( L - R ) Mr Vegas, Assassin, Spice, Vybz Kartel - file
TJ Records brings older and younger artistes together in his recently released DNA rhythm.
Featuring 17 artistes, DNA brings together persons such as Buju Banton, Louie Culture, Mr Vegas with newcomers such as Laden, G Whizz, Flippa Mafia and persons in-between such as Vybz Kartel and Spice. WhenThe STAR spoke to producer TJ White he explained, "I just wanted to get a vibe with the present dancehall artiste and the ones back then."
a remake
While White has remade older rhythms before like Dave Kelly's Showtime for his Unfinished Business, according to White while DNA has a 90s sound, it is not a remake of an older rhythm. He believes that while older artistes such as Spragga Benz and Louie Culture showed that they have what it takes, the young artistes also represented well.
White added, "The reception has been really good so far, all the radio stations have been playing it. A lot of people overseas are calling and say they like the idea of the vibe."
DNA has a classic 90s dancehall sound, which is reflected in the lyrical approach and topics of the artistes. A fairly simple rhythm, more depth to the sound would have made it better but it is the artistes on DNA that bring it to life. Assassin shows off his lyrical skills to the maximum attacking the popular 'raffle and dip' topic in Jacket. Playing around with the meaning of the word 'jacket', he deejays, "Mi nuh waan no jacket but if a T-shirt and my jeans mi rock it."
Newcomer G Whizz has My Girl, a song which has a very Caribbean feel and sounds vastly different from the deejays on the rhythm distinguishing his sound from all others. Sounding almost like a young Wayne Wonder, G Whizz calls for a girl to be his. Laden flows differently from normal in Bike Ride, a song that the women will like as he calls for them to "knock yuh knee and bend yuh back". Spice is the sole female on the rhythm with Back Broad, another song that the women will like.
Flippa Mafia borrows from icon Buju Banton in his Grudge Me, his style follows two of Banton's songs Big It Upand Grudge. Mafia brings his own flossing to the song talking about persons who hate for his 'style and flavour". Buju Banton himself is on the rhythm with G.A.L, while Spragga shows that he still has his flavour in Style. Another catchy song on DNA comes from Kartel with his explicit Turn & Wine, Kartel alternates between deejaying fast and slows it down again. Others on the rhythm include Bugle, Beenie Man, Aidonia, Louie Culture, Mr Vegas, Natel and Toi.
According to White, coming next he has singles from Kartel, Bugle, G Whizz, I-Octane and a one-drop rhythm to be released soon.