Words by LargeUp Crew
These last five years have seen a new wave of excitement around conscious culture reggae and we’re all beyond pleased that the support has come back around. However, props are due to those artists who’ve been making quality message music out of Jamaica over the last ten or fifteen years and haven’t gotten the exposure or acknowledgment. Choppa Chop is one of these artists, a long time member of the Massive B camp, Bobby Konders‘ production company and label responsible for putting out decades worth of crossover classics, from Supercat‘s “Ghetto Red Hot” hip-hop remix to Richie Spice‘s anthem, “Youths A So Cold” just to name a few.
Massive B has been equally significant in one-drop type reggae, hardcore dancehall, hip-hop remixes and, interestingly enough, Bobby Konders actually started in NYC’s house music circuit back in the 80’s. But his culture riddims and releases have become an institution. Long before Chronixx was in high school making music, his father Chronicle was voicing tunes for Bobby alongside Sizzla, Anthony B and other culture heavyweights.
This time around, Choppa Chop’s “la la la” vocal intro reminds us of the horn line intro from Marcia Griffiths’ Studio One classic, “Feel Like Jumping.” On this upful, feelgood tune, Choppa proclaims his love of that good high grade, but at the same time he’s saying “she” makes him feel so high, the lyrics make you wonder if he’s actually singing about herb, his empress or both, You decide!