G7 linking from New Jersey to Portmore
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Having cut his teeth on the competitive Portmore dance scene, deejay G7 knows the importance of shopping a song to the grassroots.
Based in Newark, New Jersey, G7 is in Jamaica pitching his new single, Needle Eye. It is produced by Studio Vibes, a company out of Christiana, Manchester.
“It a get solid rotation in Jersey an’ The Bronx, so wi come a yard fi push it so it become a genuine dancehall hit,” G7 told OBSERVER ONLINE.
G7, 34, is from the Waterford community of Portmore which has always had a vibrant sound system scene.
While living there, he saw the impact Vybz Kartel, the area’s most famous artiste, had on budding artistes.
His biggest musical influences, however, are toasters General Trees and Papa San and the hardcore Shabba Ranks.
It was not until four years ago that G7 (real name Garfield Reid) kicked off his recording career with Gimme. That song was released by Warrior Chief Productions, a company owned by Jamaica’s champion jockey Dane Nelson.
He has maintained ties with Nelson’s fledgling label, recording songs like Love You Right.
Other recent G7 productions include Neezberry for Studio Vibes and Do the Maths, produced by T7G Records from Atlanta.
Howard Campbell