Dancehall’s newest star Mavado hits

Weh Dem A Do
Jamaican Dancehall Star Hits America

By CHRISTOPHER WINDHAM

Rising reggae dancehall star Mavado recently took the stage at New York’s Boucarou Lounge, displaying the rugged yard style that has made him in famous in Jamaica.

After passport issues forced the cancellation of a previously scheduled performance in New York, Mavado fans eagerly gathered at the dense club to witness this long-awaited concert.

Mavado, who was in the U.S. to promote his VP Records debut “Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks,” soon grabbed the crowd’s attention – first by encouraging revelers to ignore the club’s no smoking ban, and then by yelling his trademark “Anyway!” call, which precedes his biggest U.S hit so far “Weh Dem A Do.”

For about two hours, Mavado showcased the energy and versatility that has made him the talk of Jamaican dancehall. In his breakthrough hit in Kingston, “Real McCoy,” Mavado reveals the toughness and grit from his days as a protégé of another hardcore dancehall artist, Bounty Killer. On the mellow “Dying,” Mavado’s bass vocals are on display as the lights dimmed for this heartfelt performance.

Mavado’s arrival to the states didn’t garner the hype of Beatles hitting America in 1964, but his performance did show there’s a spot for him in American reggae dancehall and radio.