Jamaican Dancehall producer Ainsley ‘Notnice’ Morris talked with the Jamaican Observer recently and says his association with Vybz Kartel and Alkaline, artists labelled as controversial in Jamaica, have caused some artists to shy away from him.
According to Morris, it is one of the biggest challenges he faces in the industry.
Notnice is, however, determined to keep doing what he has been.
“The same thing that happen with Vybz Kartel is happening with Alkaline. They believe that I just want to work with a particular act, but it’s not like that. I just work with who will work with me,” he told .
“Sometimes when I link some of the artists, they tell me to send them the rhythm. They say they are ready to voice on it, but they don’t. And they don’t return my calls or respond to the messages either. I really don’t know what the problem is,” the 28-year-old continued.
Notnice emerged on the dancehall circuit in 2007.
He instantly became a household name as the producer behind Vybz Kartel’s Last Man Standing, Cake Soap, Mama, and Get Wild.
He also has production credits on Jah Vinci‘s Watch Yuh Friends, Popcaan’s Gangster City and Dream, and Shawn Storm’s My Life.
Morris said he severed ties with Vybz Kartel in 2011 and went solo the following year. He said the key to producing is understanding each artist.
“My ears are always open. I don’t just record, as every act is different. Therefore, I take a different approach with each,” he said.
Being a young producer, I only knew Shawn Storm, Jah Vinci and Deva Bratt, and a few others from the Gaza camp. Soon after, some of my recordings caught Kartel’s ears, and we began working shortly after,” he recalled.
While Kartel and Notnice interrupted their relationship in 2012, Kartel has been incarcerated since the end of 2011 but the two delivered a couple of hot singles together which also made Notnice relevant in Dancehall Music to the world.
Morris, in 2009, got some international attention with Ramping Shop — a collaboration with Kartel and Spice. The single peaked at number 76 on the Billboard Top 100 charts.
Vybz Kartel feat Spice in Romping Shop Official Music Video
The track, however, stirred controversy after EMI Publishing ordered the single remixed after it infringed on the copyright license of Neyo‘s Miss Independent.
And was also banned from radio in Jamaica. Still is one of the biggest hits for all Kartel, Spice and Notnice,
Notnice has his sights set on returning to the Billboard charts.
“I want to reach back on Billboard with an original rhythm,” he said. He is hoping to achive this with his yet-to-be-titled upcoming rhythm slated for release later this month.
