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S. Frederick Small (born 1965), better known as Daddy Freddy, is a Jamaican ragga vocalist.


Early life

Small was born in 1965, in
Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the Capital (political), 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 spit (landform), sand spit which connects the town of Por ...
, and grew up in the city's Trenchtown district.Huey, Steve
Daddy Freddy Biography
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Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
, retrieved 2011-02-14
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 Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...
. 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 Pinchers. After successful touring in the US under the Chrysalis record label, Freddy came to England in 1987. His first UK work was a
collaboration Collaboration (from Latin ''com-'' "with" + ''laborare'' "to labor", "to work") is the process of two or more people, entities or organizations working together to complete a task or achieve a goal. Collaboration is similar to cooperation. The ...
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 Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hi ...
. 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'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and originally broadcast in prime time on the ABC network. It aired in a weekly evening time slot from September 27, 1961, to April 18, 1962, for a single season ...
, Tenor Fly and Prento Youth who went on to the legendary Lloyd Coxsone Sound and the record label Congo Natty Rebel MC. This album created even more interest for Freddy. Artists such as Dr. Dre,
Cypress Hill Cypress Hill is an American Hip hop music, hip hop group formed in South Gate, California in 1988. One of the first Latin groups to gain mainstream recognition in hip hop, they have sold over 20 million albums worldwide, and have obtained multi ...
, David Morales and Norman Cook all requested collaborations and others like
The Prodigy The Prodigy are an English electronic music band formed in Braintree, Essex, in 1990 by producer, keyboardist, and songwriter Liam Howlett. The original line-up also featured Rapping, MC and vocalist Maxim (musician), Maxim, dancer and occasi ...
, Meli'sa Morgan ("Through the Tears"), Salt 'n' Pepa and
KRS-One Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (; an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper from the Bronx. He rose to prominence as part of the ...
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'' was a British children's TV show, themed around world records and produced by the BBC. It was broadcast on BBC1 from 15 December 1972 to 21 December 2001. Format The programme was a spin-off series from '' Blue Peter'' wh ...
'' 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 was signed to Chrysalis Records in 1991 by A&R VP Duff Marlowe, joining Gang Starr and Arrested Development as part of Marlowe's stateside re-make of the UK rock label, 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 Rootsman in 2000 to make the new album, ''Old School – New School'' (Third Eye Music). Since then Freddy has relocated to Bristol, UK where he has been making new music—often teaming up with Blackout JA—and recording and training dancehall artists.


Discography


Albums

*'' Body Lasher'' (1986) *'' Ragamuffin Hip-Hop'' (with Asher D) (1988) *''Cater Fe She'' (1989) *'' Stress'' (1991) *'' Raggamuffin Soldier'' (1992) *'' The Big One'' (1994) *'' Greatest Hits'' (1996) *'' Old School New School'' (with The Rootsman) (2000) *'' Hardcore'' (2004)


Singles

*"Ragamuffin Hip Hop" (with Asher D), Music of Life (1988) (Profile/Arista/BMG US) *"Brutality" (with Asher D), Music of Life (1988) *"Summertime" (with Asher D), Music of Life (1988) *"We Are the Champions" (with Asher D), Chrysalis/EMI (1989) *"Daddy Freddy's in Town", 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) *"War" (2002) *"Muggle" (Ragga Meridional Crew) (2007) *"Can't Take This No More" (with The Bug), Acid Ragga/ Ninja Tune (2012) *"Ganja Baby" (with The Bug), Acid Ragga/Ninja Tune (2012)


Compilation and guest appearances

*1989: ''Kreem of the Krop''; songs: "Dance Hall Clash", "Must Want A Man", "Rude Boy" and "Advert" *1989: '' Hustlers Convention (Music Of Life)''; 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 *1993: '' Music (311 album)''; Special Guest on song "Nix Hex" by 311 *2003 ''Politicians and Paedophiles'' and ''Run the Place Red'' on The Bug album ''Pressure'' *2003: '' Smojphace EP''; song "Run The Place Red (AFX Mix)" *2007: '' Vavamuffin''; song "Poor people (feat. Daddy Freddy)" *2012 '' Drużyna Mistrzów compilation'' – Firma, Daddy Freddy, Młody Bosski "Fi Di Youths"


References


External links


Heroes Of UK Hip Hop Daddy Freddy Page



official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daddy Freddy Jamaican rappers Living people 1965 births musicians from Kingston, Jamaica Chrysalis Records artists Ragga musicians