Mr Vegas bringing back ‘rub-a-dub’ with new album

Reggae-dancehall singer Mr Vegas plans to re-energise the music scene with some "good ole rub-a-dub reggae" as he readies for the August 29 release of his new album, ' Ghetto Reggae'.

"Hopefully wi can reignite some interest inna di reggae side of it [music] like the [legendary producers] King Jammy and Bobby Digital type a reggae," Mr Vegas told THE STAR. He said the new album will not be watered down.

"It's not a lot a autotune and overly processed vocals - it's just raw singing and a King Jammy sound. It's the kinda music weh ago gi yuh a type a vibe like back inna di days when yuh listen to man like Chuck Turner, Sanchez and Thriller U. I just wanted to recreate dat because that's what I grew up on and, di first time I sang on a sound system, it was a Chuck Turner song that I sang, and I just wanted to recreate that, just to bring back dat vibe," he shared.

The singjay said that, based on his recent observations, he saw where women needed a reminder on how to "bubble again".

"I've seen where Khago have a nice likkle juggling pon the '2 Time' riddim and di people dem like it. But I realised like when it play inna di dance, especially here in Jamaica, mi see di people dem like dem naah move - like dem figet how fi dance. Woman all figet how fi bubble and how fi hol' di Guinness unda dem arm and crush up di grabba inna dem han' and bubble - man and woman a bubble on each other. Some a dem songs deh from back den, a dem create some of us, suh wi need fi go back to bubbling - some slow bubbling yuh nuh," he opined.

With over two decades of contribution to the entertainment fraternity, the Sweet Jamaica artiste said this project will reflect his highs and lows in the industry, while remaining "true to the culture". The album is a 14-track compilation featuring the artiste's personal journey in a throwback, rub-a-dub musical style. Mr Vegas also promised to release a musical juggling, the 'Good Time' rhythm, which he said is "a cut of Khago's 2 Time riddim". It will feature some of Jamaica's top vocalists such as Christopher Martin, Ce'cile, Ernie Smith, and Ed Robinson.

Despite the increased competitive nature and fast pace of today's musical artistes and landscape, Mr Vegas expressed no doubt of the potential success of Ghetto Reggae.

"We're at a point now where people just need to find back di groove and find back demselves; and now dat wi have di attention addi people - of course [Vybz] Kartel came outta prison and people start going out again, suh wi want to introduce dem to new music [and] give dem new material," he said. "Suh I just think it's a good time [because] Afrobeat was dominant, it kinda die down now. I think it's a good time for people to rub-a-dub again because reggae music always had its space; it has never taken this long for reggae music to come back and dominate." The singer also expressed hope that the album will be nominated for a Grammy.

As for live performances, the singer said that because of the limited number of local shows, his local fans will not be seeing him any time soon. His last performance was at the Jamaica Labour Party mass rally in Half-Way Tree on August 10.

"I don't think we have enough shows and we don't get di chance to perform like how we'd perform when we're in Europe. We don't get di extended time, resources and materials that we need to perform in Jamaica, but hopefully when [current entertainment minister] Babsy Grange dem win dis election we'll put some zones there and we start bring back dat type of reggae music," he said.