DANCEHALL recording artiste Mavado is to have a major role in Shottas 2 which began filming last Friday.

The movie is the sequel to the 2002 urban classic Shottas, which starred Ky-Mani Marley, Carlton 'Spragga Benz' Grant and Munair Zacca.

According to a post via Twitter, Cess Silvera — writer/director of Shottas — said Mavado (given name David Brooks) began filming on April 20.

Silvera never indicated the direction of plot, but tweeted: "Mavado and Shottas 2 is a lethal combination."

Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, will reclaim the role of 'Biggs' for the project.

Shottas, is the Jamaican term for gangsters, chronicles the lives of two friends who participated in organised crime in Jamaica and the United States. The 2002 flick had a cult following long before its 2006 American debut.

Last year, Mavado — whose signature calling card is Gangsta For Life — played a a gangster in American rapper Drake's video Find Your Love. Since then he has inked a deal with DJ Khaled's We the Best Music Group. He has released singles such as Emergency which features hip-hop artiste Ace Hood and Survivor, a collaboration effort with Akon.

Mavado will be performing in Manhattan, New York on Monday, April 30, alongside American rappers Tyga, Wacka Flocka, Fabolous, French Montana, Travis Porter and Busta Rhymes.

Under the guidance of dancehall artiste Bounty Killer, Mavado released his debut single in 2004 called Real McKoy. This was soon followed by a string of hit songs including Weh Dem A Do and Dying. In 2007, he released his album 'Gangsta For Life: The Symphony' of David Brooks.

In 2008, the artiste who goes by the moniker The Gully Gad, won a United Kingdom MOBA (Music Of Black Orgin) Award for Best Reggae Act and two years later he took the Male Singjay of the Year at the EME (Excellence in Music and Entertainment) Awards.