November 14, 2006 @ 11:59 am

Busy Signal: Bad Man Forward

Richard Cruz

Busy Signal (née Reanno Gordon) is one of dancehall’s brightest new stars; his song “Step Out” has propelled him to international stardom almost overnight. But Busy is no one hit wonder; his debut album, Step Out (Greensleeves), has garnered much acclaim from dancehall critics, and his smooth-banter style of dancehall seems to be favored by the masses as well. Vibe.com reached out to (a very busy) Busy in Jamaica and, amongst other things, got his thoughts on his newfound fame. VIBE.com: Your song “Step Out” is a bona fide hit here in the United States. Can you tell me how that song came together? Busy Signal: They actually brought the riddim to me on a computer! From there, we were just vibing [with the riddim]; it was just the right vibe. Describe your sound. What separates you from other DJs? left Busy Signal: Really, for me, it’s all about [my] flow and my creativity. I’m way different than most other artists. We’re all artists on a day-to-day basis, but I try to flow different and create something that stands out and sounds different from everybody. That’s the thing with my work. Is it true that you can deejay all of Bounty Killer’s songs? How big of an influence was he on your career? You collaborate with him on your new album on “Do The Maths.” Busy Signal: Me and Bounty Killer…. Put it this way, Bounty Killer has been my idol in dancehall since I was a toddler, so after growing up and now becoming a part of dancehall, reaching out to him was still from the perspective of a fan, not even an artist. So I would see him in the streets and ask for advice and everything, and he was one of the artists who took time out to listen to a young artist like myself and vibe with a young one coming up. “Do The Maths,” I wanted to be a song that people could sit down and really listen to its style. It’s not a really a “jump up, jump up” type of riddim, but rather a cool bass line playing. So I got the riddim, sat back and wrote the song, including Bounty’s part, and I was like, “We really have to connect Bounty Killer to this song.” I brought him his part; he liked it and was like, “Whenever you’re ready to do it, we hit the studio.” I was on tour in England, and the minute I got back, we went in the studio and did it. That song is like you’re driving off, the tires are peeling, and you out! Although you’re a DJ who is still emerging, you have been performing in major shows across Jamaica with artists who are very heavy in the mainstream. Do you feel that you’re on the same level as some of your peers who have been performing for a long time? Busy Signal: I’m not underestimating myself, but I’d rather let the fans [say that], you know? [The present] is different for artists than the past. I don’t think artists that have been in the business for that long can keep up with the creativity and things we are doing now. Some of them cool—you know, Buju Banton, Capleton, Sizzla—but there aren’t any other artists from way back that can keep up to the flow that we have now. I’m not saying we’re above them or anything, but the creativity and the flow is way different. I’ve read that you aren’t too concerned with jumping on every new riddim that comes out; you’re more inclined to make music. Do you worry that separating yourself from the normal routines of the industry might hurt your career? Busy Signal: I try to take chances and do everything different. Jamaica is like a rat race to be on every single riddim that’s out. I don’t like every riddim. Sometimes they come to me with a riddim and I have to force myself to write a song to a riddim I don’t like like that. Sometimes I miss the riddims, and [they feel] I might have to catch up, but I believe in making exclusive [music], something that stands out beyond the ordinary. What do you feel is the next movement in dancehall/Caribbean music? It’s gone from pure dancehall to roots, which is heavy right now. Busy Signal: I really just hope and pray and wish that dancehall will really get bigger recognition across the world. I give thanks to what Sean Paul is doing for dancehall, and all of those who’ve contributed: Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Elephant Man. I just wish dancehall to be [exposed] on a wider scale, so people could really hear it and respect it. What is your kind of favorite music to listen to, other than dancehall or reggae? Busy Signal: Well, I listen to different kinds of music, you know. I listen to salsa, jazz, opera—a wide range of things. It helps keep me original and stand out. What would you like to ultimately accomplish with your music? Where do you see yourself in a few years? Busy Signal: I’d like to still be doing music and even producing music, because I know that there’s a lot of talent in the world. I’m trying to make songs so strong that my kids and their kids will hear them. Music creates music, and there are a lot of different acts out there pertaining to the art of music. But for the moment, I’m only focusing on doing music, doing music, doing music! No retiring or anything like that [ Read more vibe.com online exclusives.

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