Qraig Voicemail, Ding Dong unite on ‘Shake’

Qraig Voicemail and Ding Dong have, over the years, fused their musical chemistry to release dance music that has resonated with music fans globally.

Their latest collaboration, Shake, by producer Barzini was produced by Change the Stars Record.

"The song came about because I wanted to do a dance fusion song with dancehall and hip-hop elements. I wanted to work with Ding Dong the king of dance, and the voice behind some of the biggest dance hits, Qraig. I contacted Qraig and the idea came to fruition," Barzini explained.

"Working with Ding Dong and Qraig Voicemail was an absolute dream. [It was] straight high energy and a dance experience, because Ding Dong was actually dancing and jumping while recording the song. It was a live performance seeing them in action. They went inside the recording booth and freestyled their verses and the chorus," Barzini added.

Described as a fun song, the track captures the essence of females and their beauty.

"All the women in the world can dance to this song and men can enjoy the view of seeing a woman dancing while in full control," said Barzini, whose given name is Jamal McDonnough.

He credited his musical evolution to the blend of Jamaican and American popular music genres dancehall and hip-hop. Although born in Omaha, Nebraska, he spent his first 10 years in Kingston. After returning to the US, he settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but his Jamaican roots remained strong. He travelled back to Kingston every holiday just to keep his cultural and musical connections alive.

At age 11, he began immersing himself in the sounds of artistes such as Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G., Master P and Silk Shocker. Lil Wayne, in particular, sparked his desire to become a rapper. During his visits to Jamaica, time spent with his friend and neighbour DJ Karim opened new musical doors. Through Karim, who produced for major artistes such as Elephant Man, Wayne Marshall, Kid Kurup, Sean Paul, Tony Matterhorn, and Bounty Killer, Barzini was introduced to the world of reggae and dancehall. He met and interacted with top artistes and these experiences deepened his passion for Jamaican music, with favourites including Voicemail, Vybz Kartel, Dexta Daps, and Jah Vinci.