Weh Dem Up To: Poor sales send Jigsy King overseas

The '90s was the most prolific era for dancehall music and one in which Jamaican music made many strides.

The decade is loved by many, and hailed as the sweetest time for commercially successful crossover dancehall fusion, sound clashes, and juggling dances alike.

During that time, Linstead native Jigsy King performed as a duo with Tony Curtis and topped the charts with a string of hits like Butterfly, Goody, Cock Up and Ride and Want Yuh Body. He also had an international hit with Barrington Levy, called Work, and another, titled Question Asked, with Freddie McGregor.

However, as the new millennium kicked in, Jigsy became low-keyed on the local scene. But according to the entertainer, he has remained active on the international scene.

"What we did in the '90s was unbelievable, and I am really glad to be part of that era. But when me find out say music really nah sell a Jamaica, I wasn't excited, so I diverted all of my attention overseas. I have my bills to pay, so I had to reach out to a different market," he said.

NEVER UNGRATEFUL

According to Jigsy, he will never be ungrateful to his local fans, but only saw it fit to enhance his career overseas. He stated that he is disheartened that Jamaica, which is the birth of reggae music, has very few record shops and major shows.

"If you are in Jamaica all the time, you are overlooked unless you keep putting out a song every day. Overseas people nuh stay so. Once you do music, all if a 10 years ago, you are still given your ratings. Jamaicans nuh stay so, dem want you kill up you self, and me a get up inna age. Anyway me love my Jamaican people because they are the ones who helped to put me on the worldwide map," he said.

"Mi can't be deejaying and nah benefit, so I have to get my music to other countries," he added.

Currently, Jigsy King is putting final touches to his upcoming album, which will feature collaborations with Barrington Levy, Michael Rose, Tony Curtis, AJ Brown and Fantan Mojah.

He is also promoting one of his latest singles called Love Getting Stronger, a collaboration with Beres Hammond.