Tanya Stephens
b. Vivienne Tanya Stephenson, 1974, St. Mary, Jamaica, West Indies. Tanya Stephens has been hailed as an intimidating rival to the lewd DJ queen Lady Saw. In 1993 Stephens recorded a notable collaboration with Galaxy P, "One Touch", that proved successful, although her notoriety seemed short-lived. Her initial foray into the recording business was interrupted by a sabbatical after the birth of her first child. With her distinctive style, Stephens soon returned triumphantly to the dancehall and by 1996 her career was in full swing. She won critical acclaim when she appeared at the Sting 95 and Penthouse Showcase. Her success led to the recording of an album for X-Rated and a series of successful singles, including "Hang Up The 'Phone", "Man Fi Rule", "Big Heavy Gal", "1-1-9", "Nuff Man Flop" and "Workout". Her big break came with the haughty "Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet", performed over Dave "Rude Boy" Kelly's infamous "Pepper Seed" rhythm. Her notoriety was later enhanced by the reggae chart-topping "Big Ninja Bike", produced by Harvel Hart and the Annex crew; the double entendres were not subtle, with lines such as: "Me wanna man wid a big ninja bike fe wi ride from - Me no 'ave di right gear - Bounce me all night 'pon di divan - Give mi de right slam". This was followed by a surfeit of singles, including "Goggle" for the Shocking Vibes crew and the racy "Handle The Ride" for Bobby Digital. Her celebrity status resulted in the eventual release of the X-Rated album Big Tings A Gwan, which featured guest vocals from Prezident Brown and Yammie Bolo, and tracks including "Love How Yu Body Tan", "Bruck Out" and "Yuh Na Wicked".
Listen to Tanya Stephens
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Albums
- (2007) Too Hype
- (2007) Ruff Rider
- (2006) Gangsta Blues
- (2006) Rebelution
- (2004) Sintoxicated
Top Tracks
- It's A Pity
- These Streets
- Good Ride
- Can't Breathe
- Boom Wuk
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