SEAN Paul has undeniably been a leader in the Jamaican entertainment industry in bringing dancehall music to the international forefront since 2000.

He has sold millions of albums and singles, accumulated a rack of coveted awards, and collaborated with the likes of Beyoncé, Carlos Santana, and Sting.

Sean Paul is the true definition of a Jamaican cultural ambassador who raises our flag high across the world.

Recently TEENage Flexxed with Sean Paul while On The Set of the Matrimoney Riddim “movie” shoot, but we had to get in-depth with the founder of Dutty Cup.

After eight months on the mend from knee surgery, which Sean feared would cause him never to perform again, it is no doubt that in 2011, he is ready to blaze.

His last album, Imperial Blaze from 2009, featured the popular single So Fine and was the first Jamaican album to top the Billboard Rap Charts.

Since Imperial Blaze’s release, Sean Paul has been in the studio working feverishly on new projects, including his new album due later this year. The first single from his upcoming album Got 2 Luv U features Alexis Jordan was produced by Stargate and released via his official website: www.allseanpaul.com.

After years of establishing himself on the local scene with the singles Baby Girl, Infiltrate, and others, Sean Paul released his first album in 2000 entitled Stage One, laying the foundation for his eventual worldwide appeal.

The album’s single, Deport Them, peaked at number 80 on Billboard’s R&B Charts in 2000, while Haffi Get de Gal Ya (Hot Gal Today), featuring Mr Vegas, was a top-10 hit on the same chart.

Two years later, with the backing of VP Records’ distribution partnership with Atlantic Records, Sean Paul released the dancehall landmark Dutty Rock. The album spawned Billboard top-10 singles Gimme The Light and Like Glue, while I’m Still in Love With You, featuring Sasha, peaked at number 13. Get Busy and Baby Boy, with Beyoncé, both featuring on the reissued version of the album, topped the Billboard chart.

Not only did Dutty Rock amass sales of over six-million copies worldwide and won the Grammy Award for Reggae Album. It also gave dancehall music some well-deserved international recognition. As a result of Dutty Rock’s success, Atlantic Records engaged in similar distribution deals with other VP Records artistes Wayne Wonder, Elephant Man, Kevin Lyttle, and Rupee.

The success of Sean Paul’s The Trinity was no different from that of Dutty Rock as two of its singles, We Be Burnin’ and (When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me, peaked within the top 10 of the Billboard Top 100 Charts, while Temperature topped the charts and became his signature song recognised globally.

During The Trinity era he also won the coveted American Music Award for Favourite Pop/Rock Male Artiste in 2006, beating the likes of Kanye West and Nick Lachey.

Since Imperial Blaze, Sean Paul mentioned that while in dialogue with Atlantic Records, for this album, they expressed wanted something differrent.

“The company wanted the album with more pop appeal and that gave me the opportunity to work with the kinds of international producers. Stargate, Benny Blanco, and Akon and some others that I’ve always wanted to work with. But I tried to get the pop producers to make dancehall productions from their musical standpoint. And we’ll see the results of that,” Paul said.

In 201l, Sean Paul has even started working on another side of the business — production.

His first riddim as a producer entitled Blaze Fia Riddim is now in heavy rotation and features cuts by Elephant Man, Assassin, Future Fambo, Ce’Cile, and several more.

He pointed out that his first production credit was on the song I Know You Like It on Imperial Blaze.

The riddim has a staggering count of 18 songs, mainly due to “word of mouth”, as described by Sean Paul, between his musical peers who were eager to work with him on his flagship project.

Production-wise, next in store for Sean Paul is his upcoming Material Riddim that features cuts so far from Trevor Off-Key, Voicemail, Leftside, and Ce’Cile. There will also be a highly anticipated collaboration between himself and Spragga Benz.

“We have this collaboration with Spragga Benz that came about from the friendship we have developed over the years by being on the same show bills and touring. I really anticipate that collab,” Paul said.

For the rest of the summer Sean Paul will be embarking on his first tour in eight months, which will include stops in Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Germany, as well as the One Love Peace Festival in London at Wembley Stadium on July 31, 2011.

— Dominic Bell