Jamaican reggae and dancehall icon Sizzla Kalonji released his 38th studio album The Overstanding 20 years ago.
The project brought together one of reggae’s most prolific recording artists and American hip-hop entrepreneur Damon Dash, the former Roc-A-Fella Records executive who helped build the careers of Jay-Z and Kanye West.
Originally released in the United States on October 17, 2006, The Overstanding represented an important chapter in Sizzla’s international career, connecting Jamaica’s conscious reggae movement with the American hip-hop industry.
At the time Dash described Sizzla as the next Bob Marley.
The album released through Damon Dash Music Group, Koch Records and Sizzla’s Kalonji Records, included re-recordings of earlier Sizzla tracks including “Thank You Mama,” “Black Woman and Child,” and “Take Myself Away.”
Dash offered Sizzla a sneaker and movie deal with intentions of making him a global superstar.
The Overstanding was fourth studio album released in 2006 fooling:
- Jah Protect — March 14, 2006, through Penitentiary Records.
- Ain’t Gonna See Us Fall — April 4, 2006, through VP Records.
- Waterhouse Redemption — May 5, 2006, through Greensleeves Records.
Sizzla later revealed that his connection to the Roc-A-Fella circle began through Gavin, the brother of Jamaican-American rapper Foxy Brown.
In an Entertainment Report podcast episode he said, “Gavin started that link. Foxy Brown and Gavin are brother and sister. Gavin wanted Jay-Z to give him that break as Foxy’s brother, so he asked me if I could get to Jay-Z as someone with that influence. So I got the number and called Jay.”
He recalls meeting up with Jay-Z and Beyoncé in the studio in New York along with several artists. “Jay said no problem, Dada, you are my inspiration, and we got into the studio. It was Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Sizzla, Foxy Brown, Barrington Levy, Cookie, Cud, Guru, and two or three more females. From there, we got the link, and the Yankee link began, saying, ‘that’s Jay,’ but it was just fun. I wasn’t really thinking about anything.”
Sizzla said that after the recording studio session, he didn’t get the deal with Jay-Z, speculating that it was because of his firebrand artistry, which was indifferent to the path Jay-Z was on. “I thought very well that Dame Dash heard now that Sizzla didn’t get a deal, and he tried his best, and we got a little deal, and that’s how Dame Dash came and looked for Sizzla.”
Dash had previously co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records with Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke. Following the breakdown of his business relationship with Jay-Z, Dash established Damon Dash Music Group and pursued new recording partnerships.
In May 2006, XXL magazine reported that Damon Dash Music Group had entered a partnership with Koch Entertainment and that Sizzla’s The Overstanding would be the first project released through the new arrangement.
Damon Dash Praised Sizzla’s International Appeal
Dash viewed the collaboration as an opportunity to enter the international reggae and Caribbean music market.
When announcing the relationship, Dash praised Sizzla’s talent, productivity and importance within reggae music, while recognizing the commercial potential of the Caribbean music industry.
Despite the partnership, Dash later emphasized that Sizzla maintained his independence as an artist and businessman.
In an interview with AllHipHop, Dash explained that Sizzla already operated his own record label and that his role was to help establish connections and provide support.
Among the album’s other notable recordings were “Solid as a Rock,” “Give Me a Try,” and “Just One of Those Days.”
The album also featured a remix of “Take Myself Away” with The Curtains.
Its production and executive credits included Damon Dash, Kareem “Biggs” Burke, DJ Clark Kent and Sizzla himself.
