MUMBAI: Dancehall legend, Grammy Award winner, hit maker par excellence and much loved global superstar Sean Paul today announces the signing of a brand new recording contract. The legendary dancehall / reggae superstar Sean Paul is now signed to the Universal Music Group via the iconic Island Records. Sean Paul’s forthcoming albums will be released worldwide through the storied label, both in the UK and the US. The draw of Island Records, home to many of the most talented artists of all time from Bob Marley, U2, and Amy Winehouse up to current million sellers Florence and the Machine, Hozier and Mumford & Sons together with its long association with the Caribbean, proved too good a proposition to resist. It was equally imperative for Island to secure the signature of one of the world’s biggest stars and unstoppable hit makers amid fierce competition from other major labels.

In addition to headlining Bestival on Sunday (11 September) Sean announced an exclusive one-off London headlining date at Camden’s Electric Ballroom on Tuesday 13 September which sold out in a matter of minutes.

With two new Sean Paul bangers about to drop, ‘Crick Neck’, featuring rising Dancehall star Chi Ching Ching and ‘Trumpets’ (Sak Noel & Salvi featuring Sean Paul), the deal comes at the end of a remarkable year which has seen the Jamaican superstar occupying his usual position, riding high in the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, most recently with fellow superstar Sia on their monster Billboard number 1 hit collaboration, ‘Cheap Thrills’. Indeed this was Sia’s first ever US number one single with the track also hitting the no. 2 spot on the UK singles chart.

Sean Paul himself says: “Island Records is an iconic label which has a proven track record of developing class acts that I have grown up listening to and loving. The fact that I can now call Island my musical home is an amazing feeling, knowing that I can trust them to help me realize my full potential as an artist. They have offered me a deal that gives me full creative control which is all I've ever wanted, and is virtually unheard of. The vibe is natural and organic and has only left me room to take my career to a new place and higher vibration. I can't wait for my fans to hear what I have cooked up for them and I give thanks to Darcus Beese and David Massey for seeing my talent and facilitating my return home to the top of the game. ICON + ICONIC LABEL = GREATNESS... Get ready for it!!! CAUH WE AGO BRING IT! RRR!!!”

Darcus Beese president of Island Records says: “I am absolutely delighted and excited that Sean Paul, one of the most consistently successful and best- loved artists, across any genre, of the last decade, has decided to join the Island family. Yes, Sean Paul is a multi-platinum selling artist and one of the most consistent hit-makers in the game, but every bit as importantly, he is a proper Island Records artist. We couldn’t watch him go somewhere else, and bring the goodness. We really can’t wait to get started”.

Sean Paul is without doubt one of the most instantly recognizable voices in music and he   has continued his remarkable strike rate over the last year with a string of hits including Cheap Thrills: 76 Million Streams On Spotify + over 1.3m Sales on iTunes, Cheap Thrills – No. 1 on the US Chart | No. 2 on the UK Chart (In chart for 23 weeks), Jay Sean (feat. Sean Paul) – Make My Love Go: 39 Million Streams On Spotify, Little Mix (feat. Sean Paul) – Hair: 25 Million Streams On Spotify, Matoma & Sean Paul – Paradise: 7 Million Streams on Spotify (inc. various appearances on major Dance Playlists e.g. ‘Massive Dance Hits’ and ‘UK House Music’, Sak Noel and Sean Paul – Trumpets: 4 Million Streams on Spotify, Strong Social Presence with 8.9m YouTube Views, 1.33mInstagram Followers & 11m Facebook Likes.

In 2002 ‘Dutty Rock’ (fuelled by the massive hit singles ‘Gimme The Light’ and ‘Get Busy’) went double Platinum in US and UK with worldwide sales of 3,400,000+ while 2006’s ‘Temperature’ reached x4 Platinum in US with sales of over 4m. Over the span of his career, Sean Paul has worked with some of the world’s biggest artists including Beyonce, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Busta Rhymes, Sia, Kelly Rowland, Enrique Iglesias and 2Chainz, and has also partnered with reggae and dancehall acts such as Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley, Mr. Vegas, Beenie Man, Ding Dong, Future Fambo, Tami Chynn, and long-time acquaintances Dutty Cup.

Aside from being a top-notch performer, Sean Paul is a much sought after music producer and has created music with a number of top Jamaican artistes.