Hi-Light’s ‘G from Mi Born’ mixtape has something for everyone

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WHEN Kesean ‘Hi-Light’ James made plans about compiling his music on a mixtape, he wanted it to contain something for everyone while highlighting a number of issues.

Cleverly dubbed ‘G from Mi Born’, and with some controversy, the 18-track mixtape showcases his versatility with tracks that speak to the ladies, the ‘fellas’, the haters and even those who has a sense of humor.

“The idea is to be controversial in every angle, and I thought it was suitable particularly for this mixtape to be humorous and fun and not too serious,” he told SKNVibes.

The 19-year-old Ottley's resident and Best A Dem artiste, a group that sings various genres of music, said that the mixtape is basically to showcase his talents.

On the first track, which is the self-titled ‘G from Mi Born’, James sings about the type of person he is, some of the struggles that confront society that also he endures and the people who pass judgment before actually getting to know him.

“…they say me boasting. True me got me talent and me use it,” he sang.

However, that track is the only song on the album that speaks to his upbringing, as James said he did not want to focus too much on singing about his struggles as what is normally done on most local albums. He wanted to bring something different.

‘Ramping Restaurant’ is track two on the album and if you’re familiar with ‘Ramping Shop’ by Vybz Kartel and Spice, then you will get the idea of the song. However, James gives the song some twists as the lyrics have double meaning and are not as raw as the latter. That tune also features other BAD affiliates - Mykal B and DJ Rinch.

Once again his versatility comes into play on the album as track three is a reggae song titled ‘Without You’. He also has two more reggae songs featured on the album - ‘Picture on the wall’ (track 12) and ‘Lil longer wouldn’t hurt’ (track four).

“The album is all about my life experience and life generally. Everyone has some emotion of love in some part of their life and it’s not necessarily my love story, but what I observe from people,” he said.
Who would ever say, “Thank You” to the ‘Haters’? 

One of his signature songs, ‘Gone Clear’, which also features members of BAD and released at the starting of 2008, is another hit on the album.
“That song really pushed me as an artiste and gave our group local stardom and recognition, and has helped the group to be where it is today,” he said.

The song speaks to those who have negative things to say about the members of BAD, and no matter what they do BAD would continue to work hard to be the best.

‘We nuh Rate you’ is track 14 on the album and once again features DJ Rinch.

In this track, they are speaking about a number of issues they experienced in terms of ‘fight down’ from fellow artistes.

“We use to get a lot of fight from other artistes and bad mind, who tried to have say in which shows we should perform on,” he said.
Track six, ‘Choices’, is probably the best track on the album.

The track indulges listeners to imagine a world with things that were different, and also about people and certain choices they may have made.

It is almost the opposite of how things are presently. For example, in the track he said, “…Imagine if Jesus was a bad man and God’s only son was the one called Satan…”

Done on an original beat, the chorus says, “Imagine if me had me talent and me never did use it, if me never buss music, bet your life say me woulda buss gun…”

That line supports the theory where some persons in society feel that because young people are not engaged in their passion they will turn to illegal activities.

“This is me putting myself out there for music to be controversial, but bring across what I feel in this song. I’m showing people that every action is a reaction and that everyone should carefully think about the choices they make,” James said.

Another popular hit that showcases the versatility of the artiste and had everyone singing the ‘Jeff song’ and doing the ‘Jeff dance’ was ‘Hail de Man’, which is track 16.

In this song, James mimics a male destitute known as Jeff, poking fun at local figures including PEP TV and Radio host Leslie ‘Sugarbowl’ Morton.

“It’s just pure entertainment,” James previously noted. “It’s humorous and meant in no way to disrespect anyone. In fact, if you listen to the lines closely, we’re the ones being dissed. The best form of entertainment is through comedy.”
‘All dogs go to heaven’ is a counteraction to the saying ‘men are dogs’.

It is the final track on the album and done on the ‘Knock you down’ beat by Keri Hilson. James said that it is a song to give men a comeback when women refer to them as dogs.

The chorus sings…“All dogs go to heaven, so when you say me a dog it nuh really that bad at all, cuz if all dogs go to heaven, when you call me a dog you a make yourself look small…”

The other tracks that complete the album are ‘Cycle Rider’, ‘Gallis Love’, ‘He don’t want you back’, ‘If you never cute so’, ‘Inna bed’, ‘The Raps’ and ‘I complete you (Unfinished)’.

Some of those songs touch on relationship issues…popular topics among young people including infidelity and promiscuity.
Nonetheless, James aims to keep it as real as possible in the first compilation of his music which brings reality and real life situations.

He also has some new projects in the works that he encourages everyone to look out for.

If anyone is interested in purchasing the ‘G from Mi Born’ mixtape, they can do so by contacting James at 660-1015.