Where in Jamaica were you born?

 

St. James, Jamaica.  I moved to the United States when I was eleven years old

 

You perform and sing Reggae, Dancehall and Soca.  How did you get introduced to Soca?

 

New York is very diverse. I got an ear to Soca by being on the parkway on Labor Day.  At first I was not a fan of Soca.  One Summer I heard a Iwer  George song.  My friends and I were dancing to the song and we had fun.  I did not think anything of it.  While singing on the block,Iwer George brother heard me singing and send someone over to me.  He told me he wanted to record a song.   That is how I started to do Soca music. 

 

What was that first tune?

 

Man a bad man. 

 

What is Iwer George brother’s name?

 

Devon George

 

 
I understand you worked with Machel as well.

 

I met Machel before I went to Trinidad.  At the time, I did not know who Machel is.  That was the year he did Big Truck.  I later went on tour with him and I got to really love the music.

 

 

You seem to be  a fan of the music.  Most artists may not consider themselves a fan of the music.

 

I grew up in the church.  My father is also a singer.  As a child I was shy to do music.  The reason I was shy was because I thought my voice was pretty.  In Jamaica, things were more geared towards the gangster part of life in the music.  My voice did not match the image of being a gangster.  I have a loving voice.  I could not hide it because I was always singing.

 

Music was the only thing that would take me to a level away from whatever was going on in my life.  I kept on singing, then my friends heard me sing.  They were on the other side, where they like the gangster Rhymes and hip hop.

 

The edgy lyrics!

 

My friends tell me I sound wicked.  They tell me that I had talent. That was when I started pursuing music at the age of thirteen.

 

How did you reconcile the process of your father singing Gospel and maybe not approving of the  kind of music you do?

 

It was easy because I am a very stubborn child. [Laughs].  If want an icy and my father don’t buy me the icy.  I will find a way to buy it myself. [Laughs]  I did not take no for an answer just like in this business.  When I first started, they said you can’t do Reggae and Soca, and Pop Music at the same time. I believe, If you do this music and don’t sound like a jack of all trades you can actually perfect it.  The difference is the beat.  I love music overall.  I get a different vibes from each genre.

 

What you are doing now is being recognized.  There are collaborations all the time with Dancehall Reggae and Soca artist.

 

Yeah!   I also do pop music.  Went I do pop, I add the Caribbean theme to it.  Even though, I am Jamaican.  I like to promote the Caribbean. 

 

I did not know your name when I was first introduced to your music. I was in a club when I heard “tonight”.  How does it feel to know that people may know your song but not your name?

 

The people can get a variety of music.  They get a singer first. They will never be cheated.

 

How difficult or easy is it to make a Career in Caribbean music in the United States?

 

The United States do not own Caribbean music. They know the music but they do not understand it.  The reason why they do not understand it is because the Caribbean Islands are not united.  There is always competition between the Islands. 

 

Instead of spending time to merge the music to present it to a Pop or American culture.  We spend less time presenting and when we do present it.  It does not come out right.  The topic we are dealing with in our own community, the world cannot understand those topics.

 

What are some of the topics we are dealing with?

 

For instance, Jamaica is big on bunning a fire on Batty Man.  It is pretty much murder music.  Every culture has a problem with certain lifestyle they do not like. There are many artists on the same topic.  I am not against people saying what they don’t like, but it is at a point where they do not show diversity to their artistry.  Everybody follow the same formula even in Soca music.

 

Who are some of the artist you worked with in the recent years?

 

Britney Spears on her album "in the zone", Wyclef, Brick n Lace, Rihanna when she first came out, and Full Force.  I still work with Full Force.  Gerald Levert, and the WWE.

 

How did WWE come about?

 

A friend of mines worked with WWE to do music.  She introduced me to the person responsible for the music.  I did a song for a Rasta called Carlito. Ever since that they have been calling me to work with them.

 

How did the Brittney Spears relationship come about?

 

Through my work with Full Force, they shopped work I was doing with another artist name Danielle.  She was signed to Full Force.  Jive heard what I did and they wanted me to put my blend of Caribbean to Britney Spears to the Pop World.

 

You mentioned working with Full Force. What kind of work do you do with them?

 

Singing, Producing, writing.  It all depends on what I am being hired for.

 

You are a man in high demand!

 

I try to be. [Laughs]

 

 

How did you meet Full Force?

 

A friend of mines called me because they wanted a Reggae artist chant for a group demo.    I am a singer, I don’t do chants but I said I would give it a try.  I did it and they liked it.  We have been working together since 2000.

 

Tell me about the Business of the music.  You seem to be entrenched in the business of the music.

 

The music business is like playing lotto. [Laughs]  Real talent is everything.  A lot of the artist in the pop world have limited talent.  They don’t really sing.  It is a lot of studio work.  The labels try to find models to hum a tune to record album.  Once you get a bank account with the business you can make a career. 

 

What do you mean by the bank account?

 

Bank account is when you are recognize for something by your audience.  There is notoriety outside of your own neighborhood.  Labels will come to you to bring your audience to them.

 

How are you aligned with Black Roots Management?

 

He [Cameron] will call me up and get shows or work for hire.  He is real ambitious.  He does good work with new artist.  He is up on his game.  He is patient.  With new artist you have to be patient.  Sometimes new artist have a vision of the business that is different from reality.  With Cameron it is beneficial because he knows where they are coming from.

 

What is your vision for the next 10 years?

 

I want to spread love.  To promote love is to promote God’s work.  Love mean a lot of different things.  Without love this world cannot go anywhere.  I want to be a inspirational artist.

 

Thank you Bud Ramsey.  Anything else you want to add?

 

For the upcoming artist it is important to continue doing music from the heart.  At times people want to do music of the times.  I say do music from within because it can help other people also.  The music needs diversity to reach people.  Be true to yourself.