Ring the Alarm recently caught up with another big talent residing in the UK, Black Champagne is a dancehall mc going from strength to strength right now.  Following a busy 2006 which saw the video for his title track ‘Black Champagne’ receive heavy rotation on Channel U, 2007 is shaping up to be another big year, with work on a new album already in progress this mc is sure to be making waves in the UK dancehall scene, we put a few questions to the man himself to find out more…

Q: Greetings Black Champagne, so for the people haven’t heard your music before what have they missed so far?
A: Well people who haven't heard my music is missing out on one of Jamaica most in-depth and diverse artist ever!

Q: So you used to mc under the name Mandela, what brought about the name change?
A: Well the name change comes about after I made the song 'Black Champagne' and most people start calling me by that name, so I feel like the change was natural and also by popular demand.
 

Q: So going back to the very beginning how did you first start mc’ing?
A: Well from an early age, around five, I started sing other peoples songs, and when I started school I use to beat the desk in a riddim and sing songs to it!  Then the next thing, I start skipping school and go round by King Jammys were I voice my first record, and the rest was history.

Q: What artists influenced you as a youth?
A: I would say Buju Banton was my first major influence, cause he was the first school boy in those time to make it in a big way and inspire alot of school youth, then Bounty Killa was the one who give me the vocal foundation to build on.

black champagne music video...           

Q: Who do you think is making the biggest impact on the international dancehall scene right now?
A: Right now it would afto be Sean Paul, him gone global.

Q: And how do you rate the UK dancehall scene at the moment?
A: The UK dancehall scene as potential, the only problem is most of the artist is narrow minded, instead of representing dancehall globally they choose to represent their ends.

Q: So what have the public got to look forward to from Black Champagne?
A: Well right now the public can look out for more big tunes from me of the highest quality, and they only ave to click on www.myspace.com/blackchampagne2 to realise that.

Q: Is there any advice you’d like to pass on to young mc’s just getting started?
A: My advice is to stay focus, and look on the positive side of things, also believe in yourself.

Q: Lastly is there anyone you want to send a shout out to?
A: Wanna send a shout out to Rudie Rich, Slimma G, Deadly Hunta, yourself Jamie and all my fans an supporters.