Check it Deeply: Seven Major Keys in DJ Khaled’s “Nas Album Done” Video
Mavado, Louie Rankin, Ricardo Drue and The Bahamas make cameos in Khaled's paean to the islands.
Bam Bam!: 12 Times Hip-Hop Sampled, Remixed + Flipped Sister Nancy
Rap's 25-year love affair with a dancehall classic.
Double Barrel: Reggae Samples and Hip Hop Classics with DJ Gravy + Corey Chase (Mixtape)
The history of hip-hop is deep with sounds borrowed from Jamaica.
VIDEO: Busy Signal Freestyles Over ’90s Rap Classics in Uganda in “All For One”
Words by Jesse Serwer, Photo by Martei Korley— While we're on the topic of big tunes we missed, we just have to pull up and rewind back two weeks to New Year's Day, when perennial LargeUp favorite and all-arou... Read More...
Impressions: Super Cat Returns
Words by Desmond Alphonso, Photos by Martei Korley—
Super Cat is the Don Dada.
As a young artist in the '80s dancehall era, he brought unprecedented lyrical depth and infinite swagger to the sound t... Read More...
Badda Don Dada: Ward 21 Channel Super Cat on “Mic Magician”
Words by DJ Autograph—
I might be a Jamaican but my introduction to Ward 21’s “Mic Magician” is a fortunate and direct result of my current effort to learn Swedish. I was listening to Safari Sound’s show o... 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...
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...
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...
Live at the BBQ: Nas Performs “The Don” at South by Southwest
Words by Jesse Serwer—
Nas' new, Super Cat-sampling banger "The Don" has created quite an uproar—on the radio, on blogs and definitely in the LargeUp offices. We think it's just about the best rap song o... Read More...