Kevin Stone pushes on with own label

New York-based dancehall artiste Kevin Stone has released a song titled 'No Love In This World' under his own label, Cloud Nine Records.

According to the artiste, he grew tired of waiting on established producers to record him on their projects, so he decided to take matters into his own hands.

"I have shared the stage with Teflon, Erup, Lutan Fyah, Ghost, and Lady Saw, and they have all given me credit for my performances. With their cosign, I felt the need to step up things to a next level, so I decided to go into production. Since producers weren't hearing my work, I decided to do my own production until the time comes to step to a next level," he said.

Stone said that owning a record label increases stress, productivity, and enemies. However, he believes that any increase in music can be seen as a blessing.

"I welcome all increase as long as it's not a standstill or a reverse. I would tell any artiste to stay true to themselves and don't bend. It might not be as easy as you expect, but it is not that hard either, and it is not impossible," he said.

As for his challenges of being an overseas-based artiste, Stone said that his credibility is often questioned by fans and industry players alike.

"Overseas, they don't have the love for raw talent, and if you don't know a certain clique, they don't pay attention to the product. Kevin Stone is a brand, and we set a bar that can only get higher. One of the biggest challenges is to get airplay, but there is also a drawback when I come to Jamaica because as they realise that I am based overseas, they think my music is watered down. But my music is international, and once they listen they realise that I have some real music," he said.

No Love In This World speaks to issues of crime, violence, and domestic abuse. Stone said that the record was inspired by the recent surge in criminal activities locally.