Fast forward to 2011, and Dre Skull and Vybz Kartel have teamed up together again for his forthcoming album “Kingston Story”, and Dancehall fans can expect something more than the usual collection of recent singles and the odd filler track that can often blight many dancehall albums.
Read this Dre Skull interview with Strictly The Best covering working with Vybz Kartel on the upcoming album “Kingston Story,” the state of dancehall and more.
Vybz Kartel recently appeared on Hype TV to discuss his upcoming album Kingston Story which is set for release on June 21st on Mixpak Records.
Check the guest post I wrote for Large Up on Shelly Thunder’s “Break Up” video.
Friday May 13, 2011
Bubblin @ The Crown Room
205 NW 4th Ave, Portland, OR
Saturday May 14, 2011
Tormenta Tropical @ Elbo Room
647 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA
Last week I was down in Kingston for Vybz Kartel’s ‘Go Go Wine’ video shoot and I wanted to share some photos and a video. All photos by Ports Bishop.
For the final outdoor scene Kartel was rolling deep with his crew Also, note the fans watching the shoot from the roof. There were literally hundreds of people who came to get a glimpse of Kartel.
Vybz Kartel’s ‘Go Go Wine’ is is out now on iTunes and it is currently the #28 bestselling track on the Reggae charts and climbing. It’s also available at all other fine digital retailers. Support this release!
For the last nine months I’ve been working with Vybz Kartel on a full length album and it’s finally time to let the world hear some music. The album, ‘Kingston Story,’ will be out in June, but the first single, ‘Go Go Wine,’ will be released on May 3rd and Toddla T debuted it on his BBC Radio 1 show last Thursday during a special show on Jamaican music. Listen back to the show which has a bunch of great interviews and music (including a quick interview he did with me last time we were in Kingston). Pitchfork also showed support and debuted a stream of ‘Go Go Wine’ (which has resulted in 80 plus YouTube rips). On Friday, the track got radio support fom Jabba (of Massive B fame) who gave the track multiple spins on Sirius XM and from Max Glazer who dropped the track on his Federation Sound show on EVR.
I want to take a moment to give a special shout out to Mr. Glazer, because I wrote the riddim for ‘Go Go Wine’ in January after I played him a bunch of cuts from the Kartel album and he shared his perspective on what the album had and what it might be missing. Basically, he mentioned that the record could use a real Hot 97 friendly/rhythmic dancehall cut and I took his advice and went back into the studio before my last trip to record with Kartel. Respect for the advice!
Dutty Artz is a great New York-based record label and their blog is a must read for its wide coverage of all things New York tropical and beyond. Recently, they interviewed me on my life as a producer, my work with Vybz Kartel and where things are going with Mixpak. Read it here.
How did you begin collaborations with Jamaican artists? Were you interested in particular vocalists/particular sound?
My first project was the single “Gone Too Far” with Sizzla, and I reached out via the internet. In terms of my interest, I’ve been a fan of Jamaican music for a long time, so it was a longstanding dream to be working with Jamaican artists. The first track I did with Vybz Kartel, “Yuh Love,” was a similar thing (over the internet). But lately, I’ve been coming to down to Kingston quite a bit to get into the studio with people directly and that’s definitely my preferred way of working when it’s possible. In terms of whom I’ve worked with, I’ve basically chosen people I was interested in for particular projects I had in mind. There are other artists I’ve wanted to voice whose label has offered very bad contractual terms so it wasn’t possible to get it done. But overall, I feel very good about who I’ve worked with, it’s been amazing and I expect to keep doing more projects.
Read the full Dre Skull interview on Soundclash.
We’re expecting this to get bonkers and sweaty (and honestly, probably a little out of control with this cast of characters) – so we’ll recommend that you show up early. SXSW badges and regular party folk are welcome!
WHEN: Saturday March 19th
WHERE: Prague // 422 Congress Avenue Austin, Texas
DETAILS: RSVP
Come hear the newest mutations of House, Garage, Dancehall, Crunk, and everything in between. Brought to you by resident DJs Dre Skull and Kingdom, with a special guests DJ Tameil, Total Freedom and Schwarz!
WHEN : Saturday, March 12th
WHERE : Drom // 85 Avenue A, NY NY
DOORS : 10pm
COVER : $5 with RSVP! ($10 at the door)
Club Infinity is back next Saturday January 22nd with Tim Dolla, Matt Shadetek and Samo Sound Boy. RSVP for $5 entry.
Vybz Kartel and I have been working on an album for the last 6 months and we’re finally getting close to a finished product. For now, get an early preview of one of the tracks in the background of the above video. Also, check out Kartel’s two part interview with MTV UK where he talks about writing lyrics, borrowing from Ne-Yo, collaborating with Mavado and his upcoming Mixpak album.
MTV: Can we expect a follow-up album to ‘Pon Di Gaza 2.0’?
Vybz Kartel: Yeah, we’ve got a record that we’re working on for next year with Dre Skull from Mixpak records. He’s this white kid from New York that builds some sick beats. So next year me and him – Adidjaheim records/Mixpak records – it’s going to be for April. We haven’t even started the promotion for the album yet. It’s going to be like 14 exclusive tracks.
My remix of TNT’s new single “Hot Gyal” is out now on on T&A Records. For those who don’t know, TNT is the supergroup made up of Tifa, Natalie Storm and Timberlee and this release was produced by Matt Goias, Max Glazer and Fancy. Grab the full release from iTunes, Beatport and all fine digital music retailers.
Atlanta-based rapper Lil Scrappy was an integral part of the crunk movement from the very beginning, appearing on seminal hits such as No Problem, Knuck If You Buck, Neva Eva, Gangsta Gangsta and Money In The Bank. On his new Dre Skull-produced single, Look At Me, Scrappy is back with a hard, existential club banger that’s sure to induce scrunch-face. To top it off, we got Pen and Pixel for the cover art.
Out now on iTunes, Juno and other fine digital retailers. Super limited edition vinyl coming soon. Also, grab a Pen and Pixel x Lil Scrappy t-shirt while you’re at it.
Lil Scrappy “Look At Me” drops in one week!
RSVP for $5 entry.
In late 2009 I went down to Atlanta to record with Lil Scrappy and the resulting single Look At Me will be released on November 2nd on Mixpak. Look at me!
Footage I shot of Araabmuzik playing last month at Club Infinity.
Enter the mousehole.
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