Richie Loop has gone hardcore - at least for the time being. The singer, who gave the world My Cup a few years ago, has released his latest single, Hey Gyal. He says the song will demonstrate that he is more than just a party guy.

"This new song is showing a different side of Richie Loop," he said. "Most people think I am just this party, party guy who only sings party songs. So for this last quarter, I am going to change the script."

Hey Gyal, he says, is a hardcore, raunchy song that is sure to have the ladies moving their bodies. Richie Loop and Einstein are producers of this latest release.

The singer had his biggest success to date while he was still with Robert Livingston's Scikron/Big Yard label three years ago with the hit My Cup. The song made him into a household name in Jamaica and saw him break into new markets overseas. However, he felt that while with the label, he wasn't being allowed to explore the other sides to his talent.

"This song represents the side of Richie Loop that has been locked away because if you remember, my first song, Want it Good, wasn't a party song. It was more hardcore dancehall. But I am back in the driver's seat now."

Initial reaction to the song has been positive, he says.

Richie Loop was in the spotlight recently with the remix of Angelique Sabrina's popular single, Stop Light. It is a song that had much potential, but a squabble over intellectual rights eventually affected the promotion of the song.

"Well, Stop Sign was a great tune for both me and Angelique Sabrina. I was the one who did the dancehall remix. I also created the beat," Richie Loop said.

Richie Loop added that the song did not do as well as it could because of the rights issues between him and Sabrina's handlers. "However, it did great for her because it was being played at least five times a day."

He has since moved on. He says he has a few other songs - Makes Me Feel, Sizzle Girl, and Tomorrow - that he believes will go a far way to establishing his street creds.

He admits, however, that his venture into hardcore will not be at the expense of his party vibe. "I'll definitely be showing more creative works in hardcore and happy dancehall," he said.