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Collabs galore on Sean Paul’s unity album ‘Live N Living’

Published:Monday | March 1, 2021 | 12:12 AMShereita Grizzle/Staff Reporter
Sean Paul at his virtual album listening party last Friday.
Sean Paul at his virtual album listening party last Friday.

Multi-Grammy-winning artiste Sean Paul promised an album that would not just act as a symbol of unity in dancehall, but would also encourage listeners to live life to the fullest. And that is exactly what the entertainer delivered.

During a private virtual listening session on Friday, a handful of specially invited industry personnel and members of the media got to understand just why the album was titled Live N Living. A perfectly-balanced mix of reality and party tracks, Live N Living delivered on Sean Paul’s promise of songs that spoke about social issues currently affecting the country, as well as tracks that reminded persons that despite those harsh realities, it is okay to LIVE.

“It’s a pandemic time, a very hard time for people and so even though my mood is more on a reality type of setting which will show in some of the songs on the album, I still felt the need to do some tracks that would serve to remind people of good times and fun things to look forward to,” Sean Paul told The Gleaner. “The track wid me and Suku Ward is a party tune, also the one with me and Govi and some others. Live N Living is really to show people that while things are rough, we’re alive and we shouldn’t take that blessing for granted. We should get up everyday, find the joy in life and just really live.”

‘WEIRD’ EXPERIENCE

Sean Paul went on to say that this was his first time having an online album listening session. He said the event which was streamed live from his studio was a little ‘weird’, as he could not ‘read the room’ and people’s immediate reactions were unclear. He said the latter made it difficult to tell if people were really enjoying the tracks.

“It was weird because I don’t really know who was there and I couldn’t really see the comments. People who were watching had to be telling me after the fact that it was great and nuff people were there but I didn’t really get to see that part or be a part of it. That’s one of the likkle obstacles when it comes to working in the virtual space,” he said.

“As artistes, we have never done anything like this before and we might have to do a lot more of it. It can get to you a bit when you are used to people’s energy and their actual presence. I told ZJ Sparks after it finished that I was really grateful to her for keeping the energy up because it was a really off-day for me. But everything turned out good, and it was a really nice vibe. Lots of people shout me and tell me say it solid and it bad and a baay fire emoji during the session, so I am pleased with the feedback,” he said.

Among the songs that were played at the session were: Space Ship, featuring Suku Ward from Ward 21; Buss A Bubble, featuring Sotto Bless, Looga Man, Ras Ajai and Chi Ching Ching; Boom, featuring Busy Signal; Real Steel, featuring Intence; Crazy, featuring Buju Banton; Money Bag, featuring Govana; Schedule, featuring Damian Marley and Everest, featuring Masicka and Skillibeng.

Because of the number of collaborations, Sean Paul said the compilation holds a special place in his heart. Stressing that the undertone of the album is collaboration over confrontation, Sean Paul said more than anything else, he wants the album to be remembered for uniting artistes.

“One thing I want people to remember about this project is just the good vibes and the unity. I have been friends with a lot of these artistes for years and it’s not all the time that we get to show Jamaica and the rest of the world that unity that we have. That is present on this album and I want people to remember that. You can hear the camaraderie in the song dem. All of us are vibing and enjoying ourselves.”

shereita.grizzle@gleanerjm.com