RED Fox recently released the mixtape Fiyah Fox, his first full-length project in almost 17 years. The compilation was produced by DJ Shirkhan of Sweden’s Safari Sound.

“It comprises not only dancehall music but hip hop and free styles as well. I wanted to do it the way the rappers do and show versatility,” he said. “Growing up in Brooklyn which is the birthplace of many rappers helped me achieve this.”

International recording artist Shaggy (left) and Red Fox

Among the songs on Fiyah Fox are Love Mi Jamaica with Shaggy and Golden Child and No Other Like You which features singer Rayvon.

It also includes the Red Fox favourites Bashment Party and Yuh Body Good, as well as collaborations with Jimmy Cozier, Christopher Martin, Chico and Screechie Dan.

No Other Like You helped put Red Fox back in the reckoning last year. It was well-received among Caribbean fans in New York City and South Florida where it made reggae charts.

Red Fox has two albums to his credit: As a Matter of Fox, released in 1993 on Elektra Records, followed four years later by Face the Fox for VP Records.

He explained the long break between albums.

“I was writing songs but I was really busy as I was touring with Maxi Priest for 10 years. It didn’t really make sense to record an album,” he said.

“I am currently working on another album, the mixtape was done to not only create a buzz but to test the market,” he added.

Red Fox, whose given name is Gareth Shelton migrated to the United States in 1986. He started his recording career for Peter McKenzie, a veteran dancehall producer and owner of the independent label, FM Force.

He made his mark with songs like Come Boogie Down in 1988 and Down in Jamaica the following year.

In 2005, he teamed up with Alicia Keys on a reggae remix of her hit song If I Ain’t Got You. It peaked at number four on the New York Reggae Singles Chart.