By Nomad
OutAroad.com Writer
This week in Lost In The Music, we will be looking at one of dancehall’s genius - Terror Fabulous. Terror is no ordinary deejay, but is an artiste that sets himself apart from the dominant deejays in the ‘90s that included the likes of Louie Culture, Terry Ganzie, Shabba Ranks and at the time the fast rising Buju Banton.
Terror Fabulous was definitely one of the most talented deejays to emerge on the dancehall scene. Dancehall as a genre should be honoured that someone like Terror Fabulous got a chance to bless the microphone and display his versatility. His resourceful and potent lyrics still stuck adamantly to our tongues and we cannot help but sing along whenever we hear his songs. Songs from his fabulous catalogue still ‘mash up’ nuff dancehall sessions worldwide.
Terror Fabulous is not just a ‘fly by night’ deejay. He has class, versatility and one of the best voices dancehall fans have come to know and trust. His colourful catalogue includes hardcore hits such as Gangster's Anthem, Have You Ever Seen A 45 Before, and for the ladies he has Glamorous Glitterous, Miss Goody Goody, You Nuh Kotch, and much more. Terror Fabulous also boasts one of the most compelling anti-gay songs in Number Two, bettered only by what some describe as Buju Banton indomitable Boom Bye Bye.
Some of Fabulous’ more recognized hits were Dave Kelly’s production and includes the prized combination with Nadine Sutherland, Action (1993), and the super collaboration Anything For You (1995) that featured several of dancehall’s finest. While Spragga Benz and Lady Saw’s Backshot has risen as a much loved dancehall song, it can be argued that Terror Fabulous’ 'Position' is dancehall’s ‘backshot anthem.’
Fabulous was one of the stand out artistes of the ‘90s. He not only ruled the dancehall and climbed the charts, but also dominated stage shows. His rode rhythms effortlessly with some solid singles.
As the nineties began to surrender to welcome in the new millennium, so too did Terror Fabulous’ career. Rumours circulated wildly in the ‘underground’ dancehall circles about Fabulous’ flop and some were hinged on him being involved in drugs. Other simply cited bad promotions. Whatever the reason, we have not seen or heard enough from Terror Fabulous since the late ‘90s. There is hardly anything mentioned about him in the media and he is simply not being booked for performance at all.
The last time he performed at a ‘major’ show was at Portmore Awards in 2005, where he gave a performance that fell well short of his standard. Terror Fabulous does have his strong music catalogue as his artillery, all he needs to do is find his way back into the music and use up his artillery.
With todays fast pace music and rhythms, it would be interesting to see how a ‘rusty’ Terror Fabulous would match up against our young artistes.
Posted on July 22, 2008 10:12
I was just thinking to myself the other what happened to Terror Fabulous? It seems like he fell of the face of the earth. Like how would hear about some old time artistes here and there, you hear nothing about him. It's a shame because he was very talented.
Posted on July 22, 2008 10:48
One a di wickedest r*sscl**t deeejays fi come out a jamaica
a think a drugs mash him up
Posted on July 22, 2008 10:57
FABULOUS IS ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE DEEJAY'S. STRAIGHT!!!!!! I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HOW HIM WOULDA MATCH UP GAINST VADO & DEM. HE HAS ONE OF THE GREATEST VOICES TO EVER GRACE THIS BUSINESS. MEK IT HAPPEN AGAIN TERRO.
Posted on July 22, 2008 12:46
YEAH - GLAD U GUYS FINALLY MENTIONED MI ARTISTE- EVEN DI WARLORD GIVE CREDIT TO HIM NUFF TIME SAYING A ONE A DI TUFFEST DJ FROM DEM TIME DEH. WHAT I THINK U GUYS NEED TO DO THOUGH IS TO UP THE TING A BIT AND TRY TO LOCATE THE ARTISTES AND INTERVIEW THEM. LETS HEAR THEIR STORY CAUSE ALL OF WHAT IS WRITTEN HERE ARE THINGS THAT WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW ALREADY - NOTHING NEW. SO TO PUT SOME MEAT TO THE ARTICLE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER TRYING TO LOCATE THESE LOST ARTISTES AND FIND OUT FROM THEM WHAT ARE THEY UP TO NOW AND WHY ARE THEY MISSING FROM THE SCENE. I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO HEAR WHAT MR TERROR FABULOUS HAS TO SAY.
AND REMEMBER DADDY SCREW, TERRY GANZIE AND SQUIDLEY RANKS IN YOUR SEARCH OUT THERE - THEY WERE SOME POWERFUL ARTISTES TOO.
Posted on July 22, 2008 13:36
big artiste for real i saw him on downsound records dvd last year and he did a wicked accapella he still got it also heard another new tune from him on pirate station too bad i did get the title...
