MVPs on Damian Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock cruise in October (check out this freestyle session with Shinehead and Supernatural we shot on the boat), and he’s recently hit the studio with Swedish producer Bassic Division to record an upcoming album.

“Raggamuffin Business” is the first fruit of this new partnership, and it lives up to its name with some fierce deejaying (including a timely shout out to Cuba) over a Sleng Teng-style digi riddim, punctuated with some Mantronix-style ’80s hip-hop snare claps. Serious raggamuffin business, indeed. Stream below, and look out for more Mr. Williamz here soon.