Last year, Lisimba Taylor stepped out as a producer with singles that introduced his Simba Grimey label to the dancehall. In February, he makes his EP debut with Hard Work Smart Work, a compilation of songs by some of the genre’s hottest artistes.

The six-song project is co-produced by D’Advocate Entertainment which also collaborated with Taylor on Simple Dutt, his first production which was released last year. Things were different this time around, he told the Jamaica Observer.

“My approach to this project is what differed from my previous productions. The vision wasn’t to release a single, but to release a body of work. It was time to level up,” said Taylor.

He and D’Advocate Entertainment went big for Hard Work Smart Work, recruiting three big names in Valiant, whose song on the Hard Work Smart Work is Button Press, Chronic Law (Hard Work) and Jahshii (Believe).

Shaqstarr (Letter From A Sinna), Kant10t (Feelings), and Ai Milly (Code Switcha) also contribute to the EP.

Taylor is from Seaview Gardens in Kingston, a community that has produced such acts as Shabba Ranks, Bounty Killer and the Scare Dem Crew. He admits that being a fledgling producer in the competitive dancehall arena comes with challenges.

“Naturally, I had a few hurdles to jump but my focus is never on the challenges but the end result. To create a body of work that myself and the talented artistes can be proud of,” he stated.

Simple Dutt by the high-riding Skeng marked his foray into production last June. Taylor, a past student of St Andrew Technical High School, was introduced to him by the principal of D Advocate Entertainment.

— Howard Campbell