Posted on July 22, 2008 14:43
terro is a big dj and one of few d.js who dit down on riddim properly he was good i would like to here
about him again. u are right back it up is one of the bigest backshot song in dancehall even now
Posted on July 22, 2008 14:53
Di way dancehall set up right yah now wi really need someone like a Terror Fabulous to guide di yutes. To teach them about potent lyrics and delivery. Dancehall miss Terror Fabulous!
Posted on July 22, 2008 15:26
da sad ting bout Terror is that he was never a good performer and this is very important in the dancehall circle. lyrics alone jus dont cut it and sometime a better performer will survive than a better lyricist.
Posted on July 22, 2008 17:29
this yute was a tremendous force in his era of course but life sometimes throws at us all curve balls n he got one... remember he started trodding the Rastafarian faith n soon after he shaved his head.... rumours had it then that his mental took a blow n so too his music.... he's frequently spotted walking the streets of portsmouth n edgewater in portmore... as another post previously suggest, I think the writer, researcher need to locate the artistes to substantiate whatever story is out there regarding them... in closing I think up to recently (april) fabulous performed at a show in portland.
Posted on July 22, 2008 18:52
I would really love it if you guys could do a full interview on Terror Fabulous. Find out what went wrong with his career. I love this feature though, although last week you guys carried an unknown artiste
Posted on July 22, 2008 19:26
Di man a leave it fi di young yute dem di man mek fi him cut so mek a next a eat a food gud dejay dat big up di man dem wah unnu a say last inna di music every boddy else deserve piece a di pie
Posted on July 23, 2008 01:19
Well Congrats to outaroad for getting back on track and not being 'Lost in Music' themselves... However the article didn't have the punch i'd hope for... Terror Fabolous today doesn't have the voice that he once had... Any DJ whom have voiced his tunes on dub would know this... To me Fabolous was just that in the 90's, but fell short of being Fantastic with his lack of drive... Artists such as Spragga, Bounty, Beenie just to name a few are still successful today, because of the people they surrounded themselves with back then... Here's another suggestion for outaroad.com as well... when u feature an artist, look up on youtube see if u can find old video's of the artists your covering... One Love
Posted on July 23, 2008 15:29
I have always want to know where is Terror Fabulous. The tune Gangsta Anthem was Tuff, not only the tune, but the rhythm also....then he had the video inna him clark and mesh marina fi back it up. Where the Hell is he? dont even hear a peep bout him...Smaddy please find the brother and give him a helping hand.
Show mi unnu hand, all original die-hearted G man......Gangata step................Wicked Tune!
Posted on July 23, 2008 17:40
yah yeah me now mi have hollipa terror dubplate and there is no dj who can dj gangster tune like terror.mi jus hope he will come back again.more time u go ah studio dats where mos djs and singer get mash up wen dem ah wait to record a tune.too much influence mi caan say much.terror ur di wickedest dj ah dat mi seh from mi heart.
Posted on July 23, 2008 18:07
Terror Fabulous performed at Reggae Jam Jam a few years ago and it was an Excellent Performance. He needed guidance it was not bad promotion and he did not get as much credit for his HARD Work. As DAVE KELLY does he puts his name on 99.9% of the songs on his rhythm.
Posted on July 24, 2008 09:22
Terror Fabulous is roaming the streets of Kingston. Apparently he is "mad"...not sure if its drug-related as those rumours circulated for a while.
Posted on July 25, 2008 16:14
Fabolous is ok ...I just recorded 2 dubplates wid him about 2 hours ago ..here at my studio in portmore ..Him might not be as upfront as he use to be but him still a do dubplates fe sound systems all over the world ..I personally recorded over 50 for sound systems ..all over the world. The media need to come see him in Portmore...cause him might be down but he's not out.
Posted on August 3, 2008 01:42
terro is my favorite artist out of jam:up to the present time my dj:sorry to hear he is not 100% but he has solid tunes like/miss matty son/i liftmy head up to the hill/me ah giligan/drop it cool/riche you to bad & many more so he just need some prayers and guidence and motivation get himself out there again luv the brother to mi heart so i don't have nothing bad to bout him hope jah bless maybe we will see him some day again.TERRO hold you head up you the best:
Posted on June 15, 2009 17:12
Can someone get me a number for terror or contact
Posted on August 8, 2009 23:34
Terror was wicked. One of my favorite artists of all time. He had his time. His best songs have already been recorded and done. Leave it at that - his best work is done. Thanks for the great music Terror. Respect.
Posted on August 17, 2009 22:52
mi llove mi dj terror me wan know we happen to him though no rumor me want me wan di truth
Posted on October 14, 2009 16:58
a true dancehall icon with nuff hits under his belt.he should really make a come back and ride these new strange sounding dancehall riddims.he has mad gal tunes,conscious tunes and nuff badman tunes to go up against the likes of kartel and mavado.is there any way to contact him??? i believe he can still do it,where are u terror fabulous???
Posted on December 11, 2009 22:01
Terror Fabulous, Bounty Killer....are undoubtedly The Best DJ's out of JAMAICA