Sean Paul talks ‘Summa Hot’ and that earthquake jolting interview

Earthquakes are no joking matter and no one knows that better than multi-award-winning global superstar, Sean Paul.

But he is laughing at himself after he was elevated to almost meme-like status when a video of his flight from his home studio during last Monday’s earthquake, right in the middle of an interview, went viral, making headlines from TMZ to Yahoo News — and of course, providing much laughter.

Although Sean Paul has a song titled Earthquake, that tune was likely the furthest thing from his mind when he hurriedly excused himself — more like fled — from a live Twitch interview with artiste Tofu Jack and director/producer of Vice Documentaries, Dan Zabludovsky, just as Jamaica experienced its 5.6-magnitude earthquake.

On the video, Sean Paul is seen pausing in the middle of an intense discussion the music industry to utter, “Oh s@#$, we’re having an earthquake,” and quickly hurried out of the studio as the camera and the entire studio could be seen trembling. Tofu Jack and Dan Zabludovsky heard the words, saw the tremors and looked like they were trying to process what was really happening when they faded, as the call was disconnected.

The video of this moment was posted online, and the good-natured artiste is able to see the amusing side.

“No, I’m not really feeling shaken up ... I’m used to them from being a kid here. I’ve had many tremors and earthquakes,” he told The Gleaner the day after the event. “My immediate thoughts after realising that I was okay was ‘Thank you, God.’ It felt like it was longer than it usually is and it felt like it was gonna be a big one.”

He admitted that he was surprised that TMZ had made a headline out of his escape, but said he totally understood why.

“But ... it look funny though. I saw it before it was out in the public, because I was sent it by my publicist, and it looked funny,” the Grammy Award-winner said, laughing.

He outlined his actions on the day and gave advice on the steps to take, while urging his fans and everybody else to be prepared.

“I ran to the door jamb, which I always do, because it is the safest place in the house. The Internet went out so I didn’t get to finish the interview or even tell them what was happening. Again, there are aftershocks that everybody have to look out for. Sometimes many aftershocks. Just want to encourage everybody to keep them mind aware and just be prepared. These things happen from time to time. You have to prepare yourself mentally. Physically, can we prepare for an earthquake? Just run to a door jamb when you feel like it’s going to be a big one,” the dancehall superstar said.

As to the interview with Tofu Jack and Dan Zabludovsky, Sean Paul doesn’t know when he will sit down with the duo again, but it will definitely be “sometime in the future because we didn’t finish up”.

But, jolts aside, Sean Paul is busy shaking up the place with one of his newest things, Summa Hot, which is as much a compliment as it is the title of the lead-out song from one of his latest jugglings, which is enjoyed a second wave with a remix with Skillibeng and Busta Rhymes.

“The reason we call it Summa Hot is not really because the summer did hot. The summer did hot this year ... and it hot every year and this year did terrible. But is really the ladies dem coming out in dem fine clothes and design clothes, so mi coin a term seh ‘Yow, yuh summer hot today’, even if is winter. So, Busta hear it and him see mi on a show in Cayman and we connect back and him was like ‘Yow ... that bad. Remix.’ And we send it to him and him lock it,” the Temperature artiste explained.

Feeling like he needed “a different lickle realm” Sean Paul shouted pout to Crocodile Teeth singer, Skiilibeng, who was only too happy to add his vocals to the track.

“Skilli work on a project with me already and him seh ‘Yeah man, right away.’ So it was a good vibe to get the whole ting done and we out deh now. Chi Ching deh pon di riddim, people like di big bad Bounty deh pon di riddim, Charly Blacks, Busy, the whole Dutty Cup camp. I build the riddim and Sukko [Ward 21] help me to develop the whole ting. Me and him work close in terms of production,” Sean Paul added.

Emphasising that he is enjoying the vibe, he sang praises to the ladies. “We extend it and seh ‘ summa hot, ladies ever summa hot. Di gal dem with the summa hot body, we ever appreciate that’. Cause dem a work out yuh know... yeah man ... the ladies dem a work out. Me notice it cause dem a dance to the riddim and me a build lyrics to it same time, so is a symbiotic relationship ... and me loving it right now.”

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com