BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE ‘busiest’ artiste in dancehall music, Busy Signal, will headline a concert in Nevis called “Liberation Sting” at the Cultural Village on Friday, September 18.
The artiste and his recent hits ‘Night Shift’ and the remake of Phil Collins’ ‘One More Night’ have been taking over the airwaves by storm, and the concert is expect to be a sold-out event.
Organiser of the event Ernest Jeffers, also known as Ibal, said that the concert would also launch his record company and introduce his first recording artiste out of Jamaica, Rayon ‘Single’ Dallas, who would be performing at the show.
Jeffers has partnered with Ravon Wong, a producer from Jamaica, whose studio Busy Signal and another Jamaican artiste, Gyptian, are known to record in.
He told SKNVibes Pep that Wong would also be scouting for new talent that would be signed to Jeffers’ label, Ibal Records.
He said that it would be a good opportunity for the Federation’s youth who are interested in becoming artiste in the Reggae/Dancehall genre to be a part of his label because of his connection with Wong.
“It is to help promote them and to have their music go far, and it’s my way of helping to fight crime by giving the youth something to do,” he said. “I think it is my duty to help the situation with crime.”
Jeffers, who is originally from Irish Town but has been residing in Nevis for the past two years, said that it is their hope to help other Caribbean artistes get their music out there as the majority of Jamaican artistes are doing.
“We’re doing a Caribbean linkup with management and artiste. We need to link up the Caribbean and get the music out there.”
The concert will also feature homegrown acts form St. Kitts and Nevis including Dagah, Jah Fire, Ashkenaz, Jungles, Bamboo B, Tazbo, Furnace, Mighty Links, Teflon, Segricks, Rugs Man and Propheton.
Recklife Movement, Sister Sensia and DJ Yardy will also provide music.
The cost to attend the event is $50 in advance and $55 at the gate.
Jeffers said that he has been involved with music for many years and has brought a number of international sounds to perform at events in St. Kitts, in partnership with his cousin.
Among those sounds were Stone Love, Black Chiney, Bass Odyssey, Poison Dart and Tony Matterhorn.
The event coincides with the celebration of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis’ 26 years of Independence.
Busy Signal has only been a professional artiste for a few years but he has already dominated the industry with a number of hits.
Listeners to his music will automatically glean who he is, where he has been and where he is heading.
It takes courage to embrace change and push back the boundaries, but that’s what Busy Signal has done throughout his career. He is is said to have transcended everything bad and negative the ghetto lifestyle has thrown at him, and redefine dancehall music every time he steps into a studio, or visits a local school and presents it with badly needed computer equipment.
His music not only hones his musical skills, but some are in response to what is happening around him with a degree of integrity that cannot help but uplift and inspire others.
In 2005, he proved he was ready for the industry as ‘It’s All Because Of You’ with Tami Chyn, and ‘Step Out’, produced by Gravi T, along with ‘Not Going Down’ were all breakthrough hits.
He is still riding the success of his second album, ‘Loaded’, which includes a string of hits - ‘These Are The Days,’ ‘Jail’, ‘Real Jamaican’ with Michael Rose and the infectious ‘Unknown Number’.
His sense of fun and mischief is allowed full rein on dancehall tracks like ‘Wine Pon De Edge’, ‘Hey Girl’, ‘Tic Toc’ and ‘Cool It Baby’, which Busy programmed himself.
On June 2008, Busy made his debut appearance in St. Kitts when he performed at the annual St. Kitts Music Festival. He did not fail to please attendees who enjoyed his 30-minute performance and expressed disappointment when he left the stage.
He continues to ‘dun’ the place and shake up the summer with his EP ‘Hottt Ed’, released on July 27, 2009 on VP Records.
The talented and versatile DJ continues to enjoy success with another current hit tune, ‘Praise & Worship’, which is currently taking the airwaves by storm.
It reached the top spot on BBC’s 1Xtra earlier this month and is Choice FM’s top 10. ‘Praise & Worship’ now features on ‘Hottt Ed’ alongside ‘Beep’, ‘Dah Style Deh’, ‘Trading Places’ and ‘Spliff Tail’.
The artiste concluded a successful European tour in June and will return to London for a show at Brixton Academy on Saturday, August 22.
