Collie Buddz, from the isle of Bermuda, has done something not impossible but something once seemingly very implausible. He’s become the most buzz-worthy current Reggae artist over the past few years. In the summer, 2007, Collie Buddz’ Columbia Records self-titled debut album stormed the charts entering the Billboard Reggae Chart at first position. The Reggae singjay became an international star when this album then went on to debut across the world at the top of every chart from Japan to Germany. With much of the production coming from Collie himself, he delivered a solid debut with contributions from Supa Dups, Shea Taylor, Bang Out, Screwface, Bobby Konders and Crown N Kah-So-Real to name just a few. Released just a day before US Independence Day, Collie’s debut album could be heard blasting out of car windows from Brooklyn to Kingston all summer long. Critically speaking, Collie’s debut was a monster. Speaking of his first single, an undeniable summer anthem titled, “Come Around,” Source Magazine proclaimed, “This 24 year old shotta has got an anthem spreading across the seas.” “The song is a monster,” claimed Miami New Times. And, Hip Hop Weekly said, “Collie Buddz is one of the most firmly grounded voices you may ever encounter.” The industry excitement about this new voice in music manifested in many ways namely by inspiring Collie’s musical peers to either create their own remixes of “Come Around,” or join Collie on the official remix of the single. Everyone from Busta Rhymes, Cypress Hill and Paul Wall to G-Unit and Shaggy contributed to the anthem.
Incorporating influences from Hip-Hop to Soca, Collie’s music nevertheless has a rock-solid foundation in Reggae - and its power to connect ghetto reality with the highest heights of human aspiration - that is a rarity even in Jamaica. But, to say he’s connected to the Caribbean community would be an understatement. Collie Buddz, born Colin Harper, has become the Caribbean culture’s resident ambassador.
More
Tags
| 18+
| Follow | @CollieBuddz | @NewKingstonLive |