Sean Paul must be one of the most asked "feature"-artists around. He often drops a verse or a few phrases on many singles by others, but I can't remember what may have been his last single as the main artist. When I hear his name, I immediately think of the early 00s, when he had hits with Blu Cantrell and Beyonce. I know he did some solo work then too, but it's only his featurings that come to mind.
Well, he's about to fix that this week. Last Friday, he took lead from The Weeknd and also released two tracks on the same day. To cater the mainstream radio and the hip hop clubs, he released two collaborations (yes, still collaborating), but this time he is the main artist and the others are featuring.
"No Lie" is his collaboration with Dua Lipa and it's catching the most attention. It's what you would actually expect from Sean Paul. It's danceable, catchy and the only thing that sticks out for me is how strong Dua Lipa's voice sounds on this track. I think she blows Sean Paul right out of the water and I actually have doubts whether this combination works. But the song is infectious enough to keep playing it again, so I'm sure I'll get used to it in a few listens.
The more interesting collaboration, looking at it from a more artistic point of view, is the second track: "Weh Teh Yuh Heart" with Tory Lanez. The title might make you think I've had too much to drink this weekend, but it really is the way the title is written.
Again, it's the featured artist who sounds the strongest, vocally, but this combination works better. The two rappers are so different in style. Tory's vocals are almost like the calm in the storm, as Sean Paul, with his dance hall style, almost sounds like he's rambling. For some reason, this mix is captivating to listen to.
I think "No Lie" will probably find the most commercial success. Though you never know. Tory Lanez has got a huge following too, so Sean Paul might just have a double winning going on here. In fact, it could be his third. He's also still riding the charts as a featured artist on Clean Bandit's "Rockabye" (also featring Anne Marie).
