Although they moved in the same circles during the early 1990s, Singer Irie and Ian Sweetness never recorded a song together. Recently, they decided to break the ice and create Real Friends, a song released on September 2.

The track is produced by One Harmony Records, an independent company based in the United Kingdom.

“I have known Ian Sweetness for a long time, way back from in di ‘90s when he did a big song titled Show Kindness on di (producer) Bobby Digital label. We link up most time at shows, and talk on phone here in America about me and him doing a collaboration,” he told the Observer Online.

Singer Irie has been on a roll in the past two years, performing at Rebel Salute and Reggae Sumfest. He has collaborated with veteran deejay Peter Metro on the songs, Pretty Girl and Chatty Chatty, as well as on Right Type of Lady with Power Man.

Kartel, one of Singer Irie’s solo songs, paid homage to Vybz Kartel shortly after his release from prison in July 2024. He said writing Real Friends came easily.

“We both wrote our verses, but the punchline, ‘real friends don’t switch’ was my idea,” Singer Irie disclosed.

Born Wayne Campbell, Singer Irie started his career as Patrick Irie. Under that stage name, he recorded songs for producers such as Winston “Niney” Holness, Sugar Minott and Philip “Fatis” Burrell.

He took a change in moniker shortly after moving to New Jersey 10 years ago.

— Howard Campbell