DON YUTE. has bounced back more focused and more determined than ever before

Don Yute, the former Wolmer's schoolboy table tennis star who in 1993 at the age of 17, evolved into a music sensation, returns to the local dancehall scene after an eventful five-year absence. Overcoming an attempt on his life by a masked gunman during his stay in Atlanta, the deejay/rapper best known for his single, Dancehall Crazy, Don Yute has bounced back more focused and more determined than ever before.

Twelve years ago, the Wolmer's Under-13, Under-15 and 17 table tennis champion who donned the national colours in the US Open, released his first single as a recording artiste titled Murder Me, for producer Barry O' Hare. Then in no time he followed this up with Hardcore and the popular Lovin Excess performed in combination with Wayne Wonder.

By this time the fast rising entertainer who blends hardcore dancehall sound with a hip hop delivery, was in full flight working with such producers as Donovan Germaine, Mikey Bennett, Dave Kelly, Bobby Digital, Danny Browne, as well as Steely and Clevie.

After establishing his own Golden Child Label, Don Yute began turning out a slew of self produced singles alongside his productions of other far more established artistes than himself in Mad Cobra, Beenie Man and Spragga Benz.

In time he has recorded with multi-platinum producer Jermaine Dupri of So So Def Records the RIAA certified gold-selling singles Sexiest and Hardcore Wuk with Uncle Al for So So Def Bass All Stars compilation CD part 1 and 2.

He also worked with the remix masters DJ Lil' Jon and Paul Lewis the Dynamic Duo Tour, Capelton's gold single on Def Jam. Lil Jon has him on the original Move Bitch track on the BIA BIA album, and Ying Yang has him on their set, Me And My Brothers.

Landing a deal with Capital Record just about the time Dancehall Crazy became his most popular song, Don Yute headed first to Atlanta and then Miami.

But it was while in Atlanta that an unfortunate incident took him to death's door. "Mi get shot in Atlanta one day," revealed the deejay born Jason Williams.

"I was a drop off mi music at a disc jockey house, and guy inna mask was behind," he added as he recounted his frightening experience. "Mi check sey a one ah mi brethren dem running a joke, so mi sey tek off the mask nuh. And the man kept walking up laughing and just shot mi here so inna mi lungs. Go in here and exit here," said pointing to the bullet wounds in the upper part of his body.

"Mi see the real light, mi know the better life. mi mouth locked and mi light about to lock off. And yuh see from that me is not the same Jason," he said.

Despite the threatening episode of his life, the son of attorney-at-law Jason Noel Williams and Jennifer Williams, professor in Spanish and English teaching at a university in Cayman said: "Mi have di world locked."

Sufficiently healed physically, mentally and spiritually, Don Yute has put that sordid incident behind and has returned to his old ways and doing what he does best, producing some of the finest dance music. And he is now claiming the victor in a single Thank You Jah Jah for which there is a video.

To widen his fan base, in addition to his forthcoming album called Boobilous, he has released a number singles for both the mainstream as well as the online markets.

"The album don't drop yet, but the single Row Di Boat, directed by Eric White with Ying Yang Twins based in the Atlanta Georgia of TVT Records, the same label Lil Jon is on, getting rotations on mainstream radios all around. while Roots Dancehall and Justice. Vol 1 is for the online fans.....website singles it's really a way to get a different fan base.

"The singles that I'm pushing is one with Don Yute and Akon, Oh Mama and the other with Dennis Brown's, Here I Come. Wi also have a song a come out name, The Gidddeon Bus," Don Yute told Splash earlier this week before leaving for Atlanta for a gig tonight.

"That's how my music gets its name 'world hop'. Each city I have to touch it two time, from the dancehall angle. and the other side of dancehall. people say it's the official cross for dancehall and hip hop," Don Yute said.

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