Sean Paul’s Dutty Rock delivers ‘Moroccan Gold’

The opening bars of the 'Moroccan Gold' rhythm glide in with a smoky, cinematic tension with its Middle Eastern cadence - an unexpected twist that still pulses with the unmistakable heartbeat of dancehall.

It's the latest juggling from Dutty Rock Productions, the label helmed by Sean Paul alongside his long-time collaborators Jigzagula, News, CopperShaun, Suku Ward and Chi Ching Ching - the first official artiste signed to the camp. Since launching in 2011, Dutty Rock has produced a steady stream of high-powered projects that spotlight both seasoned voices and rising talent while keeping the genre's rich tradition of juggling alive.

With Moroccan Gold, the team fused hypnotic, desert-tinged textures with bass-heavy rhythm culture, creating a sonic landscape that feels both atmospheric and modern.

"The sample we used has a Moroccan, Middle Eastern feel - that's what inspired the name. Persons may know Moroccan gold as a high-quality oil, precious gold jewellery and even the rare, pure indica strain that's native to the regions of Morocco. We wanted the riddim to carry same energy, something rich, different, and top-tier in quality," explained News. While the soundscape taps into exotic melodies, make no mistake - the rhythm remains rooted in the core of Jamaican dancehall.

"Anything Dutty Rock does, we try to keep it dancehall-oriented," News emphasised. "This riddim just adds a new texture to that. We have tonnes of riddims, but between myself, Suku, SP, Jigzag, and CopperShaun, we chose this one to bat for next and each of us added elements to the production, from the mixing to the mastering."

The project features an exciting mix of artistes including Sean Paul, Spice, Chi Ching Ching and his protege Castral, Looga Man, Iwaata, Goody Plum, Bayka, and new talent XO Man - an imposing seven-foot-tall artiste who adds his own unique sound to the line-up. News shared, "Spice inspired us to bring more females on board, so we welcomed Goody Plum, who is a feisty addition. We also had Pamputtae, but unfortunately her vocals came in a bit too late."

Standouts include Sean Paul's Up Inna Di Air, Spice's Pop Pill, and Chi Ching Ching's Sprinkle.

"We're preserving that riddim juggling tradition, while updating the sound for today's audience. Back in the day, DJs would run the whole riddim - think 'Showtime' riddim - we really trying to bring that back," News declared.