Kreesha Turner is one Sexy Gyal

CANADIAN-JAMAICAN dancehall recording artiste Kreesha Turner is currently in the island promoting her single Sexy Gyal, a collab with dancehall group TOK.

The artiste, along with her manager, American television personality Nick Cannon, were guests at the Jamaica Observer's Monday Exchange held at its Beechwood Avenue headquarters in St Andrew, yesterday.

Turner is signed to Cannon's Ncredible Records.

"We are gearing up for a successful 2015. I am currently working on my mixtape which will feature the likes of Mya, Juicy J and Gucci Mane," she said.

She said the mixptape, will take the elements of hip hop, dancehall, reggae and R&B.

Both Turner and Cannon said they are not perturbed by the low sales of dancehall/reggae music. Cannon said such a challenge is exciting as he knows his artiste has the potiential to make it big internationally.

Turner said she met Nick Cannon while at a night club in Los Angeles.

"As soon as I walked in Nick was DJ-ing. He took the mic and said: 'Kreesha Turner is in the building'. All I could think was, 'this man knows my name, what?" she explained.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, to Canadian father and a Jamaican mother, the 29-year-old said she never strayed far from her roots and would spend the holidays with her grandmother.

"At the age of 14, I got myself in a little trouble and my mother 'deported' me to Jamaica," she said between laughter.

Spending a portion of her teenage years in Spanish Town, St Catherine, Turner attended Faith Temple Tabernacle in Bayside, Portmore.

"My friends convinced me to audition for the youth choir despite my own belief that I could not sing," she said.

After completing her secondary education at Wolmer's High School, she returned to Canada. In 2004, she inked a record deal with Capitol Music Group, under which the Virgin Records imprint operates.

Concurrently, EMI Music Canada signed her in order to more effectively tap into the Canadian market. She later released singles such as Bounce With Me, and Don't Call Me Baby.

In 2008, Don't Call Me Baby topped the US Billboard Dance Charts. That same year she released her debut album Passion.

Other hits that foIlowed include I Could Stay and Rock Paper Scissors. Turner released her a double disc, Tropic Electric in November 2011.