Roundhead, also known as Big Roundz, is a veteran Jamaican
dancehall deejay whose sharp delivery and street-level style helped
define a strong run of 1990s sound system music. Born Ottis
Morrison in Woodburn, St. Thomas, and raised in Tavern, Papine, he
began building his name as a boy after Brigadier Jerry handed him
the mic at a dance in Papine and gave him the name Roundhead. That
early moment led into years spent working the sound system circuit
with outfits such as Concord Disco, Jah Love Sound and Jack Ruby,
where he sharpened the fast, confident deejay flow that became his
calling card.
He stepped into recording in the early 1990s, first cutting sides
for producer Bobo Zaro before breaking through with tracks like
“Buss Weh” and “The Wickedest Sound” for Collin Fat. From there,
Roundhead became one of the more recognizable voices in dancehall’s
crew era. In 1996 he joined forces with singer Ghost and deejay
General B to form Monster Shack Crew, a group that became a fixture
of the decade. Their blend of catchy hooks, playful boasting and
rugged street patter produced durable favourites such as “Probably
You Never Heard A We,” “Profile (East Side)” and “Hotty Hotty
Crew,” and the crew’s 1998 album Monster Party remains the
best-known document of that run.
Roundhead’s solo work has carried much of the same energy,
especially songs built around sound system bravado, herb culture
and a hardened but melodic deejay style. Tunes like “High Every
Day,” “Weed Is Life,” “Me Nuh See Them” and “Bossy With Quick Cook”
show the range of his catalog, moving between party-ready chants
and the more laid-back, conversational phrasing that helped him
stand out. His voice has always been part of the appeal: husky,
direct and easy to recognise, with a natural feel for the
call-and-response rhythm that drives dancehall.
Though his name is most closely tied to the 1990s, Roundhead has
remained a familiar figure in reggae and dancehall, continuing to
record and perform while living in New Jersey. His music still
reflects the world that shaped him: Jamaican dancehall built on
local sounds, crowd interaction and a fearless sense of
personality. For listeners who came up on the Monster Shack Crew
era, and for newer fans tracing the roots of modern dancehall,
Roundhead stands as one of the voices that helped turn that period
into lasting culture.
