Cracking the Gavinchi Code
SINGER Gavinchi Brown debuted at number two on the Billboard Reggae Album chart last week with the EP, The Gavinchi Code.
The six-song project has production work from hip-hop producer Nyceboy (best known for his work with Jennifer Lopez, 50 Cent, Fat Joe, Dru Hill and Lana Del Ray), Phillip McFarlane, DJ Young Trip, Germany’s Armageddon Crew and Hawaiian producer Bubz.
Though he is largely unknown in Jamaica, Gavinchi (real name Gavin Brown) has quietly made a reputation on the United States West Coast.
The Sunday Observer caught up with Gavinchi in Hawaii last Thursday while he was in the middle of a 27-date tour. He took his first Billboard entry in stride.
“I’m not surprised, because I did what I was supposed to do. These things are great, but being happy and making music is more ‘it’ for me. I have many people who love and support me and they came through for me. I just did what I was supposed to do,” he said.
Ini Kamoze, Andre Palmer, Noel Willis Jr and Dubtonic Kru are guests on The Gavinchi Code. Musicians who worked on it include saxophonist Conrad Pinnock, singer Stevie G, drummer Grub Cooper and Richard Small.
Now in his early 30s, Gavinchi made his recording debut in 1995. The former Kingston College and University of Technology student grew up in Rollington Town and Harbour View. He is the son of veteran radio broadcaster Owen ‘OB’ Brown and singer Shirley McLean.
In 2005, he started his own label Phenix Records and has released numerous mix tapes as well as an album, 2010’s Release Di Truth.
Prior to his EP, he did songs such as War (featuring Luciano and rapper Krayzie Bone from Bone Thugs and Harmony), Can I, Love We a Bring (with Yellowman) and Cry for Me.
The Gavinchi Code includes the songs One for Me, 4ever My Lady, Mr Brown, Don’t Try Me, Respek and Swing Easy.
“These songs are from a project I’ve been meaning to put out for a while. I was actually speaking with a dude at a Grammy party in November last year and he really wanted to hear some new stuff from me,” Gavinchi recalled. “He was super zealous actually, which was cool. I was already going to be touring so I just coincided a release to make something new for the tour. And it worked out well. The day after I decided to do it, I linked my ‘bredrin’ Bassie to get the artwork and within minutes that was done too. So it was real easy.”
Gavinchi says his biggest markets are the US West Coast, Hawaii and Canada. His tour ends February 18.
