Daddy Freddy

Gaining fame

His debut album Body Lasher appeared in 1986, the same year he had six top ten hits in Jamaica, including a number one collaboration with Pinchers titled "Joker Lover". After touring the U.S. under Chrysalis, he came to England in 1987. There he worked with Asher D on Raggamuffin Hip-Hop, an album fusing Jamaican ragga with UK hip-hop; its title track featured the sampled vocal "The ragga-muffin, the ragga-muffin, hip-hop". He supported emerging UK reggae artists Top Cat, Tenor Fly and Prento Youth.

Artists including Dr. Dre, Cypress Hill, David Morales and Norman Cook requested collaborations, while the Prodigy, Meli'sa Morgan, Salt 'n' Pepa and KRS-One sampled his voice. In 1989 he broke the world record for fastest rapper four times, reaching 598 syllables per minute, with attempts in Covent Garden, on BBC's Record Breakers, at the New York Empire State Building and in Washington. He was signed to Chrysalis Records in 1991 by A&R VP Duff Marlowe, joining Gang Starr and Arrested Development on the label and releasing the album Stress.

Career break

By the late 1990s, exhaustion from his lifestyle led him to return to Jamaica. He continued lending vocals to dancehall tracks there. His next major work came after returning to the UK, teaming with dub producer the Rootsman in 2000 for Old School – New School (Third Eye Music). He later relocated to Bristol, making new music with Blackout JA and training dancehall artists.

Did You Know?

• Daddy Freddy broke the world record for fastest rapper four times, taking it from 346 to 598 syllables per minute.
• He appeared on BBC's Record Breakers with Roy Castle during one of his record attempts.