Taller Dan You Think
Image credit Taller Dan’s official Instagram / Instagram: tallerdandman
Navigating a duality of identity, especially when it’s between two places as distinct as New York and the Caribbean, it can be hard but luckily music is a renowned remedy that bridges cultures together. In this case we’re talking about Taller Dan, a Trinidadian artist from Crown Heights, Brooklyn known for his hit songs like “Drop it Down,” “Butterflies,” “Yolo,” “Cranberry” and “Sucka Bag” featuring Boogy Ranks, which has over 1 million streams.
Every artist’s journey into music is different. The moment an artist discovers their passion and realizes the gift they were bestowed makes for one of the most compelling stories. Tallers Dan’s is no different. Hisinterest in music sparked from his older sister, who was deep in the party scene. She was one of his main caretakers, meaning he had the pleasure of being “outside” with her, witnessing the powers of a good tune.
Taller Dan’s identity is represented all over his music persona. Born Javon, his stage name, Taller Dan, represents his height. He is 6’5; his height is clearly seen in the visualizer for“Drop it Down.” Since he’s been tall for most of his life, a close friend of his who has since passed away, came up with the name Taller Dan and it was a perfect fit to be his stage name.
Starting to record music in 2013, he initially leaned more toward the R&B, hip-hop side of things. While attending more fetes with his sister, he fell in love with Soca, listening to artists like Kes the Band and Lil Natty & Thunda. He loved to dance to Soca, which led to beginning to record his own Soca music in 2018.
Some may think Taller Dan is new on the scene, but he’s been grinding for a long time. From traveling to Trinidad, doing his runs to working to meet people in the industry, he’s built up a resume of gigs. He has performed at the Uber Cruise, Trinidad Carnival, and Saint Lucia Carnival. Taller Dan has crafted a genre of music which combines both sides of his identity, with an R&B and Soca fusion.
He gives “all thanks to God.” Without a particular process, he just jumps on the mic and starts flowing. Writing before recording caused his music to feel more repetitive than free. His work became more creative when he bought a studio set up to produce music in his own home.The space has allowed him to freestyle and throw on beats without pressure. Now he finds himself creating on his own timing with in more control over how he wants to put things together.
As a Caribbean child growing up in New York, there are a lot of instances where people want to label you or put you in a box. It becomes hard to balance both sides. You go to the Caribbean and you are a “Yankee,” you go to America and you’re a “foreigner.” How about just being a person with multiple markers of identity? The point is we can acknowledge and celebrate both and that’s exactly what we should do. Taller Dan is taking that step in music and it is making an impact. So much so that followers and supporters are commenting under his post for “Drop it Down” saying, “Would you call this jab or sum?” Jab is a Grenadian genre of soca. Taller Dan responded “no need to categorize it” to the comment-No long talk needed. He is a firm believer that a creative shouldn’t be boxed in, a creative should be able to just that… create! At the beginning of his career, he used to hide that he was born in New York. As he grew more into himself and as an artist, he realized being Trinidadian and a New Yorker makes him who he is. realization prompted Taller Dan to pave his own lane and genre.
Taller Dan’s musical inspirations include Biggie Smalls, Machel, Kes, Kerwin, Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Aidonia, J. Cole, and Michael Jackson. He also made it clear that he is specifically referring to Sting Stage Mavado and Vybz Kartel and that Michael Jackson’s superstar aura is his favorite part about him as an artist. Michael is also Taller Dan’s dream collaboration. They would have come together to create a “Soca Rock, Soca Soul, or Soca Pop” track. I could cry imagining the hit that would be. While he didn’t get to collaborate with Michael, there are a couple of greats Taller Dan has been able to work with. For example, Trinidad Killa brought Taller Dan out at his Brooklyn show last year. He hopes to be able to open up for Machel Montano one day as well.
A lot of the music coming out now is intensely profane, sex-driven, and explicit. Growing up, the soca I listened to wasn’t cursing or overtly sexual. It was not until I got older, listening back to the songs that I realized that the “pipe” and “lumber” and “kitty cats” I would listen to were just metaphors. There’s something so fun about that lore of innocence with a little flare. Taller Dan’s music shines light on love, relations, jamming, intimacy and all the feel goods with some hidden spice there as well. You have to pay attention to the wordplay to catch it. That’s my kind of music. He aims for his music to be contagious and tastefully curated, something everyone can enjoy and vibe to.
If you haven’t heard of Taller Dan before, tune in now. I’d suggest starting with “Drop it Down.” You’ll fall into a riddim that pushes boundaries and creates a new musical vibe. And word on the street there’s an EP on the way and it’ll be the best of the best.