Local disc jockey and producer ZJ Sparks is celebrating the success of her reggae rhythm the Kush Morning. The rhythm was recently featured on international Vh1 Television series Basketball Wives, and ZJ Sparks believes that this is testimony that reggae is not dead.
“The production for Kush Morning is a collaboration with my label Twelve 9 Records and Dynasty Records. This is not my first project but this is the most successful,” ZJ Sparks said.
The Collie Budz single I Feel So Good on the Morning Kush rhythm was the song featured, and according to ZJ Sparks this marks the first time that reggae music was played on the popular sitcom.
“The person who was representing the musical aspect of the show called Collie Budz and then called us to tell us, and of course we said yes. It’s a good feeling and a slap in the face for those who were saying that reggae music is dead. It is also a good for Dynasty Records and my label Twelve 9 Records,” ZJ Sparks said.
She also revealed that since the song was featured on the Basketball Wives the rhythm has soared up the iTunes charts.
“It was doing well before, but since the song by Collie Budz went on the show, the rhythm went number 22 on the iTunes album charts. We have also been approached by international distribution company Promo Only because they want it to be distributed to their North American and Caribbean market, and most of the songs they distribute normally go on Billboard,” she continued.
“It would be nice to be on Billboard, but my reason to do music is to add my perspective to it and to spread Jamaican culture. A lot of people before us made people recognise reggae music, and I am just doing my part to let people know that reggae music is not dead,” she said.
passionate disc jock
The seemingly passionate disc jock believes that local DJs are to share the blame for the dull local presence of reggae music. According to Sparks, DJs aren’t prepared to take risks.
“Some selectors are more about the hype and are not willing to take risks. They just want an easy forward … reggae music is not dead, it just needs to be pushed more in Jamaica, and this is ironic because this is the land of its birth,” ZJ Sparks said.
Sparks also believes that the local music business is too saturated. She said the Morning Kush rhythm was given ample time to expand its boundaries, instead of releasing another production from her record label, which could kill the development.
“Productions pick up at different areas and regions at a slow pace so we have to slow it down and give the music time to grow,” she concluded.
Other artistes featured on the Kush Morning rhythm include I-Octane, Jah Vinci, Serani and Ikaya.
