CALIFORNIA-BASED dancehall producer Minto Play Da Riddim is urging Jamaican acts abroad to stay true to their roots in an effort to preserve the genre.

“It is important to stay true to who you are and your country because you do not wanna lose the whole vibe and the culture,” the producer, whose given name is Pierre Minto, told the Jamaica Observer.

This comes after he collaborated with Jamaican-American rapper Safaree on a new project titled Stutter Step, released on September 16.

“The project is a banger; the song and beat are full of vibes and it’s a hit, in my eyes. It actually went viral on The Shade Room, WorldstarHipHop, and I’m getting good feedback on the song from listeners,” he said.

Originally meeting in 2016, the two first worked together on Safaree’s 2020 single Tek Off and the producer also has a track on his last album, IDGAF.

“The chemistry is good. I had sent [Safaree] the instrumental, he loved it, and we went forward. I think that it’s a really good song and it has potential to be a hit; the beat is different, the song was well put together overall, and I think the production was good,” Minto Play Da Riddim said.

An official music video for the track is also in the pipeline.

The producer has worked with a slew of artistes such as Skillibeng, Jahvillani and Charly Black. He has several new projects in the pipeline.

“I have lots of music to release, including a remix with Skillibeng and rapper Smiles Official from Miami. I also have a Jahmiel track to release — crazy new works,” Minto added.

— Kediesha Perry