Who Is Snow?
Darrin O'Brien, known as Snow, is a Canadian rapper from a Toronto housing project who watched Informer — his debut single — reach #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks while he was serving a prison sentence for assault. He was then denied entry to the United States because of his criminal record, meaning he could not tour the country where his song was number one. 12 Inches of Snow (1993) went platinum.
Quick Stats
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Darrin O'Brien |
| Born | October 30, 1969 — Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Active | 1992–present |
| Labels | EastWest America, Motor Jam |
| Hit Single | Informer — #1 US for 7 weeks (1993) |
Career Overview
Snow grew up in a North York, Toronto housing project (Allenbury Gardens) surrounded by Jamaican neighbours whose dancehall music became his defining influence despite his Irish-Canadian heritage. He was introduced to MC Shan in Queens and produced a demo. He then returned to Toronto, was convicted of assault, and served eight months. Informer was released while he was incarcerated and climbed to #1. He was released from prison to a limousine. He was subsequently denied US entry due to his criminal record. 12 Inches of Snow went platinum in the US and triple-platinum in Canada. He never had another US Hot 100 hit.
Discography
| Year | Album | Chart Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 12 Inches of Snow ⚠️ | Platinum US — Informer spent 7 weeks at #1 |
| 1995 | Murder Love | Reggae — limited commercial |
| 1997 | Justuss | Reggae — limited US release |
⚠️ = Reviewed on Rap Reviews Daily
Why 12 Inches of Snow Earned 3/10
12 Inches of Snow (1993) earned 3/10 from us. Informer is its undisputed highlight — and one of the most extraordinary number-one singles in Hot 100 history. The album around it is competent pop-dancehall filler that has aged into curiosity rather than greatness. Rate Your Music called it soulless fluff for the fickle dance crowd. We gave it 3/10 because Snow has genuine dancehall talent in certain tracks and because the context makes it endlessly fascinating.
Legacy & Cultural Impact
Informer remains one of the most bizarre number-one singles in American pop history. A white Irish-Canadian man rapping in Jamaican patois from a Toronto prison whose song topped the US charts while he was incarcerated and who then could not tour the country — the story is more compelling than the music. Pitchfork named Informer one of the seven worst US number-one singles in 2010. VH1 ranked it among the 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s in 2007. Both are correct.
Snow on Rap Reviews Daily
★ 12 Inches of Snow (1993) — Rating: 3/10 | Read the review →