In a dancehall world gone rancid from stale samples and stagnant beats, Empire producer Ainsley 'Not Nice' Morris stands head and shoulders literally above everyone else. The six-footer has been able to devise a formula that mixes aggression, pop and soul in just the right amounts to make block-sized beats that have made FM radio sit up and pay attention in 2009.
This young genius' gorgeously airy beats and beautiful synth strokes have made the hit-making Portmore Empire outfit the hottest in the dancehall game.
He scored at least five number one hit singles in 2009, with the runaway hit singles, Get Wild which spent three weeks at #1 on the HYPE TV charts and Ramping Shop which was number one simultaneously on the Jamaica Music Countdown, RE and HYPE TV. Last Man Standing hit the top spot giving him three number ones for 2009 in the first quarter of 2009. He continued that pace, striking gold again with Mama on the Story Tella riddim. He easily hauled in the lion's share of the number ones registered by dancehall producers in 2009. He has kicked off the 2010 with a bang as well as his Bus Park riddim is already booming out on mixtapes and from the splayed out windows of cars in the Corporate Area.
Notnice is well known for his juicy Portmore Empire cuts with aggressive catchphrases such as Blak Ryno's Real Stingers on the Remand Medley, or the hard, violent in-your-face mayhem of Kartel's Last Man Standing. However, Notnice's genius lies in his ability to evoke deeper emotions with his material such as the liquid groove and old-soul melodic sensibility of a Kartel's My Mama, the sweet bounce of Jahvinchi's Watch Yu Friends, or the soul of Shawn Storm's Be Wise.
Asked how he felt to be leading a talented crop of producers that include Serani and Stephen McGregor, Notnice paused before answering:
"I am not surprised that this is happening, this is something I always dreamed of doing. If anything at all, I am surprised at how fast this is happening, but it feels great, the ting sell off, everything mi touch, just turn to gold, platinum, silver...Portmore Empire to the world!"
As a teenager, Notnice grew up idolizing Vybz Kartel so this is a dream come true for him to be working alongside Addi the Teacha, and the scary thing, he is doing so well at such as tender age that he is going to get better.
"I am learning a lot everyday and my confidence is growing, the Portmore Empire is looking to dominate now, and I am supplying them with the beats, the ammunition they need to go out there and bring dancehall to the international community."
Notnice fell in love with dancehall while he attended high school. He encouraged his mother to buy him a computer so that he could build his own rhythms, and locked himself away for hours honing his craft. After teaching himself to build rhythms, he kicked off his career at Ruckus Records, where he recorded artistes on his 'Charity' rhythm. After leaving Ruckus Records, he began to link with fellow Waterford-based Portmore Empire compadres like Blak Ryno, and Shawn Storm, as well as Doza Medicine from Westchester. Word began to spread about Notnice's gut-shaking drum whumps and prowess with the keyboard, and he began to make a name for himself in Portmore.
"Long time mi link wid the others and dem come mek some mix tape. I had rhythms from long time, but I had no way to get them out there. Den I made the 'Remand Rhythm' and Blak Ryno come hear it and voice on it, he carried it mek Teacha hear it and him listen it, that's how the connection with Vybz Kartel came about. From ever since my dream is to work with Kartel."
After inking a partnership deal with the Portmore Empire head honcho Vybz Kartel, Notnice has been working from Exodus studio in Havendale. Most people began to hear his name when he made the 'Cool Shade' rhythm, which features a kicker of a chorus in Kartel's 'Seh Weh Yuh Feel Fi Seh' and FM radio was forced to sit up and pay attention. The 'Fight Fi War' rhythm which featured Blak Ryno and Jah Vinci followed and the legend was born.
And it's been all gravy since then. Get Wild, a real wig-mover with a voodoo sexual spin, merely solidified his reputation as a producer to watch for in the future, and it appeared jointly on the Adidjaheim-Notnice Records labels.
And now, he is preparing to take his game to even greater heights.
"Right now, Portmore Empire has the best young talent in the country and it is a joy to be making beats for them, and they are going to be around for a long time to come."