Congratulations are in order for former Podium Vybez/Storm 360 recording artiste General Pype now CASH BOY RECORDS signee on the release of his new single BLESSED & READY.
Pype whose breakout street anthem ‘Champion‘ (and its remix) was the song that brought him to limelight has been low key for some years now. The singer, songwriter and reggae/dancehall artist whose song ‘Champion’ after being licensed by Supersport as its theme song and opening montage for its channels on DSTV, became the first song by any African artist to get such a deal by a television channel. The deal ensured viewers heard ‘Champion’ each time they tuned in to DSTV’s SuperSport Channels to watch their favourite sports programmes, and opened the way for such deals with other Nigerian/African artists.
In 2011, General Pype broke the terms of his contract and fell out with his label Podium Vybez/Storm 360 who signed him in a JVA. He went on to float his own label Obalende records and released a couple of tracks before relocating to the US to school and raise a family.
Speaking to Toks Asher Young, his erstwhile manager and co-founder Podium Vybez, he said that even though Pype left without fulfilling his contractual agreement, he held no ill will toward the dancehall artist. “Pype is a very versatile and prolific artist, and he is so talented that I used to tell him that his biggest problem is himself”, he stated.
In 2010, Champion Remix featuring Dagrin, Vector, Naeto C, Sasha P & GT The Guitarman, won the 2010 Channel O Music Video Awards for The Most Gifted Ragga and Dancehall Video for CHAMPION REMIX. The song, which was executive produced by Toks Asher Young for Podium Vybez & Tola Odunsi for Storm 360, is still Pype’s biggest and best performing song across all platforms.
Produced by emerging producer Patrick ‘Password’ Mathias who also sang the hook/chorus on the song, the video was shot by Bobby Boulders on location in Obalende, Lagos where Pype was raised.
After penning a deal with Cash Boy records earlier this year, Pype released ‘Blessed & Ready’, the first single off his forthcoming EP on June 24th.
More than 10years after Champion, the yute from Obalende is back, blessed and ready to pypenotize his fans once again with his infectious and enthralling melodies. Blessed and ready is already streaming on all digital stores worldwide.
