KARTEL’S ‘FEVER’ HEATS UP BILLBOARD!

BY KEVIN JACKSON
Observer writer

FEVER , the 2016 summer anthem by Vybz Kartel, debuted at number 50 on the Billboard R&B Hip Hop Airplay chart.

Produced by Linton “TJ” White, Fever is featured on the dancehall deejay’s most recent album King of the Dancehall.

“It feels good to know that your work is on a major platform such as the Billboard chart. It’s a lot of work and effort that we’ve put into the promotion of the song in the United States, and I really want to thank all the persons involved. There’s still a lot of work to be done,” White told the Jamaica Observer yesterday via telephone from Florida.

White has had better luck, as this is his third time charting on the Billboard R&B Chart as a producer. Mavado’s So Special (which peaked at number 52 on R&B Hip Hop Songs chart in 2009) and Serani’s No Games (which made the R&B Hip Hop Songs Chart in January 2009) were both produced by him.

The radio promotion of Fever is being spearheaded by noted radio promotions guru Willie Daniels.

“It’s good to see radio supporting this record just on the merit of it being a hit. Hot 97 led the charge but stations like WZMX, WJMN, WWKX, and WAMP have been big supporters. I feel blessed that they put this record in my hands. We are approaching 500 spins a week and 60 million in audience,” Daniels told Observer.

With Fever on the Billboard R&B Hip Hop Airplay Chart, it is expected that there could be a spike in the sales of King of the Dancehall which was released last July. The set has, so far, peaked at number two on the Billboard Reggae album chart. Last week, Soundscan reported that 4,345 copies of the album have been sold Stateside since its release.

Fever is the second Billboard R&B Chart entry for Vybz Kartel. His collaboration, Ramping Shop with dancehall artist Spice, stalled at number 76 on the R&B Hip Hop Songs Chart in August 2009.

Vbyz Kartel, given name Adidja Palmer, is currently serving a life sentence for his involvement in the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. He, and three other co-accused, was sentenced on March 2014 in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston. He will be eligible for parole after 35 years. His lawyers, however, are preparing an appeal.