With the international success of "Gimme The Light", Meesta Paul plans on bringing a little dancehall "Dutty Rock" to the world.

Words by Albert McCluster III

did the success of 'gimme the light' in the US surprise you?

sean paul: not really, it just shows you that there's a lot of space between popular music and the
underground tunes. people like shabba have had their turn (at success in the US), now it's my time.
but you have to make it in jamiaca first in the dancehall or you get no respect. this didn't happen overnight.
i've put in a lot of work. shabba, beenie had their time, now it's my time.

right, because when 'gimme the light' finally became popular in the US, it was already considered old in the dancehall and clubs on the islands, right?

sean paul: right...people were suddenly vibing off some of the older tunes in jamaica again. it's seems like
the US success of the song has had an overall effect on the dancehall in jamaica. i get a lot of support in
the US and i emphasize that new york is the place where most of that support and love comes from.

you go out and have fun in your hometown of kingston jamaica just like anyone else.
has your success changed how people treat you at home?

sean paul: i just have to be more careful when i'm home...jamaica still has alot of social problems that make
people desperate. so, when you have fame you in a way have to be more careful of your environment. but,
on the positive a lot more people come up to me...and you know say that they love my music and are proud
of me you know...

(paul's cell phone rings...he gives me the "just a minute i have to take this" look and finger as i hear a man
that's not only is one hell of a performer...but, handles his business intimately...as I hear him rattle off his up
coming schedule for the week...he reassures the caller of his commitment to an upcoming project...and
returns to the interview)

sean paul: my bad...where were we...yeah...kingston..you know that's home and i get much respect and love...
but, you still have to be aware of your surroundings and who you surround yourself with.

We talked some more about how Sean Paul is the first dancehall artist since Shabba Ranks in the US to
have a hit with a hardcore dancehall riddums as well as patios lyrics (usually the songs that crossover are
watered down, meaning, there is an R&B track, or an American Hip Hop artist/ singer along with the
dancehall dj like recent crossover tunes by Beenie Man and shaggy).

It's been over 10 years since Shabba had many Americans who had never liked Reggae, listening to the
tape 'telephone tracks' and interested in dancehall music. It seems we may be in for a resurgence in
dancehall popularity with Sean paul, Beenie and latest arrival, but a veteran in the Dancehall industry,
Super Cat, all signed to American labels now.

your music has been very influential in the popularity of dancehall reggae today and I would like to congratulate you on your single hit, “gimme the light” and the release of your new album, 'dutty rock'. when did you decide to pursue a career in music?

sean paul: by being at school in kingston, i was really interested in music and began dj'ing. when i got a
job at a bank, i began writing my own songs about social change. i then got deeper and deeper into the
music world. by 1999 i came out with my first song 'baby girl don’t cry.' then, in 2000 i put out my first
album, 'stage one.' it was all natural progression pursuing music.

what artists influenced you the most?

sean paul: i was always moved by dancehall reggae. super cat, shabba ranks and special ed are just a few. i was
also influenced by hip-hop artists like slick rick, heavy d and busta rhymes. bob marley always wrote very
deep, passionate songs about social change that inspired me. and my mom played the beatles at home
when I was a kid, so I have always been exposed and appreciative of a diversity of music styles.

how do you feel about the release of your new album, "dutty rock'?

sean paul: well, my album came out november 12, so I’m very excited and feeling good at the reception
it's getting. this is a big vibe and I’m showing a lot of growth. this album goes further and deeper as it is
influenced by more reggae and hip-hop.the video for “gimme the light” has taken dancehall to a new level, and now people can see me for the
first time. i have done a lot of collaborations with tony touch… "

will you be touring for your new album?

sean paul: yea, i have been doing a lot of touring and i plan on doing a lot more. since I’ve teamed up with
atlantic records i’ve been going thru more promotions and a lot of traveling. i plan on working with a
jamaican band, should be touring europe soon and we got the remix of a song i did with busta rhymes
called "make it clap".

what advice could you give to other musicians trying to make it in the competitive music industry?

sean paul: music is your own talent and is an important tool. even if you don’t want to be a role model,
get ready to be in the public eye. energy is there, you just have to use it. please remember we all
come from the same one and we will all return to that one, so there is no reason for fighting.

IS dancehall back? by all indications, it is and according to sean paul, who is one of the genre's biggest crossover success stories, dancehall has gone nowhere.

sean paul: alot of people think because there is no artist on a major label, or you don't see dancehall
selling a lot, that dancehall is dead. but, I go to a club in downtown manhattan and hear a song from
(late 1980s deejay) dirtsman... being played and white girls wining up to it, you know...it's hot and it has
energy.

whose all on "dutty dock"?

sean paul: the album features appearances by ce'cile, the talented but underrated chico, sasha, new york
dj and rapper, tony touch, the human beatbox rahzel from the roots, and hip-hop madman, eminem and
producers, the neptunes.

Dancehall's success has mostly been underground but that is now being smashed with the emergence
of major label clout from smaller labels like VP Records. Sean Paul's success is one of the most visible.
His video for "Gimme The Light" is directed by Little X, who is used to working with major Hip-Hop stars,
the video demonstrates the necessity of putting financial support behind the music.

sean paul: they (the major labels) did not know how to push the music and how to sell it but we
continue putting it out and people keep on buying it.

He is hopeful that the success that he has enjoyed this year, plus the increased support from the
record company, will fuel similar support for other artistes in the genre. This support is paying off for
Paul, with the song "Gimme The Light" getting added to the playlist of urban stations throughout the
United States and beginning to rise in Europe as well.

Everyone acts as if Dancehall has went somewhere since Shabba, in a way it had...where it's always
been...in the hard-swaying dancehalls and clubs in the islands! Jammin Mahn!, Jammin! And now it's
back...it's coming foretold by the light generated by one of Kingstons own....Sean Paul. Pick up
"Dutty Rock"...it'll put you in an island party state of mind, Mahn!

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