MTV Iggy’s Jesse Serwer caught up with Dre to ask him “how a quiet, shy, white guy with no connections ended up working with dancehall’s most notorious star?” Good question, right?
Dre Skull Interview at MTV Iggy
August 17th, 2011Vybz Kartel “Go Go Wine” Video Update
August 16th, 2011Vybz Kartel’s “Go Go Wine” video continues to make an impact. In the US, you can catch it in rotation on MTV Jams, VH1 Soul or demand it on Music Choice. In the UK, it’s been showing on MTV, Channel AKA, and on Virgin On Demand. Drop us a note on twitter or facebook and let us know if you’ve seen it on TV.
Vybz Interview on MTV Iggy & Westwood
July 7th, 2011
Large Up editor Jesse Serwer interviews Vybz Kartel for the MTV Iggy site, talking about his upcoming reality show, ‘Teacher’s Pet’, Clarks, strip clubs, his plans for another Dre Skull album, and find out what he’s reading right now.
Vybz also phoned into Tim Westwood’s show on BBC 1Xtra earlier this week. Always a pleasure to hear Westwood’s interview style: ‘your swagger’s intense baby’. It’s only available to listen back for a few day, don’t miss it.
Vybz on Billboard & MTV Iggy
June 23rd, 2011
Vybz Kartel & Kingston Story have been featured on the Billboard and MTV websites this week, with Eddie ‘Stats’ Houghton discussing production, controversy & bullsh**t in his review for MTV Iggy, describing Kingston Story as ‘dancehall to the core’, while Patricia Meschino from Billboard discusses Vybz’ empire and business plan post-Corey Todd.
Vybz Kartel LP on Mixpak
December 23rd, 2010We’re more than excited to announce a new Dre Skull produced Vybz Kartel album for release in spring 2011! Here’s a little video of the ‘dancehall hero’ himself telling you how good it’s going to be (with back-up from producer Not Nice and a sneak preview of one of the tracks in the background).
Vybz is very rarely interviewed, but Marvin Sparks at MTV UK has just put out this brilliant two parter (read part one here and part two here) where Kartel talks about writing lyrics, borrowing from Ne-Yo, collaborating with Mavado and, of course, some words on the 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.
Yep, 14 exclusive tracks! More info coming soon!
Natale Storm “Look Pon Me” Remix Contest
April 1st, 2010
The big news these days at Mixpak headquarters is the growing success of Sticky and Natalie Storm’s single “Look Pon Me.” In the UK, the Look Pon Me video has been added to the official playlist on MTV receiving over 35 plays in the last few weeks. That gives Natalie the distinction of being only the second Caribbean artist currently playlisted by MTV UK (maybe you’ve heard of the other…Rhianna?). Not bad exposure for a small label like Mixpak and, if anything, it speaks to how good this track is.
Anyhow, with all the success, we’ve had a number of folks ask about the “Look Pon Me” acapella and after talking with the lawyers and getting the green light, we’ve decided give you the chance to remix this UK-Funky-meets-Jamaica hit.
Rules:
1. Download the acapella.
2. Remix the song.
3. Name your remix Natalie Storm – Look Pon Me (with your remixer name) and then upload your remix to the Mixpak Sound Cloud drop box, adding “Look Pon Me Remix Contest” in the tags.
4. The winners will be selected by Mixpak and streamed on our site.
Prizes:
1st Place: A custom Natalie Storm dubplate, where she works your production/DJ name into a track for use in your clubs sets, sound clashes and on your mixtapes. You will also win the complete Mixpak vinyl discography and a Mixpak Artist Series T-Shirt of your choice.
2nd + 3rd Place: A Mixpak vinyl of your choice and a Mixpak Artist Series T-Shirt of your choice.
Deadline To Submit Your Entry: May 2nd 2010
Support the original version on vinyl, iTunes, and Juno.
UPDATE: We’ve picked the winners. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Natalie Storm Featured in XLR8R Magazine
March 22nd, 2010
As we ready Natalie Storm’s Mixpak EP, she continues to do bigger and bigger things. Check the current issue of XLR8R magazine which is out now (you can read it online here). From the article,
[Natalie] says her future collabos will span R&B, pop, one-drop, calypso, and electro, genres in which she’s already established her presence. she voiced five songs on Enur’s 2008 album, Raggatronic, recorded “Look Pon Me” on the Sticky-produced Jumeirah Riddim, and has plans to keep experimenting. “no matter what style I work with—electro, R&B, pop—I will always be representing Natalie Storm vibes,” she says, describing her approach as a mix of patois vocals, electro sounds, and hardcore garrison beats. “it’s a mash-up, a bashment sound.
Meanwhile her Look Pon Me video is making strides in the UK market getting spins on MTV UK, Channel AKA and Flava TV. Pick up “Look Pon Me” on iTunes, Beatport and all quality digital stores.
