Akon Drops Dancehall Track With Don Yute

Akon is tapping into Dancehall with his latest collaboration “Stay Down” with Don Yute.

The “Locked Up” crooner has teamed up with veteran Dancehall artiste Don Yute for the recently released single.

According to Akon, the track was actually recorded years ago but now is the right time to release it.

“I linked up with Don Yute years ago in Atlanta (and) we did this cut of Stay Down couple years now but it’s the right time to put the energy behind it and release it,” Akon told The Jamaica Observer.

According to Akon, the track has a “special vibe,” as it represents the 1990s sound of Dancehall, which he admires.

“I like this era of dancehall music. Being that I’m from Senegal and grew up the States I was exposed to Jamaican music and Jamaican people growing up, and I love and relate to their culture,” Akon said.

Don Yute became a household name back in the 1990s with his smash hit “Loving Excess.” He also scored several other hits including “Living In A Dream” and “Hold The Man.”

Akon says Don Yute was not the only Dancehall he is working with but remained tight-lipped on the other names.

Akon previously signed Dancehall acts Demarco and female group Brick & Lace to his KonLive label. The label was a joint venture with American music mogul Jimmy Iovine of Interscope Records.

Last year Akon launched his new label Akonik Label Group (ALG) partnering with former Motown Records CEO Kedar Massenburg. ALG is comprised of four labels that would focus on artistes from different regions.