Sean Paul Finally Releases A Track On Dave Kelly’s ‘Showtime’ Riddim After 27 Years

After 27 years, Dancehall superstar Sean Paul has finally had the chance to record on Dave Kelly’s iconic Showtime riddim – a juggling riddim he has long wished to voice, and which is famous for hits like Wayne Wonder’s Searching Dem Searching and Bounty Killer’s Eagle and the Hawk.

Showtime, released by Kelly’s Madhouse Records in 1997, has been rated as one of the greatest Dancehall riddims of all time. Throughout the beat, Dave Kelly embedded sounds from cheering football fans in a stadium, making sounds such as “ah” and “hey.”

According to a release from Sean Paul’s music label Dutty Rock Productions, Paul’s new single is titled Bring It.

“Bring It not only showcases Sean Paul’s signature sound, but is also breathing new life into the classic riddim with a contemporary flair. It is set to become the ultimate party anthem, inviting audiences to hit the dance floor and celebrate the timeless allure of dancehall music. Sean Paul’s fusion of nostalgic vibes and contemporary beats promises a thrilling musical experience for fans old and new,” the release noted.

In a June 2022 interview with Vibe Magazine’s Siobhan Dixon, Sean Paul, who has featured on several of Dancehall’s most influential riddims, including Playground, Diwali, Bookshelf, Street Sweeper, and Buzz, when asked: “What’s the one riddim you are not on, but wish you were?” had given Showtime as his answer.

“I could name one off the top, Showtime. When I heard it, I was like, ‘Wow.’ You know what I mean? It’s a staple riddim. Very prolific riddim,” the Temperature artist had replied.

Sean’s remarks had come a week after Nigel Staff, key director of the legendary Ruff Kutt band and co-producer of Sean Paul and Keyshia Cole’s Give it Up to Me, mentioned, among other things, that it had been rumoured that Dave Kelly did not have much regard for Sean Paul.

Staff, an award-winning record producer, songwriter and musician, after being asked why he thought Dave Kelly never worked with Sean Paul, had told Television Jamaica’s Anthony Miller in an interview on The Entertainment Report that: “Rumour had it that he said he didn’t rate him”.

“I don’t know. I don’t follow rumours. But, sometimes, to be honest with you – and this is my personal thought – Dave was really busy and Sean was really busy. And sometimes it was so hard for people to meet up and link up… but I am saying it’s not too late, and I don’t think there is any bad blood. I think it can happen and I think honestly, personally – I think we need some of that new old school in 2023,” Staff had added.

Although Sean Paul has never recorded with Dave Kelly, he achieved massive success working with the producer’s older brother, Tony “CD” Kelly, who produced his hit tracks Deport Them and Like Glue.

Deport Them was the lead single on Sean’s debut album, Stage One. Originally released in 1998 on the Bookshelf riddim, it was co-written and produced by Tony and reached No. 70 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in 2000.

Like Glue, which was also co-written and produced by Tony, was featured on Sean’s 2002 Dutty Rock album. Voiced on Tony’s Buy Out riddim, it peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a top ten hit in countries such as Switzerland, the UK, Canada, and Ireland.

As for Showtime, international Dancehall recording artist Cham, who also scored with hits Hottie Hottie Crew and Galang Yah Gal, on the riddim had described Showtime as the “greatest Dancehall riddim ever”.

Cham had also attributed the riddim’s greatness to Kelly’s creativity and unconventional musical techniques, pointing out that these were the driving forces behind its success.

Dave Kelly, who is widely regarded as the greatest Dancehall producer of all time, dominated the 1990s with his prolific output. He created numerous iconic riddims during that period, among them Pepperseed, Joy Ride, Stink, and Dugu Dugu.

Kelly also masterminded riddims such as Bogle, Arab Attack, Heartbeat, Return, Haunted, Backyard, Fiesta, 85, and Bruk Out, which spawned many of Dancehall’s biggest hits.

Sean Paul has had 19 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 since 2003. His first No. 1 hit was the platinum-selling Get Busy on Lenky Marsden’s Diwali riddim, followed by his breakout single Gimme the Light on Troyton Rami’s Buzz riddim, which also topped the chart. Both tracks featured on his 2x Platinum Dutty Rock album, which won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2004.

In 2005, We Be Burnin’ on the Stepz riddim peaked at No. 6 and went Platinum in 2017, while his chart-topping single Temperature on Snowcone’s Applause riddim has earned a triple-Platinum certification.