Duppy Writer
4/5
For a generation that was reared on underground hip hop artists such as Blak Twang, Rodney P, Taskforce and (especially) Rodney ‘Roots Manuva’ Smith, the popularity of grime, jerk and the ‘hipster rap’ scene must make them feel about as up to date as the Gregorian calendar. Luckily, Big Dada hasn’t forsaken the heads just yet.
For this release, it has recruited upcoming, Brixton-based producer Wrongtom to get busy with a range of Rodders’s oldies in a crisp and warm dub style. The results are a revelation. From the opening tape-echo adventures of ‘Butterfly Crab Walk’, to the newly-recorded ‘Jah Warrior’ featuring Ricky Ranking, Wrongtom pitches it perfectly. While the majority of his beats go back to the sound of the classic ’70s studios, his mix of ‘Buff Nuff’ is a true standout, recalling the bouncy ‘Sleng Teng’ riddim. Overall, it’s a timeless joy that proves lines like ‘Is it the holy ghost or a w**d psychosis/something got me feeling like a modern day Moses’ just never go out of style.
