Jamaica's latest export, I-Octane has also been featured in the International April/May Issue. The music and entertainment magazine which predominantly features R&B and Hip-Hop artists, has featured top billing entertainers such as Mary J. Blige, the late Aaliyah, Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Ciara, Eminem and a long list of others.
I-Octane remarks, "It feels good to know I am featured in a well known International magazine like Vibe. And I give thanks for Rob Kenner, who gave me the opportunity to introduce I-Octane to a wider editorial market."
The article, titled Gassed Up delves into what the artist thinks about his new found fame, reggae music, Grammy Award and beefs. Read the article in its entirety below.
As told to Rob Kenner:
In seven months, I-Octane broke through the dancehall and merged into the fast lane. Jamaica's most explosive act explains his sudden acceleration.
LOSE YOURSELF
The breakthrough for me was when I left Arrows. You have to weigh your pros and cons. I lose nuff things, but [when] I started to do my career on my own, I hired my own publicist and put all the things in place that was missing. I left in February 2010, and by August I was the number one artist in Jamaica.
SELL OUT. . . IN A GOOD WAY
You have to look beyond the box. Me wan go everywhere with reggae music. Me wan collect a Grammy Award and say, "Selassie I"
IN THE BUILDING
Bob Marley's brand is bigger than the music. Everything comes in one package. Your attitude haffe be right. You haffe have an image that's marketable. Not saying you sell out, but you haffe learn to adjust and adapt. And I don't sign to nobody. Me wan bring my brand to a level. Me nah look for this local thing and sign to a company and them just do me
like how them do the rest of the artists. No.
NO BEEF DIET
We've had a whole heap of distraction in the music over the years. We have Beenie Man and the Bounty Killer feud. And then we have the Mavado and the Vybz Kartel Gaza and Gully thing. Some artists even try to get involved in the feud just to get them name buzzing. But I was the only one that stands out. We have a tunnel vision towards my thing.
TRADE VALUE
You have some artists in Jamaica, and them making money but them nah invest back in themself. Them prefer have 10 girlfriend and pay 10 rent -but them wouldn't even make a good video. Everybody try to hustle the music, and the well run dry. Me never really give up, because me love music. If I wasn't doing music, maybe me woulda been a gunman or something. Music is something that save me. So me haffe try save back the music.
-End-
In addition to the Vibe Magazine feature, I-Octane resumed his "My Life" tour after shooting two music videos in Jamaica and releasing over seven new singles. I-Octane has two songs featured on VP Records compilation CD Ragga Ragga. The CD, which was released on March 29, 2011, features the singjay's hit singles "No Love Inna Dem" and "Nuh Ramp Wid We."
Added to the list of performances that the singjay has schedule through the end of June, I-Octane will perform on this year's Best of the Best Festival in Miami on May 29, 2011. He will share the same stage with Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Assassin, Alison Hinds, Trina, Chris Brown, Keri Hilson and more.
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