Gettin' busy with Sean Paul
By Kendis Gibson
CNN Headline News
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Sean Paul dances in the video for his hit song, "Like Glue."
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(CNN) -- It's late on a Wednesday night and a small Manhattan studio is playing host to one of the biggest stars in hip-hop and reggae music.
Over and over again, singer Sean Paul and his team of dancers rehearse the routine for the following day's live MTV performance.
It's unrelenting, monotonous at times, and tiring, but all well worth it for the new star of the reggae hip-hop hybrid, called Dancehall. "It hasn't hit my head yet," says Paul. "I'm still the same dude. I'm trying to remain that way, but sometimes you do kick back and say, 'Whoa, I'm right here.' "
With a quick succession of hits all within the last year it might seem like success was an overnight story for Paul, but that's far from the case.
"It is a couple years in the works. The first song came out in 1996 in Jamaica. I did a few barbecues, did a few shows in 1997, 1998, and I was a hyped new artist there."
Soon the Jamaican native was the biggest artist on the island, and there was buzz surrounding him throughout the region, but it would take a few years before he gained success in the United States.
That came in 2002, with the release of "Dutty Rock." The album launched such top 10 hits as "Gimme the Light," "Get Busy," and "Like Glue." Thanks to the popular dance videos, the songs became regulars on music television.
"A lot of people have these videos with a lot of bling, and a lot of 'T & A' and it's very sexy, but the women don't look in power. What was real was to do these basement parties that do go on, where you're down in the dark sweating and you still have on your hoodie."
Now with collaboration with artists such as Busta Rhymes, Beyonce, and a slew of other big names in the music business, Paul has arrived. Still he rebuffs comparisons to reggae greats Peter Tosh, and Bob Marley. "I think a lot of people say that because they're not learning of the history of the music deeply enough. "
To ensure that he remains on the minds of music fans, Paul makes sure he and his crew give their best, which might explain their long rehearsals.
The hard work paid off when they hit the stage the following day and jammed in front of an audience of thousands at Rockefeller Center.
