Before
Sean Paul became the international mainstream's poster boy for dancehall music,
those of you who grew up during the early to mid-90s may remember there was a
dancehall king named Supercat that tore up the hip hop scene. He was loved by
hardcore hip hop fans for his lightning-quick delivery, roughneck-rudeboy
style, bombastic bass-heavy tunes, and by women for his boyish, gentleman-like
looks. The deejay ("MC" in dancehall music) was a forerunner in a
fleet of artists, including as Shabba Ranks, Inner Circle, Chaka Demus, Patra, and Mad
Cobra, who were integral to dancehall and reggae music's explosion into the
mainstream during the decade. Arguably, the careers of a then-upstart named
Biggie Smalls and former-Uptown exec Sean "Puffy" Combs benefited
tremendously and took off from Supercat's success in the hip hop and dancehall
scene in the early 90s. In 1993, Combs had just started Bad Boy Records and was
featured with then-upstart Biggie Smalls on the song "Dolly My Baby"
(remix). (Side note: Diddy sounds really
corny and weird with his attempted hardcore-raspy voice to match his fellow rap
peers of the day) Also, Biggie's
verse also his one of his first few ever released on record.Combs used his and
Biggie's verses to advertise [more] Combs' new company. (Sidenote: the other rapper on the track is Scoob. Where's he been?
Probably working with Brooklyn troubled teens
and making gospel songs at the local A.M.E. church. Nuff respect Scoob!)
If you
are too young to remember Supercat from his heyday in the early 90s, then you
may remember him from his collaboration with Sugar Ray in their 1995 smash hit
"Fly." Ever since the success of that single, where has Supercat
been? The last time I spotted the 90s "Don Dada" of dancehall was in
a 112 video for a song in which they tried to ride the coattails of Sean Paul's
success. They featured Supercat for their aimlessly attempted dancehall-style
song in the early 00s (I can't remember
the name of the song, which is a great example of how forgettable it was).
If you saw the video and have music industry knowledge, you would have figured
that perhaps 112 didn't have the budget money to pay for a top-selling
dancehall artist to collaborate during their label contract dispute between Bad
Boy and Def Jam.
I guess they had to resort to the dancehall has-been for some credibility for
their attempt to stay relevant in the game at the time. It's a shame that they
had to get Supercat to resemble and sound like Sean Paul, and Sean Paul pretty
much owes mounds of respect and artistic debt to Supercat for his own success.
Yet, I digress. Just for that, for all you 00s-decade high school graduates
that may have never heard of him, I'm giving Supercat the props he damn well
deserves. So if you know about this man, and you're a Gen Y-er like me, then
take it back to your junior high school dance days, have a ginger beer, and do
the butterfly dance to Supercat's all-time banger "Ghetto Red Hot." All
o' the massive, Ahhhh rudebwooyyyyy SINNN!
Supercat:
[Editor's note: Unfortunately these youtube links are disabled so we couldn't embed them but they're classic and you should check 'em out]
Comment by Des — June 23, 2008 @ 9:16 AM
The 112 song is "Na, Na, Na" lol. And yeah, it was mad random to have Supercat on it. Is that the last song he’s been featured on? If so, way to go out… lol
Comment by Taylor — June 23, 2008 @ 10:27 AM
I would much rather listen to Supercat than Sean Paul..that shit is straight up terrible.
Comment by SYMS of Blogging — June 23, 2008 @ 10:56 AM
This post took a cynical turn towards the end, and since when hasn’t a Diddy verse seemed corny and forced?
Comment by Chestnut — June 23, 2008 @ 1:39 PM
Supercat brings me back to when I was young, watching static-y Music Box on my tv lol. Good times…
Comment by Chestnut — June 23, 2008 @ 1:49 PM
Wtf was Puffy doing in that video? I never saw this and his wack ass just caught me off guard. Stick to behind the scenes PLEASE. I’m telling u, just his presence on this track was enuf to kill Supercat’s career.
Comment by Def — June 23, 2008 @ 1:52 PM
You’re hilarious Chestnut lol
Comment by SYMS of Blogging — June 23, 2008 @ 2:48 PM
Puff had a verse on the remix, its not so weird he was in the video.
Comment by Taylor — June 23, 2008 @ 5:41 PM
hahaha is he wearin a fishnet shirt?!
Comment by yukmouth fan — June 23, 2008 @ 5:41 PM
yo fishnet shirt or not.. thats one dope artist.. i still bump some of his Caribbean joints today!
Comment by Yello — June 23, 2008 @ 5:42 PM
I remember my uncle used to think he was Supercat cuz peope told him they look alike. I don’t think that would be a compliment now…
Comment by jordank — June 23, 2008 @ 5:42 PM
yoo eff sean paul.. this dude was raw and wasn’t as commercialized as sean paul is now.
Comment by ghetto!! — June 23, 2008 @ 5:43 PM
yooo that ghetto red hot joint used to be my shit!!
Comment by big up! — June 23, 2008 @ 5:43 PM
yo big up to the djs that still drop supercat in the club.. those joints still go hard!! the oldheads get wild to this on the dancefloor.
Comment by Ms.Independent — June 23, 2008 @ 5:44 PM
Oh my god! I remember when my babysitter used to play Supercat while she was babysitting me and had her boyfriend come over. Hahaha good memories…
Comment by sean paul is wack — June 23, 2008 @ 5:44 PM
does anyone know when sean paul came onto the scene? was he out at the same time that supercat came out?
Comment by the franchise — June 23, 2008 @ 5:49 PM
yooo this dude lookin mad suspect with that outfit and pose!
Comment by killah — June 23, 2008 @ 5:50 PM
^ yo but he got that shorty taking off his belt.. don’t look homo to me!
Comment by SYMS of Blogging — June 25, 2008 @ 11:47 AM
Wonder what gang sign that is he’s throwin’ up?