Skeng And His Producers Sign To Geejam Music With Global Publishing Deal
Dancehall star Skeng and his close friends and producers John Coop & Shacko Di Truth have recently signed with Geejam Music.
Geejam has also recently signed a global deal with Downtown Music Services, which will see the New York-based company provide “funded music publishing administration and label services” for Skeng, Shacko and Coop, as well as Geejam’s existing catalog and its existing roster of songwriters and producers.
The music company, which is headquartered in Jamaica, includes the “premier” Geejam Studios in Port Antonio. It is headed by hotel mogul Jon Baker, who first opened the recording facility in 1998.
“There is an exciting musical renaissance at play in Jamaica now and I am delighted to be partnering with Downtown Music for publishing administration and label services,” Baker said in a release.
“Having been part of the Jamaican music scene for over 30 years, since my tenure as President of Chris Blackwell’s Island Jamaica in the early 90s, I believe now is the time to offer a true alternative to what is currently on offer for Jamaican artists and writers alike.”
“Our partnership will provide an international platform for the release of homegrown Jamaican music via the Geejam Music label and see the reactivation of Gee Street Recordings for our international artistes with an A&R presence in the UK and US,” he continued.
Mike Smith, the Global President of Downtown Music Services, said he first met Baker when he worked at MCA Music in the 1980s. “His musical knowledge is second to none and I am thrilled that we are able to work together again,” Smith said.
In addition to administering copyrights, Downtown Music’s services include royalty collection, songwriter development, catalog marketing, neighboring rights, and financing services. They arrange co-writing opportunities and can place their songwriter’s compositions in film, television, advertising, and video game productions.
According to their website, Downtown’s roster includes Dancehall megastar Shaggy, film composer Hans Zimmer, the Beatles’ John Lennon, Matoma, Miles Davis, Robin Thicke, Tori Amos and the Wu-Tang Clan, among others.
Skeng, whose real name Kevaun Douglas, is among the most streamed artists in Jamaica. His catalog of songs, which include Gvnman Shift, Protocol with Tommy Lee Sparta, Heaven Passport with Intence, and Street Cred, has racked up over 83 million views on YouTube over the last 12 months.
John Coop, whose real name is Malik Miller, is well known for his work with Skeng (Rain Like Hail, Brrrp, Duppy Dem), and Jahshii (Keep Up).
Coop, who acquired the moniker from a friend, but has no idea how he came up with the name, told DancehallMag in an interview in April, that he and Skeng started in the music industry together.
“I knew Skeng from he came to Spanish Town, before doing music, we have been friends. Then we decided music would be our path, so we started in the industry at the same time,” he said.
“Shacko DiTruth, who made the beat for Duppy Dem and produced the songs Street Cred, Ypree, and Heaven Passport; he was the one with Budda who introduced me to Skeng. Budda is Skeng’s road manager right now and the second producer for Di Truth Records, we all started doing music at the same time.”