BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - LAST year they showed you how to 'Do De DCH', but this year the 'Sweetest Band in the World', Small Axe, is claiming that it has the "Hardware". And, yes, its members displayed the hardware when they finally dropped their long-awaited 10-track album on ZIZ Radio.
Fans wasted no time in tuning in on their radios and online Tuesday night (Dec. 3) to hear what songs the band has been putting together for the past several months.
The album is dubbed ‘Hardware’ and, like its name, the band members claim to possess the various hardware that their fans love.
The band members, in an interview with Chico, explained that the album consists of different styles of songs as they decided to give the fans a twist.
They kicked off the launch with a ‘softball’; a track comprising various stereo mixes, which they said was to get fans in the groove.
Dubbed 'Dj Mix', one member said it is "something for you to get your groove on, shake your head and shake your feet".
The band members took a few minutes to reminisce about the powerful year they had and gave details of some of the islands they travelled to and what the crowd response was like at the gigs they played.
Places travelled included New York, Miami, St. Thomas, Tortola, Anguilla and Saba.
They said that at each gig played, the responses were "great" and that in some places the crowd asked for the band to return.
For the release of the second track, the members decided to hype it up and dropped a tune called 'From de Ghetto' on the fans.
Describing the song, one of Small Axe’s members said it is "basically bigging up ghetto people and all the youths".
The individual explained that when the word "ghetto" is heard, persons usually associate it with violence and negativity which sends a wrong message.
He added that many people in high professions, including lawyers and doctors, came from the ghetto and that it promotes positivity as well.
The next track dropped was 'Something about that Wuk', which is a semi up-tempo tune that the men could appreciate as the ladies gyrate on them.
The song speaks to the way women gyrate, stating that "I got a weakness for the sweetness and I can't control myself...something about that wuk".
The next track released was a Mr. World production, and his explanation was that he always wants to produce a "universal" song, something that the fans could still enjoy long after Carnival is over. So he penned a song called ‘It's all about respect’.
He also explained that it speaks to people having respect for each other and it warns them not to disrespect Small Axe, adding that the band is going to retain its Road March title.
A groovy tune was ‘Smartphone Addict’ while another up-tempo song was ‘C'down’, which a number of fans said they absolutely love.
After a few songs were released, fans were given the opportunity to call in to voice their opinion on the album, to which the band received rave reviews.
But, the song everyone was waiting to hear was the famous ‘Hardware’, which the members held back until the last minute. Part of the song was used in the S.L. Horsford's Building Centre's advertisement, and since first aired fans have been waiting to hear the rest of it.
When the tune was finally released, fans wasted no time in calling in to the radio station to tell the band members how much they loved the song and could not wait to "jam to it" on J'Ouvert.
The album is available for sale from Mr. World and Band Manager Gregory Warner for just $50. The album is sponsored by S.L. Horsford's Building Centre, Allie's Construction, LIME and Sprat Net.
