Top Honors: Ini Kamoze
Words by Jesse Serwer—
Many know Ini Kamoze from "Here Comes the Hotstepper," the massive reggae/hip-hop crossover single from 1994. Others may recognize his as the voice sampled by Damian Marley ("Out i... Read More...
ALBUM STREAM: Salaam Remi’s “One: In The Chamber”
Words by Jesse Serwer—
When it comes to contemporary music makers, there's few people we rate higher than Salaam Remi. Last summer we spent time at the low-key superproducer's Miami compound, where he spok... Read More...
Instant Vintage: Shy FX + Liam Bailey Conjure Dennis Brown on “Soon Come”
Words by Jesse Serwer—
We beseech thee for a late pass.
We slept on the news a few months back that U.K. drum and bass/jungle don (and "Original Nuttah") Shy FX would be returning with a straight-up r... Read More...
Heds and Dreds: Sterling Simms, Nas, Kanye + ’80s Dancehall Samples
Words by Jesse Serwer—
This week we're reviving our long-dormant hip-hop x reggae column Heds and Dreds to discuss the growing trend of '80s dancehall samples in rap songs.
Remember a few years back w... Read More...
Toppa Top 10: Salaam Remi Breaks Down Ten of His Classic Records
Words by Salaam Remi, as told to Jesse Serwer:::Photo by Daison Osbourne—
During a recent afternoon with Salaam Remi at his Miami studio Instrument Zoo, we spoke with the unsung production genius about... Read More...
LargeUp Interview: At the Instrument Zoo with Salaam Remi
Words by Jesse Serwer, Photos by Daison Osbourne—
“Most people didn’t even know I exist, and I don’t want them to,” Salaam Remi says. “‘Know my name if you gotta write it on a check’ has been my motto ... Read More...
More ‘Culture’: Spragga Benz’s ‘Get that Dough’ Video
Words by Jesse Serwer—
Spragga Benz's Shotta Culture album from 2010 was one of the best dancehall albums in recent memory, and it's still bearing fruits. Nearly after two years after the Salaam Remi-pro... Read More...
LargeUp Exclusive: Salaam Remi On Making Reggae With Amy Winehouse
Words by Jesse Serwer—
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the death of one of the modern era's greatest recording artists, Amy Winehouse. As we pointed out in the story we published two days later, ... Read More...
Video: Nas Brings “The Don” To Life
Words by Jesse Serwer—
Nas has been on a roll leading up to his upcoming Life is Good LP, beginning with last summer's invigorating "Nasty" and, most recently, the highly personal "Daughters." It's the S... Read More...
Audio: Nas x Super Cat x Salaam Remi x Heavy D, “The Don”
Words by Jesse Serwer
We could hear the bombs that Funkmaster Flex was dropping on "The Don" last night all the way out here in Austin, Texas. Not only does this track knock from Queensbridge to Stubbs ... Read More...
Audio: Trever Off Key and Chedda “Play the Guitar”
Words by Jesse Serwer—
B.O.B.'s "Play the Guitar" (featuring Andre 3000) definitely has one of the best beats of any hip-hop song recently and, like a lot of producer Salaam Remi's hip-hop work, the Bo D... Read More...
Throwback Thursdays: Max Glazer on Mikey Jarrett’s “Mack Daddy” + Burro Banton’s “Boom Wa Dis”
Words by Max Glazer—
For a decade and then some, Federation Sound's Max Glazer has been known all over the world as a great dancehall DJ. But back before that he was a hip-hop journalist, penning memorab... Read More...