Though he went into an early retirement last September, pay that no mind. After a bout of issues surrounding his career, health and the need to spend time with his children, Vegas has abandoned that ghost and instead embarked on a glorious return to form in 2009.
What exactly prompted last year's decision might not be entirely clear to some. Still what matters is the 'now'. And right now, he has no plans of disappearing from an industry that has earned him much acclaim.
Vegas has been described as an artiste with an 'uncanny knack of making hits.' Truth be told, in recent years, he has had huge success with most of his released singles.
Dancehall, like much of Jamaica's other music has often borrowed from church. This is evidenced by the current surge of praise music reminiscent of Sunday school times. Of course, as dancehall lives out this current phase, it is Vegas who leads the charge. In addition to having the #1 song on the UK Reggae chart, he has also topped the Caribbean Hot 30 Countdown with the inescapable single 'I Am Blessed'.
The single is his most recent chart topper, following 2008's 'Daggering' and 'Mus Come a Road' which entered Germany's Black Singles chart. The former release helped to mark that year with a bit of flack, on the still controversial subject. With 'Mus Come A Road' however, he played it 'safer' and stylistically the track was a clear ode to dancehall great Tenor Saw.
It's been a full 12 years since his entry into the music world. He emerged on the scene with Nike Air, his next single, "Heads High", had a successful chart run in the UK and a #69 peak on the Billboard R & B chart. By 1998, his debut album, Heads High, was released, which hit #5 on the US Reggae chart. Vegas won a MOBO for Best Reggae Artist for the Heads High album as well. 2000's single "Hot Gal Today" was a minor hit on the US R&B charts, peaking at #66.
After the release of his 2001 album Damn Right, other minor hits followed. The album affirmed itself with a #2 spot on the US Reggae chart. By 2004, it came time for the Pull Up LP, though a hit in Jamaica, the title track only managed a peak of #98 on Billboard Top 200, (as well as #68 on the R&B chart).
He proceeded into 2007 with his mega hit Tek Weh Yuself song, which gave the soundtrack for the now standard Jamaican expression for avoiding danger. The fervour had quickly spread over seas and Tek Weh Yuself, on the Dutch Pot riddim was named as one of the top 50 songs of the year by Vibe magazine.
Currently, he is looking forward with a revamped management team, headed by Ray Alexander of Khool. Vegas was formerly managed by sound clash mavens, Irish and Chin. As his musical career gathers momentum, the singjay is giving full focus to a Summer tour and the completion of his new album.
