Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter
With his new album Shotta Culture, Spragga Benz says his aim is to help rebuild dancehall music.
“Mi waan represent my music and my industry. Mi waan represent it to the fullest. Mi waan present it the best way possible,” said Spragga, in reference to the album that was released on iTunes on Tuesday.
“When my album deh beside other genres, it nuh supposed to look any less. Mi a try build back our thing, our culture,” he added.
The artiste said he started the 17-track album in 2001 but he was in no rush to complete it.
“The third song do from bout 2001. Over the years we never too rush it. When the ideas come over the years, we just document them. We just want a quality product. We a try go back to the foundation,” Spragga told THE STAR, noting that the album has music videos and a documentary.
In trying to get back to the roots, the artiste said he consulted some veteran producers. However, American producer Salaam Remi did the majority of the production work, while ZJ Bambino and PJ Butta produced one song each. The album also features collaborations with artistes like Stephen Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Swizz Beats, Jazmine Sullivan, Nas, Wayne Wonder, Sizzla Kalonji and Queen Ifrica.
Speaking about his latest project, Spragga Benz says the album is definitely something different.
“The sounds are different as well as the topics. We never go inna di rat race. We never go for the hardcore fast-paced thing, we go for the easy listening,” he said.
And, it seems his method worked as he says the response to Shotta Culture has been good so far.
“Bwoy, it a get good feedback. Like nine out of 10 people love it and a seh dem have it on constant replay. It’s like a breath of fresh air to them,” Spragga told THE STAR, noting that he is currently in the United States doing promotion for the album.
Although the album has been released on iTunes, the artiste says he is in the process of completing some of the videos. The progress of the documentary, however, is dependent on how the court case involving the death of his son, Carlton ‘Carlyle’ Grant, plays out.