Papa Biggy named president of African Artistes Collaboration Foundation
Veteran on a mission of empowerment; returns with new tracks after hiatus
Published:Tuesday | September 16, 2025 | 12:08 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
It was Under the Plane Wing that foundation singer, Papa Biggy, announced his musical arrival in the ‘80s on a riddim dubbed Heavenless on the Taxi label, produced by the legendary duo, Sly and Robbie.
An in-your-face, weed tune, the smoky addressed attempts by ‘Babylon’ to curtail ganja trafficking, but the story in the song is one that evokes some amount laughter. The setting is the runway at an airport in Jamaica, passengers and crew are onboard, but the plane is unable to take off. Why? Papa Biggy a lick di chalice unda di the plane wing.
Since then Papa Biggy has made his name in the dancehall, while exploring other business ventures, which led him to eventually migrate to the United States, where he focused mainly on family, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
However, in February, Papa Biggy made a return to his dancehall roots with the release of catchy, thought-provoking, single titled Roots to Youths. So impactful has it been that Papa Biggy has been in demand for interviews, and selectors have been endorsing it and giving it “more than a strength”, based solely on the vibe of the track.
“R eal crocodile from the swamp and canal step back in the ring cause the ting critical/So draw fi yuh notebook and yuh journal cause/Tek off mi gloves now mi put it on back ... message/New generation and we respect di youths, but no tree cyaan survive without di roots.”
Papa Biggy was intentional with this song, which is a message to the youths, just like how Under the Plane Wing had a message to the powers that be. One of the aims it to counter the negativity and the blood-soaked lyrics to which they have become accustomed in the music.
“Observing what’s going on with so many youths going to prison or losing their lives to gun violence, I found it necessary to at least be a voice of reason. My main objective is to try and detour them from continuing or joining the gang lifestyle,” Papa Biggy told The Gleaner.
He added, “The song has been in rotation on radio in Jamaica, the Caribbean, USA, Canada, Europe including London, France, Germany, and multiple countries in Africa. My older fans are delighted to see me back on the trail and I have started to attract a number of young followers.”
GROWING FAN BASE
Equally delighted is a group out of the Motherland, where he has a growing fan base. Papa Biggy has been interacting with several entertainers there and over the weekend, he became the president of the African Artistes Collaboration Foundation, which comprises a group of artistes from 25 African nations.
“I was asked to lead them on this journey of empowerment and it is a great honour. They did their research and contacted me and said it would be nice to have a Jamaican taking them to the next level. They will be launching a riddim and I will be a part of that process. They will be doing concerts in those countries and I will be involving artistes from Jamaica ... it is a great look,” Papa Biggy told The Gleaner.
The entertainer, who used to host an annual treat in Portmore, St Catherine, during the Christmas season, has always been concerned about the youth and steering them on the right path. In more recent times, he and his team have assisted various schools in Jamaica by donating computers and other educational equipment.
His mission, he says is “self-empowerment and youth empowerment while rebuilding his own music career through positive messages”. Since February, Papa Biggy has dropped other gems. One such is How Much More, which was released in March and produced by LifeForce Productions. More recently, he released Know Di Streets, a track that he describes as “another conscious and positive song with a message”.
“ It encourages the youth not to be a slave to badness or violence, because none of us are Lazarus. When we dead we cannot raise back, so it better we get a fatty and moggle pon Saturday,” Papa Biggy said in a recent interview with THE STAR.
Quizzed about his opinion on the current trend in dancehall music, the veteran stated: “With the resurgence of foundation artistes such as Bounty Killa, Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel and Buju Banton being able to travel once again, this can only strengthen the genre. So I see dancehall returning to the glory days.”