Nina Sky’s 2004 smash hit “Move Ya Body” featuring Hot 97’s dancehall DJ Jabba, has been officially certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on Friday, February 7, after surpassing 400,000 units in sales and streams in the United Kingdom.
The song, released on April 12, 2004, via Universal Records, was the lead single from the duo’s self-titled debut album and became an instant classic. It peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart, cementing twin sisters Nicole and Natalie Albino as breakthrough artists in the early 2000s music scene.
The Puerto Rican-American sisters were born on March 13, 1984 and were raised in Astoria, Queens, where their stepfather’s work as a DJ influenced their early passion for music. By age 7, they had written their first song, and by 15, they were DJing in clubs.
Dancehall Influence and the Coolie Dance Riddim
On “Move Ya Body” Jabba, adds his signature call-and-response style added an authentic Caribbean feel to the track, but also making it resonate strongly with both dancehall and hip-hop audiences.
The song’s hypnotic beat is built around the “Coolie Dance” riddim, a popular dancehall rhythm created by Jamaican producer Cordel “Skatta” Burrell. Characterized by its bouncy, syncopated drum pattern and distinct bongo ostinato, the riddim became a staple in early 2000s dancehall, spawning numerous hits from artists like Sean Paul, Elephant Man, and Beenie Man. Nina Sky’s use of the riddim helped introduce it to a mainstream global audience, blending dancehall, R&B, and hip-hop influences in a way that was fresh and infectious.
It was In 2003, that producers Elijah Wells and Lionel Bermingham introduced them to hip-hop DJ Cipha Sounds, who then encouraged them to use the “Coolie Dance” riddim.
The song was then produced by Wells and Bermingham at The Hit Factory in New York City and “Move Ya Body” became one of the biggest crossover dancehall hits of the era. It was previously certified Gold in the U.S. by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2005 for selling over 500,000 units.
“Move Ya Body” has surpassed 200 million streams on Spotify and 70 million on YouTube.
