From Jamaica to America, London to Ghana
Badda and ZJ Liquid are taking their barrel movement to a worldwide level. “A barrel is a traditional thing that keeps connections with people overseas,” ZJ Liquid explained to Reshma B in her latest Murda She Wrote column for Tidal. “You can put a lot into a barrel. When you get a barrel, you good for six months. You don’t need to buy anything — you got rice, ketchup, beans, peas, syrup, soap, clothes. It’s very helpful to families, and people can share with more than just their immediate relatives. Sometimes people don’t even have food, and you can give them something out of a barrel so they can cook dinner.” Ever since the release of “Barrel” this past February, Badda General and ZJ Liquid’s conversational collab has taken on a life of its own—being reposted all over social media and buzzing in the streets of Jamaica. “It just become a thing,” said Liquid. “Everywhere I go people are like, ‘Yo Liquid, what can I get out of the barrel?’” The song’s popularity prompted other artists to call in hopes of jumping on a remix. “A lot of people reached out,” said Badda. “But in my brain it didn’t make sense for an artist to send a barrel from Jamaica to Jamaica.” When U.K. dancehall star Stylo G called to say he loved the song, Badda jumped at the chance to collab — especially since some listeners have pointed out certain similarities in their vocal tone and lyrical flow. “Stylo is a great artist,” said Badda, who resisted “outside forces” who tried to draw them into a clash. “For someone to compare me and Stylo, that is not a minus, that is definitely a plus. I am ego-free,” he added. “I am just here to make music and put smiles on people’s face. We just unite and kill the noise.” Gold Up, the song’s producer, had a link to Ghanaian dancehall star Shatta Wale, who also jumped on the remix, adding some African flavor to the musical barrel. “I have actually never met none of them in real life,” Badda admitted, “but music is a thing that connects all of us together.” Video After The Jump…
