Big names contribute to Fiyah Marshall album

Local music artist Fiyah Marshall has racked up some big names in the hip hop world to perform on his official debut album including Jadakiss of the group The Lox.

The reggae/hip hop performer, aka Alex Marshall, said he had made many contacts since he left the island to live in LA three months ago. 

Also featured on the album are Marlon Asher, Cassidy and Twista.

His debut album Blazin is due for release at the end of the summer, though he has already released some singles in the States. His track featuring Jadakiss, aka Jason Phillips, Summer Love, will be released this month, according to Marshall.

“It’s thebiggest track and I am looking forward to dropping it — I am really excited about that, I’m heading back to shoot the video for that in a couple of weeks in LA.”

Fiyah Marshall now has a distribution with In Grooves — a distribution arm of Fontana Universal. He has been performing live and is gearing up for a tour once the album is released. 

He said that he made many connections when he moved to LA: “You just bump into everyone in LA. It is great, a privilege. It is just a melting pot. 

“Some I met before but I have a new management team CM3 based in LA, I started with them about six months ago. 

“My manager Chris Pringle has worked with everyone from back in the day including Afrika Bambaataa. He is in the Hip Hop Hall of Fame.”

Marshall has also been touring with Trinidadian reggae star Marlon Asher who is also featured on the new album. Another single on the album called Doing it Right features Miami rapper Acafool.

Marshall said: “I’ve been doing a lot of cross over, I’ve still got that reggae blend with everything. I have been shooting a lot of videos so they are stockpiling up. We also have the one with Marlon Asher. The single Searching is ready to roll.”

Bermuda has benefited from Marshall’s growing success — one music video he shot last year at the former Moon Bar (now Cosmopolitan) has received more than 300,000 hits on YouTube.

“The song Never Stop produced by DJ DeVille has been doing really well on YouTube. We also have two songs playing on radio in the States in New York, Chicago, Arizona.”

There are about 14 tracks on the album — half of them have already been released in the States. 

 “I have been working hard on things and have been preparing for 2013. I’m looking forward to it being a great year.”

Asked how he feels about his debut album being so close to completion he said: “I’m excited. 

“My hard work has
finally come through. I have been working on it for three years. 

“The industry is out there. There is no real industry here in Bermuda — it is small but out there, that is the industry.”

The album Blazin will be available at the end of the summer via online retail outlets as well as hard copies.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/fiyahmarshallmusic