Mr G urges peers to make music with global appeal
Published:Saturday | January 8, 2022 | 12:10 AMSade Gardner/Staff Reporter
Dancehall artiste Mr G is calling on his peers, seasoned and new, to make globally appealing music. The veteran entertainer is among those in the music industry who believe that Afrobeats has taken the global spotlight once occupied by one of its influences, dancehall.
“Right now, we’re getting a beating from the Afrobeats and afro artistes because they’re doing fun, commercial stuff,” Mr G told The Gleaner. “We, who do dancehall and reggae music, are the ones the world usually look towards for that happy, inspiring beat that makes people dance – that’s why it name dancehall.”
He referenced his latest release, Tuff Times with Wayne Wonder, as an example of a track that imbues dancing and bears clear, relatable lyrics which translate universally. It was produced by Chad & Craig Entertainment.
“It’s a conscious song, but it’s a feel-good song that you can dance to effortlessly. So we need to put back the dance in the dancehall and get back on track,” he said. “We need to start filling up back stadiums, not clubs. I urge all my fellow entertainers, musicians and producers to start thinking outside of the box. Let’s not make music only for the corners and Jamaica. We need the music dem weh have visa on dem, weh can pass airport.”
EXTENSIVE HISTORY
His advice is supported by his long history of talent development and playing an integral role in bringing some of dancehall and reggae’s brightest stars to the fore. Though he started his recording career in 1991, Mr G, formerly known as Goofy, was also busy helping others.
“I started from 1994 with artistes like Merciless; I was the one that recorded him and make him break while I was producing for Wee Pow,” he shared. “While at Main Street Records, I brought Vegas to record Heads High; TOK to voice them breakout song Whoa; Chico, Madd Anju – I gave him the break off my label Young Blood Records. Kiprich, Alozade ... While Jah Cure was incarcerated, a me put out the first two big monster songs with him from prison: Love You and Same Way. Those are the songs that made Don Corleone call my phone and ask for the link with Jah Cure, and that is how he ended up voicing on Drop Leaf rhythm weh give him one of his biggest songs.”
He added, “We’ve been influential. We brought artistes like Aidonia into the game, I-Octane, Vershon, Dexta. A me go fi him (Dexta) fi voice 7 Eleven. A we voice Khago pon the One Day rhythm, and he got the break. We’ve helped tons of artistes. Some of them go cross the finish line big, some of them just alright.”
He said he has also done the same for foreign artistes while signed to the UK’s EMI Records in the early 2000s.
“While signed to EMI, I discovered talents like Joss Stone for them, and she went on to sell millions with her album,” he started. “Fountains of Wayne, I was the one who discovered them out of demo tapes. I picked Stacy’s Mom out of their demo tapes, which went number one and sold millions. EMI actually offered me a job as an A&R besides being an artiste because I had picked out talent and songs, and they saw that I have a natural knack for it.”
He also wrote and produced songs for Baha Men’s Move It Like This 2002 album. He appears on Rich in Love on the album, a track sampling his original record earlier released on his label.
Despite the myriad of opportunities presented to Mr G to migrate to foreign genres, his loyalty to promote and invest in the growth of Jamaican music remains.
“We do it for the love of the music and, like mi tell people, what is for you is for you and what is for a next man is for a next man. So mi nav nuh problem with helping people,” he said. “I think God has blessed me immensely throughout the years because him see the kind of heart weh we have, so him keep we up. Somebody might nuh hear from me for a little bit and then two-twos, dem hear big songs, and that’s how mi do mi career. Mi mek sure seh every generation – when dem reach 10 years old – have at least three or four songs fi hold on pon from me.”
Mr G, whose given name is Chad Simpson, got his big break in 1996 with Fudgie, produced by Main Street Records. His catalogue has extended to include hits like Big Man, Little Youth (featuring Red Rat), Buff Bay, Whining Machine (featuring Sanchez), Old Crook, Beat Dem Bad and Swaggerific.