Bravo is dancehall’s ‘ad-lib king’

Bravo, a member of the popular dance group Ravers Clavers, has been a resounding force in dancehall. His signature sound appears on songs of the group's principal, Ding Dong, always heralds an upbeat and raving hit. Though widely celebrated as a dancer and artiste, Bravo does not feel he has enough experience to record music of his own.

"I'm not ready for that; I'm nowhere ready to start a catalogue. I don't have enough - or have any full songs - to say let me do an album of my own. Anywhere Ding [Dong] is, that is where you will find Bravo right now. I'm the man and voice for the ad-libs," he told THE STAR.

He said that as a child, he envisioned being a voice that people would revere and recognise for bringing different communities and countries together. As the self-proclaimed 'Ad-lib King', he has achieved this and more, Bravo said.

"From a young age, I was introduced to the sound system culture; I played around one name Sunrise Sound in the Nannyville. I used to go around there with a friend by the name of Leonardo, and try to be like Rory from Stone Love, and I realise that people like my voice," he said.

"People say mi fi try run with the Wee Pow voice [that deep sound], but then I discovered the screaming tone, that became my signature."

He would then be encouraged by Ding Dong to voice on a few songs.

"That screaming or low tone actually works for me. I've be practising from a tender age so me used to it. I don't bawl out the lyrics of any song, that will destroy yuh vocals. Mi half-mast it, or mask it so that when me shout it sound like a little bit of a screech," Bravo said.

Bravo is heard throughout most of the Ding Dong's recordings motivating listeners to get up and dance. His distinct sound appears in songs such as Fling Yuh Shoulder, Snappin', as well as the recently released singles Rich Walk and Stir Fry. He is often credited as a featured artiste on the projects including Gas, Yeng Yeng and Dweet [Genna Bounce] among others.

"Mi feel good fi know people see and hear wah me a do, and me just a focus pon ad-libs straight, because it has brought me great recognition in dancehall and given me opportunities to travel. Mi a make sure own my title as the king of ad-libs for dancehall and fi di industry," Bravo said.