The DASECA producer-turned-singjay has been collaborating with mainstream American rappers such as Queen Latifah, DJ Webstar and the ‘Making the Band’ winners Day 26. When THE STAR spoke to the singjay recently, he was on set in Los Angeles at his video shoot for the single She Loves Me. The video is being directed by Rich Newey who has worked with the likes of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, fellow Jamaican Sean Paul, Nate Dogg and Christina Aguilera, among others.
much-anticipated
Serani told THE STAR about some of the collaborations including the Neptunes-produced reggae love song, If He Wanna with Queen Latifah. The song appears on Latifah’s much-anticipated album Persona, which was released in July.
“Basically, Queen Latifah heard I was free and was excited about doing something with me. I was glad to do the song and I love what I did with it. She has been bigging me up on interviews she’s been on like ‘Regis and Kelly’ and ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’,” said Serani.
He also completed a club song with DJ Webstar, who is known for the Chicken Noodle Soup dance and song. The collaboration is called Tipsy In Da Club, and according to Serani, it might be the first single to be released from Webstar’s upcoming album.
“I also have a song coming out with Day 26 which is kind of a R&B and hip hop. Me and them have a good relationship. I had met one of them before when he did backup vocals for a song I did with Wyclef,” Serani explained.
four-album deal
Another upcoming single should be released soon with veteran rapper Bun B and possible work with rapper Jim Jones. Serani said, “I have a good relationship with Jim Jones who came out wid me on Hot 97’s On Da Reggae Tip. So we’re suppose to be doing something together as well.”
Outside of collaborations, Serani is looking forward to the release of his first album No Games on October 27. This will be one of the albums from the four-album deal the artiste signed with Universal Records in January.
The first single to be released from the album was the title track No Games, which peaked at number 53 on the Billboard Hot Hip Hop/R&B charts.
Recently, She Loves Me, the second single to be released overseas, debuted at number 82 on the Billboard Hot Hip Hop/R&B Chart. The album will feature collaborations with Ding Dong with Skip To My Luu and features work from fellow DASECA member Raine Seville.
Serani said, “I’m here just promoting, just a work hard. October 27, dat a di biggest thing right now and I’m very excited, I can’t wait.”
