Patois-driven Big City Life is certified platinum
Big City Life, a drum and bass hit by Australian producer Luude and the British electronic duo Mattafix, was on Friday certified platinum in the United Kingdom.
The certification, issued by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), commemorated sales and streaming equivalent of 600,000 units.
First released in 2005 via EMI Records, the song which has elements of dancehall, reggae, hip hop, and R&B, is driven by the chorus which was sung in Jamaican Patois.
The original version of the song peaked at #15 in the United Kingdom, number one in Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria, and New Zealand. It also made the top 10 on charts in Hungary, Norway, Australia, and in the Czech Republic.
That version was previously certified gold in Austria, Italy, and New Zealand as well as platinum in Germany and Switzerland.
The 2022 version which was remixed by Luude, peaked at #8 in the United Kingdom, #2 in New Zealand, #30 in Ireland, and #67 in Germany.
Aside from its platinum certification in the United Kingdom the remix has been certified gold in Austria, platinum in Australia, and 2x platinum in New Zealand.
Big City Life is featured on Mattafix’s 2005 album All Signs of Struggle.
The duo consists of keyboardist Preetesh Hirji and vocalist Marlon Roudette, whose mother is from St Vincent and the Grenadines.