Words by Jesse Serwer, Photo by Fubz—
Nice Up! Records out of the U.K. just hit us with a new EP they’re dropping tomorrow from Dublin, Ireland producers Dirty Dubsters. Interestingly, the track, “Chant Down Babylon,” represents the first collaboration between two favorites from our backyard of Brooklyn—East Flatbush’s own Chip Fu and Screechy Dan.
Screechy, of course, was one of New York’s original dancehall ambassadors, helping to solidify Brooklyn’s place in Jamaican music with classics like “Pose Off.” Chip Fu, meanwhile, was the Guinness-record-setting, fast-chatting leader of ’90s rap group Fu-Schnickens; in recent years, he’s delved further into reggae, adopting the alias Jungle Rock Jr.
The track offers the two an opportunity to showcase their deep well of talents, with Chip offering an array of speedy flows, while double-threat Screechy flexes his singing and deejaying skills. Better yet, there’s three different versions, with each working just as well as the next.
Stream Jon Sheppard (aka Shepdog) of Nice Up’s ’90s-dancehall inspired remix of “Chant Down Babylon” below; hear and buy the whole EP, including the Dirty Dubsters’ original version and a jungle remix from Chopstick Dubplate (Jacky Murda and Aries), here, and read our recent feature on Screechy Dan here. And look out for our upcoming LargeUp TV episode with Chip Fu for more from one of Flatbush’s finest…