New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Atlantic Records) - VP/Atlantic recording artist
Sean Paul has announced the release of his first new album in over three years. "IMPERIAL BLAZE" - which follows 2005's RIAA platinum-certified "THE TRINITY" - arrives in stores and at all online retailers today, August 18th.
"So Fine," the album's first single, is looking like another massive hit for the Grammy-winning Jamaican superstar. The track - produced by Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor - is currently a top 20 favorite at Rhythmic radio outlets nationwide, while also scoring top 40 spins at CHR/Top 40. In addition, the track's companion video - directed by Ray Kay (Lady Gaga, The-Dream) - has been added into rotation at MTV2, MTV Jams, and mtvU, with further spins on both MTV and BET.
This summer has already seen Sean making a number of live television performances to herald the release of "IMPERIAL BLAZE," including sizzling appearances on ABC's "Good Morning America" and Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance." In addition, he recently taped an exclusive installment of A&E's "Private-Sessions," slated to air August 23rd. Furthermore, Sean's upcoming television performances include "The Wendy Williams Show," MTV's "Alex Chung," and BET's "106th and Park."
Sean began celebrating the arrival of "IMPERIAL BLAZE" this past weekend with a free MySpace Music concert at Los Angeles' House of Blues, presented by Sunkist Soda as part of its popular "The List" concert series. Next on the agenda is a very special day-of-release performance at New York's Highline Ballroom on Tuesday, August 18th. Also planned is a much-anticipated free concert in Brooklyn, New York's Wingate Park Field. Set for Monday, August 24th, the show - part of the 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series - is a "Caribbean Night" spectacular, pairing Sean with the one and only Calypso King of the World, Mighty Sparrow. For more information, please see www.brooklyn.com/modules.php?name=Wingate_Field.
"IMPERIAL BLAZE" looks certain to further cement Sean's status as the preeminent Caribbean artist of his era. The album features production from Sean himself, with additional studio contributions by manager/producer Jeremy Harding, Donovan "Don Corleon" Bennett (who helmed Sean's 2006 hit single with Keyshia Cole, "Give It Up To Me"), Craig "Leftside" Parks (Elephant Man, Buju Banton), Delano Thomas (one of the producers behind Sean's Top Ten smash, "We Be Burnin'"), and brother Jason "Jigzagula" Henriques, who twisted the knobs on the collection's more inventive tracks.
With three No 1 singles ("Temperature," "Get Busy," and "Baby Boy"), five Top Ten hits (including "We Be Burnin'" and "Gimme The Light"), and eight chart entries over two worldwide multi-platinum albums, Sean is without question the most successful Jamaican artist of all time on the U.S. charts. "THE TRINITY" confirmed his stature as a true international superstar, with total global sales in excess of 4 million. The album followed Sean's 2002 RIAA 2x platinum-certified VP/Atlantic debut, "DUTTY ROCK," which sold more than 6 million copies worldwide.
Sean has racked up a stunning array of prestigious awards in recent years, including the Grammy Award for "Best Reggae Album," the American Music Award for "Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist," Billboard Music Awards' "Hot 100 Single of the Year" (for "Temperature"), and the MTV Europe Award for "Best New Artist."
For up-to-the-minute news and information, please visit www.allseanpaul.com, www.myspace.com/seanpaul.
