Reggae Singer and Producer Collie Buddz, whose name is based on a slanged term for Marijuana has recently earned his third number one title on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart with his album ‘Hybrid’. This album demonstrates his ability as a producer and vocal acuity and has produced two mega hits so far ‘Love & Reggae’, and ‘Show Love’.

In 2006, Collie Buddz took the reggae industry by storm with his catchy lyrics and island vibes when he released his first single ‘Come Around’. The track topped charts in Europe, U.K. and Jamaica and became so popular that Rapper Busta Rhyme cut his own remix from it which increase its musical presence on urban America radio. By the time Collie Buddz dropped his second single ‘Mamacita’, which was released by Sony, he was more than just the talk of the town. He soon won over the critics with Spin Magazine who wrote: “Buddz proves the pop rule: Catchiness transcends colour.”

Collie Buddz who was born Colin Harper in New Orleans to a mother with Bermudian heritage. At the age of four years old, his father died, and his mother decided to move the family back to Bermuda where Collie Buddz grew up. It wasn’t long before the urban music of his island home caught his attention.

“Back then, I just used to plug headphones into the microphone jack of a tape deck. I’d sing into one of the earpieces and record it on cassette,” said Buddz when recalling his introduction to reggae. His introduction to the reggae industry came, from his brother Smokey, when he was only twelve years old. He quickly learnt his way around the studio and developed a singing voice people wanted to hear more of. As time passed, Smokey relocated to Toronto, Canada to study audio engineering and Collie Buddz followed. By the age of nineteen, he decided to pursue his own audio engineering degree in Orlando, Florida at Full Sail Academy. After completing his degree, Collie rejoined his brother in Canada with hopes of becoming a major music producer.

“As an artist, I want to expand musically… But at the same time, when I put on my producer hat and I hear a riddim, it might not be in my comfort range… I only care about making good music. For that to happen, it can’t live in a box.” explained Collie Buddz. As a producer, Collie could not find any artiste that could pull off the sound that he was looking for. As of such, he ended up working the mixing board on his own vocals. Collie started his own record label called Harper Digitals where he continues to hone his craft as a producer, releasing new material and touring with artists such as Cypress Hill, Rebelution and Matisyahu. As an extension of his love for reggae music, Collie Buddz launched a radio station in Bermuda called Vibe 103.

Hybrid which was released May 24, 2019 by Harper Digital is the first album that Collie Buddz has self-produced entirely on his own. It features collaborations with Tech N9ne, Dizzy Wright, Stonebwoy, and B Young. The album has a total of 10 songs with Billboard describing it as Collie being “at his strongest”.  “If I could make one beat and sing on it, why can’t I just do a whole album that way?” posited the Bermudian Reggae artist. Collie Buddz described working on the album as a challenged that he enjoys, sharing that it took a lot of time to work on. “It was an amazing process because I was actually doing everything for it. Finding the lane to be able to do something like this yourself is so satisfying,” explained Collie Buddz.  The Album Hybrid is available Worldwide on Spotify, iTunes,  Soundcloud, Tidal and all other major platforms.

Samples of Collie Buddz

1. Love reggae Collie Buddz 0:45

2. Show Love Collie Buddz 0:45

3. Bank ft. young & Russ Collie Buddz 0:45

4. Come Around Collie Buddz 0:45

5. Tomorrows Another Day Collie Buddz 0:45

6. Mamacita Collie Buddz 0:45

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Links and references

http://www.colliebuddz.com/about

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/collie-buddz-mn0000476599/biography

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8515868/collie-buddz-hybrid-album-interviw

Citation for image

Photos. (n.d.). Retrieved July 13, 2019, from http://www.colliebuddz.com/photos