A-Team Music, the production team behind Black Rob’s comeback street banger “Ventilation,” has assembled a bold mix of island talent for their first full length release, a Caribbean-tinged Dance album The Runway. Featuring Dancehall icon Beenie Man, Reggae soulstress Etana, Dancehall sensation Mr. Vegas, Britain’s rising star Gappy Ranks, and brand new Latin crooner Al Cruz, The Runway weaves the varied styles of Roots Reggae, Dancehall, Pop, Rhythm & Blues, and Gospel into a robust Dance music compilation that demonstrates the A-Team’s creative genius. The Runway is scheduled to hit iTunes and all digital outlets on Tuesday, June 14th.
The Runway boasts to not just be an album, but a catwalk for the emotional garb that we wear through daily life. Wayne Anthony’s “Be With You” and “Go” by Kristopher show off the more sensuous fabrics of love while Mr. Lexx’s “Get Down” and Zumjay’s “Put It On” are the slinky, seedy lingerie of lust. Gappy Ranks and Ovamars turn up the designer swag with “All Over Me,” and “Baid & Pose,” and “Boom Boom” is Bugle’s straight up rump shaker. Al Cruz’s “Let Go” is a sobering heart-felt ballad about heart break. On the rage-filled “Monster,” Dancehall funk diva Natalie Storm shows the darker, rougher side of love gone wrong, while D’Angel rocks the haute couture look of the bold and brazen on “Yes Mi Know,” featuring her husband Beenie Man.
The Runway takes a sharp turn when Etana, sporting a militaristic suit of armor, combats poverty on “Supper Time.” The album closes on Mr. Vegas’s foot-stomping gospel-esque “Love of God.” Caribbean radio pioneer Pat McKay sews the seams of The Runway together with spoken word interludes.
“The album was inspired by thoughts and phrases and experiences that I’ve seen randomly posted on Facebook and Twitter and other social networks – little snippets of people’s lives that are like flashes of a camera bulb,” A-Team Music CEO Stanley ‘Rellee’ Hayden explains. “Instead of doing a compilation of random songs, I wanted to do something people can relate to. I call it ‘The Runway’ because in a way, we all wear our emotions like clothing.”
“I was blown away by the level of production on the entire album,” says legendary platinum-selling Dancehall producer Paul ‘Computer Paul’ Henton. “Rellee has created his own niche, blending dance music with Reggae and Dancehall.”
“The Runway, sounds like the future,” says music journalist Rob Kenner of Boomshots.com. “Not just because the beat bangs as hard as anything you’ll hear this side of Ibiza. But because the quality of songs like Etana’s “Suppertime” raise the bar for Dancehall in 2011.”
The Runwaywas exclusively produced by A-Team Music, under the helm of Rellee Hayden. Co-production credits include Max ‘Mad Max’ Castor, Jesse Adleman, and Dennis “D.C. Soulplusmind” Coronel for A-Team Music, and Tony ‘CD’ Kelly. The Runway will be available on iTunes and all digital outlets on Tuesday, June 14th.
