I just read some news about another respected dancehall/reggae artist putting out some watered-down hip-hoppy crap in a lame attempt to crossover. When will Jamaican artists/producers/managers learn that this shit never works? Reggae is big worldwide because of it's unique beat. You ask any non-Jamaican why they like reggae is because of the beat. More time they don't even know what the artist is singing (if they even understand english at all!). So why is it that the first thing most Jamaican artists do for international fame is to go sing pon a mediocre hip-hop/R&B beat? Why tek away the one thing that the people love about di music?

If you don't agree just check the history:
Super Cat - buss in the US with "Ghetto Red Hot" (on an original dancehall riddim) then go change it up to hip-hop for the video and for his next US release "Dolly My Baby": international career flop.

Shabba - went worldwide with "Twice My Age" and "Trailor Load" (both on JA riddims) then followed up by putting out the crossover crap "House Call", "Mr. Lover Man" and "Slow & Sexy": international career flop.

Bounty Killer - had international buzz building up since how long. So what is the first single he releases off his major label debut? "Hip-Hopera", one of the weakest songs off the "My Xperience" album: international career flop (not even No Doubt could revive it).

Beenie Man - went global with "Who Am I" (on a wicked dancehall riddim) and then follows up with the garbage "Tell Me" hip-hop remix: career flop. Then he got a second chance with "Dude" (on another wicked dancehall riddim) but blew it this time with "King of the Dancehall" although dancehall, the riddim was weak.

Shaggy - an exception to my argument because he is cross-over by nature, but just remember what sent him global: "Oh Carolina" (original yard riddim) and solidified by "Bo****astic" (btw it's the dancehall version and not the R&B version that they used in the US video that blew him up).

Spragga Benz - international buzz with tunes from the "Jack It Up" era. Follows up with "A1 Lover". Him flop.

Countless more examples (Buju Banton, Terror Fabulous, Ini Kamoze, Sizzla, Elephant Man).

So you must be wondering who got it right? Sean Paul. Yes, he also did some lame hip-hoppy releases but check how he got to where he is: buss with "Gimme the Light" (dancehall riddim) followed up by "Get Busy" (tough dancehall riddim) followed by "Like Glue" (another nice riddim). Even after he is certified cross-over, the lead single and follow-up off his next album are over two of some of the hottest riddims out of JA ("We Be Burnin" and "Temperature". THAT is how you do it...

-DRC

P.S. - Before you start replying that X artist never flopped, when I say flop, I mean mainstream flop. A lot of the artists listed above still sell out shows internationally but they are definately not mainstream successes (they are not selling out stadiums)...