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I-Octane - File
VP Records and Scikron are proud to announce the release of I-Octane's debut album, 'Crying To The Nation', available January 31, 2012.
As one of the most talked about artistes emerging from Jamaica, I-Octane's first full-length LP will reinvigorate the feeling of roots and dancehall at its purest.
He has already proven himself as a lyricist with rapid-fire delivery and unveils his uncanny ability to sing romantic ballads and socially aware tunes on this traditional reggae album.
Crying To The Nation puts I-Octane in a class of his own as one of the next generation's leaders of the conscious dancehall movement. Following in a similar vein of his predecessors, Sizzla, Capleton and Buju Banton, his lyrics express sentiments of faith, romance, social justice and compassion for the ghetto youth.
His brand new singles, Love You, Missing You (remix featuring Agent Sasco) and Once More, reflect his emotional sensibility, whereas songs such as Vanity Will Come, All We Need Is Love (featuring Tarrus Riley) and the title track are filled with positive messages and political leanings, something the current state of dancehall often lacks.
"I feel good about all the songs I've done My fans will get to see another side of me after all the challenges I've faced in the industry. Seeing my first album is a great accomplishment. I give thanks for that," I-Octane said.
Most of the album's tracks have never been heard with the exception of the pulsating dancehall anthems, Nuh Love Inna Dem and Puff It,as well as Lose A Friend, arguably his biggest and most requested song to date. Lose A Friend tune hit number one on Jamaica's charts - remaining at the top for approximately 16 weeks - and experienced new life when Jamaican officials declared a state of emergency last year.
This year, Billboard magazine listed I-Octane as one of 15 artistes impacting the independent scene. In a rave review for his latest mixtape, Focus (produced by Livity Movements), The New York Times added that his recent performance at Jamaica's largest annual music festival, Reggae Sumfest, was 'focused and intense' and stood out for bonfires getting stoked throughout the crowd. In the language of Sumfest, that's an endorsement, a big one for this young singer."
The evolution of I-Octane began when he developed a diverse catalogue of songs under the moniker Richie Rich. He had dancehall's A-list producers at the helm, like Donovan Germaine of Penthouse Records, Arrows and Cash-Flow. In 2007, his breakthrough hit Stab Vampire became the number one song in Jamaica and received the award for Video of the Year at the Excellence in Music Awards (EME).
I-Octane continued to put out hit after hit like Mama You Alone, Lose A Friend, My Life, Nuh Love Inna Dem, Nuh Ramp Wid Wi and Puff It.
In his short five year career, he has already received a total of 20 nominations and awards, including three wins at this year's Excellence in Music (EME) Awards for Breakthrough Artist, Best Male Singjay and Best Reggae Song for My Life.
He has also been named Best Performer at the 2011 Clarendon Music Awards and Jamaica Observer's title for Male Singer of the Year.
Digicel, the largest mobile telecommunications operator in the Caribbean, selected I-Octane as its brand ambassador for the company's 'Next Generation' campaign in 2010 and as their sole entertainer for 2011 - over the past year, I-Octane kicked off an extensive tour spanning 40 cities in North America as well as Japan.
In addition to his buzzworthy mixtape, he is set to release a digital EP Straight From The Heart in early December, prior to his debut album.
In 2012, Crying To The Nation will solidify his position as a multifaceted reggae artiste, proving his reach beyond dancehall with his added repertoire of touching love songs and cultural tunes. This refreshing approach to the genre holds a bright future for the ever-evolving artiste.
