JASON Andrew Williams, or Don Yute to dancehall fans, is putting the final touches to his upcoming album, Different Wurl.

According to Don Yute, he has high hopes for the singles Bounce Bounce, Different Girls (a collaboration with Half Pint) and Sexy Mama featuring M.O.B Dick.

DON YUTE… putting final touches on latest album

Different Wurl is co-produced by his Golden Child Music Group and Updeh House Production’s Tyrone Smith.

Don Yute had a flow in the 1990s when dancehall was dominated by ‘bad bwoy’ entertainers. The Kingston-born deejay was raised in Port Antonio by a middle-class family. He told Splash that he pursued a career normally associated with inner-city youth. While they used music to escape poverty, Don Yute saw it as a way to express his thoughts.

He shared some of those thoughts in a recent interview.

Simone Morgan (SM): How did you get started?

Don Yute (DY):My introduction was one similar to most of my contemporaries: by chance and by being in the right place at the right time. I was introduced by a friend to Legend Disco. Soon after, I released my first single for Dave Kelly on the Pepperseed rhythm called Loving Excess, a collaboration with Wayne Wonder in 1993. Other successful hits to follow were Hardcore and You Own The Man, produced by Steely and Clevie.

(SM): Describe your musical style.

(DY): World Hop. When it comes on to performing I am spontaneous and energetic. i refuse to limit myself and can ride any riddim, track or beat. My style is all my own.

(SM): During your absence from Jamaica what projects have you worked on?

(DY): I have established my own recording label called Golden Child in addition to producing a host of singles for artists like Akon, Pitbull, Trina, Trick Daddy, Etana and Beenie Man.

(SM): What has been your biggest accomplishment thus far?

(DY): Working with SoSo Def Records CEO and producer Jermaine Dupri was a high time for me. The name of the gold-selling singles (for Dupri) were Sexiest and Hardcore Wuk for So So Def Bass All Stars in 2008. I have also performed on Reggae Sunsplash, Sting and toured the United States with G Unit, Omarion, Ying Yang Twins, Rick Ross and Musiq Soulchild. Late last year I released an album in Europe on Ali Campbell’s (former UB40 singer) label Oracabessa Records called No

Parental Guidance and another album in Japan titled The Golden Child for Formula Recordings.

(SM): You had a near-death experience a few years back, tell us about that?

(DY): Yes. Just after landing a musical deal with Capitol Records just about the time Row The Boat became my most popular song, I headed to Atlanta.

While in Atlanta, a masked gunman almost ended my life in March of 2000 when he shot me in the chest, scarring my lungs. That was really one of the darkest chapters in my life.