For most of his 35-year career, Don Yute has had fans rocking to songs like ‘Golden Child’ and ‘Loving in Excess’ (with Wayne Wonder). But on ‘Cry for The World’, his latest effort, the deejay shows a spiritual side.
Produced by Joshua Manning, the song was released on August 18.
“The message behind the song is that no matter how much we have acquired or how confident or certain we think we are about destiny, legacy or financial gain, the Almighty Jah/God makes the final decision, so we should be grateful for Jah mercy,” said Don Yute.
‘Cry For the World’ is the follow-up to ‘Upstream’, his collaboration with roots singer I-Wayne. It blends dancehall and Latin rhythms, but Don Yute said he had no thoughts of breaking into the Spanish market, which has become lucrative for Jamaican acts in recent years.
“I think the song has a feel of all parts of the world. It’s universal, not just the Latin market,” he stated.
Don Yute broke through in the early 1990s when dancehall music was gaining acceptance among American hip hop fans. ‘Loving in Excess’ was recorded on the wildly successful “Pepperseed ‘riddim’,” produced by Dave Kelly.
Unlike most dancehall artists who came from inner-city communities in Jamaica, Don Yute was raised in middle-class surroundings and attended Wolmers’ Boys, one of the oldest high schools in the Caribbean.
After over three decades in the music business, he stressed the importance of staying fresh.
“Being current is most important and you have to be as visible as possible. You’ve got to be up on your social tools and platforms,” said Don Yute.
