 |
It
doesn't stop there. Italee is a local producer as well.
She has just finished up the freshman project on her own label,
Nipples Productions.
Yes, you read correctly...NIPPLES Productions.
Why that name? "It represents womanhood and wicked tracks coming
from a woman's perspective...
everybody's has been in touch with a nipple at some point in their
life, even if it's just their mother's.
It's a good name. Woman running the show. A respectable thing."
I visited her in the studio while she was recording artists like
Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Sizzla Kolongi and Hawkeye. She explained
to me that as a producer and an artist, she plays two different
roles. One she leadsand
the other, she's being lead. Seeing her work BEHIND the mixing board
shone a totally different light on this up and coming star. You're
likely to catch her on an everyday basis in a tight little number
and heels, with matching shades and head wrap...but not in the studio.
|
| I
walked in at one in the morning to find Italee sprawled out on
the fat, black leather couch of Main Street Studio in Kingston,
decked out in full blue and grey Sean John, barking orders at
Prezzy,
the engineer, and getting highly agitated by one of the
young artists in the booth who has taken up 4 hours of her
precious studio time on one track. She explained
to me that
she's very serious about her productions.
"Every tune
on my riddim sounds like a number
one. The big artists, the young artists, all number
one. They're all my favourite, or I wouldn't produce
them. I would refuse them. I take my work very
seriously. [leaning over] But yuh dun know, Beenie
and Sizzla tune dem tickle me still" she whispers
with a big grin. |
MiC: You have another riddim now I understand. What's
it called? Who's on it differently from the first one?
(De Nipples)
ITA: Well,
I do have another riddim, but it's top secret. The production is
just getting underway, but I assure
you, the people dem going love the name, the artists and everything
about it to come. It should be released
for summer.
MiC:
So how comw we don't hear you on any jugglin riddims?
ITA: Management
- yuh dun know how dat go. Something is in the workings right
now, so we take it step
by step. It makes no sense I boo myself out on every juggling
riddim that's out there. In the end it won't take
me to the level I want to reach. I love dancehall, and I love
the production aspect of the music. I would
produce all twelve jugglin riddims in a year if I could. It's
two different jobs for me.
MiC:
The uptown market loves you. Was this your plan?
ITA: The
plan is for people to love my shit everywhere!
MiC:
So wha yuh seh...in 6 months you'll come back as our Featured
Artist of the Month, right? Heh heh...
look like I need to reserve your time from now!
ITA:
[Loud laughter] I'm working on being that successful!!!
Ladies
and gentlemen...the Black Princess has ARRIVED.
|
| |
|
|
|