Video for LP’s New Single “Never Run Dry” will Debut in June
Album’s Deluxe Edition Will Drop June 26 & Feature
Wyclef Jean & Dre Island’s Powerful and Timely Anthem “Justice”
Dre Island is one of Jamaica’s most powerful messengers. The multi-faceted artist – who sings, songwrites, produces and plays piano – just released his debut album Now I Rise through a joint-venture partnership with DubShot Records and Kingston Hills Entertainment. The 13-track release will feature the hit single “We Pray” feat Popcaan, “My City” and the recently released “Be Okay” feat Jesse Royal, as well as 9 previously unreleased songs. Other collaborations on the album include “Days of Stone” feat Chronixx and “Run to Me” feat Alandon. Earlier this month, he unveiled the video (directed by Fernando Hevetia) for the last song on the album “Still Remain.” The next single is “Never Run Dry,” and a new visual will drop next month for the Winta James produced track.
For the past five years, his stone-chiseled voice has reflected universal themes of struggle and triumph on introspective anthems making him a revered collaborator of his peers in the reggae community (from Popcaan, Chronixx and Agent Sasco) and internationally. He turned heads outside of the reggae sphere in 2016, when he teamed up with UK sensation Jorja Smith on the Cadenza-produced track “People,” which was voted Hottest Record In the World by BBC’s Radio 1 host Annie Mac.
As fans earned a taste of Dre Island’s versatility during his rapid climb, the arrival of his opus Now I Rise is an embodiment of the core values of reggae music (roots, reality, and culture) mixed with R&B sensibilities and seamless melodic flows akin to hip-hop, gospel and blues. Taking on the title as the Voice of the Ghetto on his album standouts such as “Never Run Dry,” “My City,” and “Be OK,” Dre Island wails through the emotions of the less-fortunate, while also taking aim at greed and corruption in all nations. He continues to delve deeper with more intimate love songs including on “Four Seasons,” “Calling” and “Favorite Girl.”
Now I Rise is largely self-produced, but includes an impressive list of reggae and dancehall hitmakers like: Jam2, Anju Blaxx, Teetimus, Winta James, Dretegs Music and Barkley Productions.