- RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Sean Paul in action for Jamaica at the Jamaica Invitational International Water Polo Tournament at the Stadium pools on November 25, 2004.
Fabian Ledgister, Staff Reporter
SEAN PAUL refers to two very simple, yet meaningful lines from the title track of his new album, Trinity, in illustrating the essence of what he represents.
"My main aim is to maintain/ main aim is to stay sane," Sean Paul says.
With his previous album, Dutty Rock, selling over five million units, earning the deejay Source, MOBO, Juno and a Grammy award in the process, Sean Paul has now become somewhat of an ambassador of dancehall music. Recently nominated for a MOBO award as Best Reggae Act for his new single We Be Burnin, it seems that Sean Paul could repeat the success of his sophomore album, contrary to the opinions of
critics.
Trinity hits shelves on September 27. Although he has already achieved the fame and fortune that most entertainers dream of, the international artiste has never been driven by monetary gain. Instead, he finds his drive and inspiration from his love for music.
"Yu see di bling bling an di blang blang, mi nu too much ina it y'nuh," Sean Paul remarked in an interview with The Sunday Gleaner, despite being adorned with an impressively 'iced out' platinum chain, "Mi have mi one an two ting an mi cool."
FIRST INSTRUMENT
One would never imagine that a multi-platinum career emerged from a mother's gift of a simple toy keyboard to an eager 13-year-old boy, who was convinced that he could infiltrate the dancehall with this instrument with which he could build his rhythms. Nobody could dispute the enthusiasm of a young Sean Paul Henriques when in 1993, Jamaica got its first taste of Sean Paul with Baby Girl.
But before Sean Paul, the deejay, there was a talented young swimmer and water polo player at Wolmer's High simply called Sean. "I was really into swimming from a yout. I used to swim and play water polo for Jamaica," Sean Paul casually remarked. He represented Wolmer's in swimming and went on to represent Jamaica at the CARIFTA Games in 1989 and again in 1991. He describes himself as a sportsman, playing any sport and especially water polo whenever he is able to.
A DRIVING FORCE
Despite his natural athletic ability, Sean Paul's love for music was a stronger driving force in his life and after being introduced into the business by 'Third Worldians' Cat Coore, Bunny Rugs and Carrot Jarrett, he knew where his destiny lay. In 1993, after meeting then upcoming producer Jeremy Harding, Sean Paul's breakout single Baby Girl was released on Harding's Fearless rhythm. A string of hits later, including Infiltrate and Deport Dem, the latter on Tony Kelly's Bookshelf rhythm, led to a signing to Atlantic/VP Records and the eventual release of his first album, Stage One.
"My first album was raw dancehall ... I love that album, because is jus straight Jamaican music," reminisced Sean Paul. Ever since Sean Paul's international debut, he has maintained an adamant stance against what he refers to as watering down dancehall music.
"I give thanks to man like Busta Rhymes an DMX, because a dem mek nuf people who normally wouldn't listen dancehall hear it an rate it, but right now I believe that you are a product of your environment ... You cyaa turn you back on you foundation," he said.
Although he describes Dutty Rock as a mixture of dancehall and hip-hop, Sean Paul says Trinity will be closer to his first album.
"I'm working with artistes like Dutty Cup, Tami Chynn, Nina Sky, an excellent songwriter and performer, Wayne Marshall ... and producers like Don Corleone, Leftside, my breda Zig Zag, di Rennaisance crew, Lenky and Jeremy Harding ... bare Jamaican!" exclaimed the Grammy winner.
THIRD WORLD ALBUM
Sean Paul says he deliberately avoided international acts for this album, as he wanted to have the album made totally in the Third World so it would reflect the culture he grew up in. "I went in January to work with the Neptunes and even did a track with Clipse for dem upcoming album. Mi do work wit man like Scott Torch an all Ashanti, but di whol a dem put down pon shelf, cause it neva soun right," confessed Sean Paul.
He says that his Jamaican fans, whom he refers to as his 'dutty fans', are his true fans and he will never stop appreciating their support.
In most of his hot tunes Sean Paul can be heard saying his signature phrase 'a dutty yeah', making it clear that he is still in league with his colleagues and friends, Dutty Cup, an aggregation which includes Moso Kid and Looga Man. Sean Paul scoffs at the notion that he may have left his former group members behind, mentioning that they were in the 'Escape' parking lot the previous night listening to
his new album, which they are featured on. "We not a group act like TOK who you go see together everyday ... We more move like Wutang (Clan); we support each other and will always be bredrins for life," he said.
Like many Jamaicans, the increasing level of violence in the country hit home one day when he got a call from his manager, Jeremy Harding, informing him that his long-time friend Daddigon had been murdered. "When mi look an si Bogle dead, mi vex an mi bawl y'nuh dog ... An den a week later Daddigon mi bredrin ... mi idrin dead y'nuh. Same way gunshot tek dem from di earth ... Mi feel a way," muttered an obviously disturbed Sean Paul. "Also, mi aunt crash wah day an after she fight fi six weeks ina hospital she dead," he stated somberly.
SONGS WITH MESSAGES
Never Gonna Be The Same, a tribute to Daddigon, reflects how adversely these incidents have affected him. Sean Paul said that after mourning for a long period, he realised that many people in Jamaica were experiencing these very same emotions, inspiring him to pen I'll Take you There. "Im trying to let the people know that di violence wicked yes, but that unu musn't let it deter you from having a good time ... I'll take you there is a party tune, with a serious message," stated Sean Paul.
As an international Jamaican act, Sean Paul too has received criticism for what some perceive as homophobic lyrics or what gay rights group term, 'murder music'. Sean Paul gave his take on the issue by pointing at a sticker in the cafe where the interview took place. "Yu si how wi artwork have distinct vibrant colours? Place like China prefer dull pastel colours," he explained. "Every culture have different preferences. Di gay ting is jus an artiste reflecting the values of the culture they were brought up in."
SHOCK MUSIC
"Yu neva hear a man a yard get charge fi run down a homosexual and kill im," he added. "Dancehall is shock music; a punk rocker wi bite off a bat head fi shock people, da freak deh Marilyn Manson wi cum pon stage an a wear ooman breast fi shock people. we shock people wid our culture!"
He says he isn't always in studio, and likes to frequent 'Escape' in New Kingston.
"It is nice when yu can look up an si stars. More time di club ting nu mek it. House parties an dem ting deh nice too, but mi prefer fi jus go check a friend and gwaan easy," Sean Paul said.
While most artistes of his stature would have already embarked upon some venture in film, Sean Paul says he's waiting for the right script. "Stephen Segal gi mi a script, bout im wa man play a Turkish pimp an cum beat me up (he laughs)... Mi nah seh mi wouldn't do di acting ting, but mi afi comfortable wit di character," laughed Sean Paul.
