Local producer on Burna Boy hit yet to meet him

Despite being the first local producer to secure a Burna Boy project, Dwayne Hibbert, more popularly known as Blizzi, has still not met the Nigerian Afrobeats superstar.

Almost six years ago, the producer-turned-artiste, who is the grandson of reggae icon Toots Hibbert, worked - and is credited - on the Burna Boy track Personally, which featured Vybz Kartel, primarily led by True Blue Records and published by Sony Music in 2017.

"I was 24 years old, just fresh into the industry as an upcoming producer; Burna Boy didn't have the hit with Ye as yet but my A&R reached out and it was all pulled together. I did all the instrumentation and contributed to the making of the rhythm and was told it was to make an album but that did not happen," Blizzi told THE STAR.

He continued: "I can't explain how it happened, it was just one of those once in a lifetime opportunities. I never worked with Burna Boy in studio. He never met me, I never met him but I'm a fan. That's not the only reason for my being at the concert, I'm a fan of music overall and thought it was a historic event, one that could not be missed."

Sadly, Blizzi will have to wait longer to meet Burna Boy because up to the time the curtains closed on the star's show at the National Stadium early Monday, they still had not been introduced face-to-face. He said that one good thing that has happened since the Nigerian star exploded globally is the resurgence in streams for Personally, which jumped by 100,000 Spotify streams and has now garnered more than one million with the release of Ye.

He said, "It still has not happened but I believe being the grandchild of an icon like Toots Hibbert of Toots and The Maytals, credited for inventing the word 'reggae', I feel there is some magnitude to my name in the industry and I'm carrying that legacy wholeheartedly. If the connection with Burna Boy is made, then awesome. If not, I still have a lot to represent for."

Blizzi currently manages the merchandising of his grandfather's estate and has control of the 54-46 clothing brand. He is also the owner of Blizzi God Records and recently launched Elite Innovative JA, which was contracted by Sting. He produces LED billboards, does social media management, artiste and event branding, and music production.

"I continue to work on my music productions but there is so much to accomplish. I worked on Bayka's Top Tier with Din Din of Hemton Music and Intence's Ring with Claims Records. I tend to collaborate with others and feel that's how great music is made," he said.

"All that is happening in Jamaica, with Afrobeats, the concert and evolution of music, is necessary for us to realise the worth of reggae and dancehall. I feel like we need a bit more exposure in terms of international coverage and there were a lot of greats, like Junior Reid, lots of 90s dancehall icons, members of Renaissance Disco... in the space as spectators on Sunday. Even though I never met Burna Boy, I felt blessed to be among those greats," Blizzi continued.