This week, the “Yuh Love” video climbed to #2 on RETV’s MVP Top Ten Chart, up from #5 last week. It also jumped from #5 to #4 on CVM TV’s Hitlist Chart. Let’s see if we can grab a #1 next week…
Watch the video on YouTube, where we’re approaching 200,000 views in under two months.
Big news: the “Yuh Love” video is in proper rotation on just about every station in Jamaica and it’s starting to chart! Last week it took the #6 spot on the RE’s MVP Top Ten Chart, the #5 spot on CVM TV’s Hit List Chart and the #10 spot on TVJ’s FiWi Choice Top Ten Chart.
If you haven’t checked the video, watch it here.
According this study from the University of the West Indies, Vybz Kartel is the most popular dancehall artist right now. And yet, even with Kartel’s single “Rompin Shop” getting heavy radio spins and grabbing Billboard Hot 100 placement in the US, for a number of reasons (including not being able to get a visa to travel to the US), he doesn’t always get in depth coverage in the magazines, so you might not be getting a good look at who he is and what’s going on in his world. Luckily, Boomshots has tracked down Kartel for an extensive two part interview in which he thoughtfully discusses the current state of dancehall and how he chooses to focus his energy. On the issue of getting a visa to travel to the US, he explains.
I know, well a lot of people is trying but as I said I’m just concentrating on music. When they send for me I will appear. Otherwise, me just focus on music. Portmore Empire is signed to us. We have a digital distribution deal for them and locally we have a physical distribution deal. We’re doing videos for them, promoting them as much as possible. Trying to do things like a real business. Y’nawmean? Yeah, and you know we have the Vybz Rum and the Daggerin’ condoms. We’re just concentrating on Jamaica right now. You done know anything that’s big in Jamaica always spread across the world. Just keep it real from the root, and then then blossom will drop inna America, it will drop inna England, drop inna Europe.
Check this great article about Natalie Storm and Dylan Powe on the “Letter From Jamica” blog. Natalie recently voiced a big song, “Look Pon Me,” that features her incredible catchy flow on a Funky riddim straight outta the UK. This will be included on a brand new EP dropping on Mixpak next month. Is the riddim produced by UK Garage bigwig Sticky? Yes. Did Dexplicit kill it on the remix? Indeed. Stay tuned as we do this one record at a time…
Natalie Storm is quickly climbing the ranks of dancehall with a destructive combination of some astounding punchlines, fierce lyricism and street savvy topics. Her latest radio hit, “Recession Special”, flows over the vibesy Hindu riddim with ease and finesse, providing not only a club-worthy dancehall smash, but also an empowering message about female independence when it comes to getting paid. (“No love without money, bwoy haffi pay fi get this honey…ladies, mek sure yu get that dough.”)
Natalie has been working in the studio on two brand new productions: a breezy dancehall throwback riddim entitled Cheese Trix and another project, the Firestorm project which features musical heavyweights such as Sizzla, Macka Diamond, and Ward 21, as well as relative newcomers such as Cordel ‘Scatta’ Burrell’s new deejay find, Rage and Magnum Dancehall Queen Tiki.
Natalie on the Cheese Trix Riddim:
The Cheese Trix ah go hard, it have a different vibe so far than Firestorm because it has more of an original dancehall feel, and because so much R & B out there in dancehall, we’re bringing back the good old hardcore dancehall days. Dylan my manager tested the riddim on the Swatch Sound System just to hear how it a beat. It sound a way!! The riddim a go hard!!
You can listen to Natalie’s blazing “God Bless Me” on her Cheese Trix Riddim at the always on point Heatwave Blog, and you can also listen to more of her music and check videos on her myspace.
Natalie’s also got some super exciting — though still top secret — Mixpak releases coming soon. First things first will be a voicing of a monster UK Funky track that Mixpak has signed. Can’t say too much more, but her song is catchy as hell and is gonna catch instant rewinds. Also, while filming the “God Bless Me” video last Tuesday in Jamaica, she snuck in an extra video shoot for said track. Two videos in one day…the woman’s a hustler! Check back for more news soon…
The all new Mixpak store is up and running and we’re happy to be offering a brand new Vybz Kartel T-Shirt to coincide with the release of his new single “Yuh Love.” Pre-order your t-shirt now and it ships the week of August 25th, 2009.
Browse the Mixpak Records Store
To promote the new release we’re running a contest on Twitter. To enter simply post the following:
“I support the new @mixpak single produced by @dreskull “Vybz Kartel – Yuh Love” http://bit.ly/aDyj2 RT your support!!”
The winner will recieve a free Vybz Kartel T-Shirt and will be chosen randomly among all the entries. To qualify you must be following both @mixpak and @dreskull and you must post before midnight Friday August 21st Eastern Standard time.
Jamaican superstar Vybz Kartel raises the bar with the Dre Skull produced “Yuh Love,” a poppy dancehall anthem just in time for the end of summer. Kartel gives us his deejay ternt singjay and “Yuh Love” — in which he offers a promise of undying love — acts as the ying to his recent smash hit “Romping Shop’s” yang. Dre Skull keeps the production understated, but infectious. Out now on iTunes.
Vybz Kartel is up next on the Mixpak roster, delivering the Dre Skull produced single “Yuh Love.” Stay tuned for the “Yuh Love” video which is being shot in Jamaica tomorrow. We’ll try to post some stills of Kartel on the set soon. Meanwhile enjoy a stream of the track.
