Portmore Finalists

Jah Cure, Keri Hilson record 'World Cry'

Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Keri Hilson during a performance on International Night One at Reggae Sumfest '09 at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre, in Montego Bay. - File photos

Singer Jah Cure recently nabbed an International collaboration with R&B songstress Keri Hilson and American writer/producer/singer Pooh Bear for the heart-warming song World Cry.

When THE WEEKEND STAR spoke with Jah Cure recently he said the song was recorded three weeks ago and should be released very soon.

culture song

Cure said, "how the song came about, Pooh Bear, who is a very good writer approached us about the song and we put Keri on it, she wanted us to do a song together as well. It's a culture song about the poor and the needy so we decided to make a three-way song including Pooh Bear who has a very John Legend kinda voice."

Keri Hilson, known for hits such as Knock You Down and Turning Me On, was in Jamaica last year for Reggae Sumfest where she met Jah Cure. While Pooh Bear, real name Jason Boyd, has written and produced songs for a number of top R&B and hip hop stars including Chris Brown for I Can Transform Ya, 112's Peaches and Cream and Usher's Caught Up. For Hilson this will be her second Jamaican collaboration having done the remix of Sean Paul's Hold My Hand.

Cure recorded his part of the song at Shaggy's Big Yard Studio in Kingston, while Hilson recorded her part in Los Angeles and Pooh Bear in Miami.

"The song is already finished I just need to change one of my lines which says Montego Bay to Haiti. Then it sounds like they gonna put it out after that," said Jah Cure.

According to Cure, the song is a cultural one with a cross over beat that he sees reaching far and for him the project was a fun one to work on.

crazy chemistry

For Hilson, working with Jah Cure was an experience like non other, she told THE WEEKEND STAR, "Cure and I were taking our time searching for the perfect song to do together since we met in Montego Bay. We knew it would be crazy chemistry when our worlds collided. I've learned that he's one of the rare low key and untainted celebrities, so World Cry couldn't have been more on point for a man like him. I can't wait to work with him again, hopefully next time I'll get to come back to Jamaica."

Having released The Universal Cure for SoBe Entertainment/Danger Zone Music Group last April, Cure says he is not working on his next yet-to-be-titled album to be released this year. In the meantime, he says he has a lot of new singles out including: Unconditional Love, 2010 on Don Corleon's Feelings rhythm, Protect You like a Soldier, Never Say Never and End of Time alongside Stephen Marley and Christopher Ellis.

He says, "I'm finishing up some nice songs that I know my fans gonna love, I'm not dropping my standards or their expectations."

http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/20100129/ent/ent2.html

VOTING TIME

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM JAH CURE

There have been recent media reports about a DNA test result that involved Jah Cure. While not wishing to join the media circus that has ensued because of these revelations, Jah Cure wishes to outline a few facts and settle the matter once and for all.

Jah Cure has supported the mother throughout her pregnancy and had his father and manager be with her at the time of delivery in the US. His support for her throughout this period was unwavering.

Before the birth of the child Jah Cure requested a DNA test, a request which the mother refused. Despite this, Jah Cure continued to support the child and the mother.

Now that the DNA test has been done and it has been shown that he is not the father, Jah Cure wishes to move on.

The fact is that the most important individual in this whole affair is the child and the longer that this continues the more damage is being done to the child. Jah cure will not now abandon the child but wishes that the media respect the privacy of the parties as the child is indeed innocent and did not contribute to the mistakes of the adults involved.

JAH CURE NOMINATED FOR SIX EME’S

With voting on in earnest Jah Cure leads in three categories in the race for the 2010 Excellence in Music and Entertainment Awards.

The artiste who had very successful 2009, is nominated for Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Cultural /Positive Artist of the Year, Collaboration of the Year and Recording Artiste of the Year. He currently is ahead in the voting for Vocalist of the Year, Song of the year for Call on Me with Phyllisia, and Best Collaboration of the Year for the same song.

The artiste is a close second in the category of Cultural/Positive Artiste of the Year and is competitive in the Album of the Year section. For Recording Artiste of the Year, Jah Cure is significantly ahead of Tarrus Riley but trails Mavado and Vybz Kartel by several votes.

CEO of Danger Zone Music Group Delmar ‘Della Danger’ Drummond who is also nominated for Producer of the Year is excited at the prospect of Jah Cure winning an EME award: “The EMEs are a signpost in the Jamaican music landscape of the work that an artiste has done over the period under review. Jah Cure has been constantly putting out positive & uplifting music and Danger Zone is pleased with the nominations and the voting”.

The EME Awards will be held on Thursday February 04 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.