In Jamaica where selectors spend several years trying to make their name known to the dancehall audiences, Foota Hype’s exploits have earned him a renowned name plus a tight following in relatively record time. His face pops up on the posters for major stage shows and concerts all over the world. Known for bravado and comical expressions on the microphone, Foota is a crowd favorite in the expansive music loving communities across the country.
Foota found himself mastering the art of debating forcefully among his friends, and was known to have an answer for everything. These were the building blocks of his verbal assaults he is known for while selecting. By the time he was 13, Foota found out he could rhyme, and write, but rather than become a deejay, he chose to pursue selecting. “I can rhyme good and write tune but it was not in me to deejay it back. Mi strength is in debating, but who knows. Maybe mi no see it yet,” he states.
His turntable duties started on the Twilight sound system, which back then had the basic set up of two turntables, a mixer, amplifiers, and three boom boxes. Nothing was basic about his experiences though. Foota was schooled on this sound system. He learnt how to interact with his audience, and how to judge crowd reactions to his tunes.
He learnt how to play a complete set starting at a slow pace and building things up to feverish excitement.