bigTree: ‘lost & fumed’ Mixtape

“After work she pick up phone an’ seh fi link up/ So after work, nuh badda ‘itch up, mek we lif’ up/ After work, she give it up, quick like a stick up/ At first she never with us, now she affi switch up” – bigTree, “Switch Up (BFF)”

This is one mixtape I’ve been playing repeatedly. ‘lost & fumed’, the latest release by bigTreeJM (bigNatty and bigMoody) is near-perfect, in my opinion. Featuring the contributions of Knixx Taylor (“Giant”), Mila.Akilah (“Double Tap”) and Spacekat (“Let Yuh Go”), production was done by SOS Dynamikz and bigTreeJM.

bigTree has the ability to weave the patois sound into hip hop/rap frames that are appropriate, clear and authentic. Guest artistes are also given a lot of room to explore their creativity, and the chemistry is never rushed. If one expects to hear some reggae or dancehall, this is present in “Contraband Freestyle”; however, the rest of the songs are a Jamaican rapper’s haven. Have a listen today!

To follow bigTree and access their work, please see the accompanying links:

bigTree Instagram

bigNatty Instagram

bigMoody Instagram

Audiomack

Youtube

Streaming Link

Blessings in abundance!

bigTree: ‘Culture Pot EP’ (Review)

In Jamaica, there is definitely a shift taking place in our musical evolution even as we enter the year 2022. The genres of reggae and dancehall are being merged more often with hip hop styles and sounds, creating a musical melting pot that dynamic duo bigMoody and bigNatty have served as their first official music offering – ‘Culture Pot EP’.

The first track, “Catch My Vibe”, features prolific vocalist and poet Sara Bloom. Other collaborations include “Agent876” featuring lyricist Romar J, “Maybe Baby” with Knixx Taylor, and the “Nuh Chill Cypher” which includes Bloom, Romar J and social media sensation Bwoizy. The bigTree duo also have personal tracks on the project, evidenced in bigMoody’s “King Freestyle” and bigNatty’s “Work”. Together, bigTree did “No Limits” and “Peace & Serenity”.

The music covers a variety of topics and styles, weaving jazz notes and chords with hip hop drums, patois lyrics and a confidence that young black people exude very well. Easily, this EP could help to define part of the shift taking place in our generation of local music; even as traphall and Trinibad see their own developments, there are those who focus on the original sound that hip hop grew with, and work with that as the foundation for their merger. This EP would be an example.

The arrangement was executed effectively, with Sara Bloom’s hook grabbing the listener in “Catch My Vibe”, a song about growing and rising despite the odds. “Maybe Baby” has the neo-soul effect of reminiscing about love that could be, if only…maybe? Meanwhile, “No Limit”, “Work”, “King Freestyle”, “Agent876” and the ‘Cypher’ will have you listening intently as rhymes are chopped and delivered with skill and precision. The project was released on October 29, 2021 and features credits to amayzarts for the EP artwork, and Raj and Krxme for visuals.

Feel free to contact bigTree and access their work at:

YouTube

SoundCloud

Link for other streaming sites

Blessings in abundance!