Some years ago, during a recording session in Jamaica, Jimi D had a discussion with one of the studio engineers who made an interesting observation.
“He said to me, ‘you know you would a have couple hit chune inna Jamaica if you never leave?’ This was something I felt too,” said the Atlanta-based artist.
That discussion took place at Leggo Recording Studio in downtown Kingston, where tracks for hit songs by Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs have been laid.
Jimi D had recorded a song there for his uncle, famed roots singer Don Carlos. The engineer for that single recalled the session and its potential to be a hit.
“Of course I would like to have hit chunes in Jamaica. I only put out one album because I felt it was harder to promote than singles,” he explained.
The Kingston-born Jimi D continues to hunt that elusive Jamaican hit single with Praises, his latest song which is co-produced by Hard Doe Entertainment LLC, Just Time Records and C&E Entertainment.
He had no difficulty writing the song which is based on his frame of mind at the time.
“The inspiration for Praises came from the mindset I was in when I heard the beat. I’m a very spiritual person, I grew up in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Through these latter years, I’ve shed religion for a spiritual connection with the creator and its creation,” he said. “I identified Rastafari as a seque into this new mindset of thinking. I haven’t dropped or shun the beliefs and ideas of Christianity, but just incorporated it into a deeper and closer relationship with the Almighty Father and the universe.”
A paramedic by profession, Jimi D credits Don Carlos for pushing him to record reggae songs, as his early work leaned toward Rhythm And Blues and pop.
In 2010, he released Multiple Personality Disorder, his sole album to date. He has also toured with Don Carlos as his backup singer.
Praises is a sign of things to come in what he expects to be a productive year.
“My plans for 2024 is to release more music and to do more shows,” said Jimi D.
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