Thursday, 30 October 2014

RUSSIAN GOES PLATINUM

PRODUCER Tarik 'Rvssian' Johnston has earned a platinum plaque for his work on the reggaeton track Passion Whine.
Released as a single in March, Passion Whine was recorded by Puerto Rican artiste Farruko and features Sean Paul. The track is featured on the 15-track album Farruko Presenta: Los Menores. Released on October 27 by Universal Music Group, Jamaican singer Wayne Wonder is also featured on the album.
The certification, issued by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which monitors record sales in the United States, was received by Johnston on Tuesday.
"I feel good about this accomplish-ment, especially that I'm from Jamaica. Having a Jamaican producer and artiste on a platinum-certified single is a good look. Big up to Sean Paul for believing in it," the 24-year-old told the Jamaica Observer.
It is the producer's the first platinum certification.
Passion Whine has sold over a million copies in America. It reached number 10 on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs; number 11 on Billboard's Latin Pop Airplay; and number five on Billboard's Tropical Salsa charts.
In recent times, Johnston has collaborated with several overseas acts including reggaeton artistes Daddy Yankee and J Balvin, and New York-based rapper Chinx.
His latest productions include Shut Up and Love by Konshens, Vybz Kartel's New Jordans and the Tweety Bird riddim which features J Capri, QQ, Bugle and Chris Martin.
An in-demand producer since 2008, Johnston has worked with a number of acts including the controversial Kartel. The two combined on the hits Straight Jeans and Fitted and Look Pon Wi (both of which featured him as an artiste).
Johnston came into the business with solid music ties. His father, Michael, was involved with Ronnie Burke (of Reggae Sunsplash fame) in the early 1970s when they ran the Micron Music company.
Johnston Sr is credited as executive producer of Negril, the acclaimed 1975 jazz/reggae album by respected American guitarist Eric Gale.

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