Deejay Shaggy Wonder was a dancehall veteran in 2008 when he recorded Smokey Eyes, his debut album.

It got little airplay but with a name change to Mr Absolute, he has resurrected the set which was co-produced by Ronald Richards.

“The songs on it are good, it just didn’t get the right promotion. I have a proper team behind mi now so wi looking for better things,” he said.

Two of those ‘good’ songs are More Sensimilia which Mr Absolute recorded with singer Cocoa Tea, and Mr Politician, a combination with Bushman.

He is also pushing new material including Plead my Calls and Pull up Yuh Pants with Terry Linen. Mr Absolute has been around the dancehall scene long enough to know the importance of staying fresh.

“Nowadays, yuh have so much ‘riddims’ out dey, yuh have to keep going to get dat giant hit song,” he said.

Smokey Eyes was released 18 years after Horace Henry (Mr Absolute’s real name) made his recording debut with the risque Blue Bomber for the Star Track label.

Though he is from Linstead, Mr Absolute lay musical roots in Ocho Rios in 1990 with Roots International, a fledgling label that helped break artistes like Tony Curtis, Jigsy King and a roots singer named Garnet Silk.

As Shaggy Wonder, he recorded a number of songs for Roof including Give us Strength with Silk.

He changed his moniker to Mr Absolute four years ago and maintains a busy recording routine.

“Mi nuh get the giant hit yet, so wi haffi keep trying,” he said.

— Howard Campbell