Charly Black offers ‘No Excuses’ after split from Universal

With the mega success of his single, ' Gyal You A Par ty Animal', in the Latin market, Jamaican artiste Charly Black was approached by Universal/Aftercluv for a multi-album deal, which the parties signed in November 2017.

Fast-forward to 2023 and Charly Black is free from all deals, speaking his truth and offering No Excuses, which is the title of his just-released album.

"So many times we as humans tend to have a lot of excuses why things not going our way," Charly Black told THE STAR as he detailed exactly why he has parted ways with Aftercluv, Universal's Latin America division.

"I signed an idiot deal," stated Charly Black, who became the first Jamaican artiste to go diamond, for sales of more than 600,000 in Central America. "It was not about me getting money; it was all about me getting the opportunity to work with a major label. So they bought out the contract from the guy in Belgium and then sleep on it."

He pointed out that Universal heard about him because his music was so big in Colombia.

"And after four to five years they can't get a hit out of Charly Black? They had a great album with me and didn't know what to do with it," he opined.

He shared that when Sean Paul's name came up for a possible collaboration, it was he who reached out to the Grammy-winning deejay for it and "Sean did it without a dollar" because of the mutual respect, stretching back from 2009.

"When we finally had the song, Universal [expletive] it up. I had a great A&R working with at one point and after they fired her. I had to wait two months to get response to an email because the person was on vacation," he said.

In short, the singer and songwriter felt like he was being shelved and he instructed his manager, Julian Jones-Griffiths, to tell the record company to do its work, because he had delivered the music. "And I tell him don't sugar-coat my feelings in the messages," he said.

No Excuses could be seen as him throwing shade at the record company, but Charly Black insists that he is all about music.

"I give myself 15 out of 10 for this project," he said. "I am not sitting and waiting. A me a reach out to Bounty Killer and Richie Spice. Usain Bolt produce a track ... and Arif Cooper, too." Mention of Cooper's name brought a new reality and Charly Black paid tribute to his "producer, friend and teacher".

"A Sean [Paul] was the one who broke the news [of Cooper's death] to me. Arif give me my send big song, Bubble, and him have a song on No Excuses. Surprise mi ... mash me up different. Condolences to Arif's family," he said.

No Excuses was released on February 24.