(MusicPortal.com) (05/13/05)

Edited By Michael Bennett

NEW YORK, NY, USA - Trojan Records are gearing up for the July 11th album release of "The Best Of Tippa Irie - Hello Darling."

This highly anticipated compilation of one of the UK's leading Reggae stars features all of TIPPA IRIE's best known music including his mainstream hits, best-known chart-toppers, plus a brand new previously-unissued track, 'Pick Up My People,' which was recorded specifically for the upcoming compilation.

Still at the forefront of the UK Reggae scene after having produced 15 albums and enjoying a string of hits, Tippa Irie is one of the UK's major contemporary Reggae artists.

Signature tracks on "The Best Of Tippa Irie - Hello Darling" include the title track 'Hello Darling,' 'Raggamuffin Girl,' 'Stress,' 'Superwoman,' 'Baby I've Been Missing You,' and most recently, his collaboration with the Black Eyed Peas, 'Hey Mama.' The latter song went on to become a huge international best-seller, and was nominated earlier this year for a Grammy award in the "Best Rap Song" category.

Anthony Henry, better known as Tippa Irie, emerged from England's Saxon Sound International, the star-studded traveling sound system that has been at the forefront of the UK Reggae Dancehall scene for the past 25 years, which helped launch the careers of artists such as Maxi Priest, Papa Levi and Smiley Culture.

Tippa Irie was part of the new generation of British MC's who developed the "Fast Talking" style chat which today can be heard in modern day rappers like Busta Rhymes.

Irie toured extensively with his friend and long-time sparring partner Pato Banton throughout the 80's, including an appearance at Jamaica's Reggae Sunsplash and their U.S. debut tours together, the DJ duo of both Irie and Banton having become one of the genre's favorite combinations.

As the Nineties began, the two each pursued their solo careers.

Over a decade would pass before Tippa Irie & Pato Banton would reunite in the studio with legendary singing sensation Peter Spence to produce 'The Good Old Days,' a track featured on Banton's 2000 Grammy-nominated "Life Is A Miracle" album as well as and Irie's "I Miss" tribute album to his late, great sister - MC Miss Irie.

Tippa Irie has produced fifteen albums to date, and has a string of #1 hit songs to his credit including 'Hello Darling,' 'Raggamuffin Girl' (featuring Peter Hunnigale), 'Stress" (featuring Lloyd Brown),' 'Superwoman" (featuring Winsome),' 'Baby I've Been Missing You' (featuring Janet Lee Davis) and 'Shouting For The Gunners,' a song originally recorded for the Arsenal Football Team which reached Top 30 status on the British pop charts.

Irie's first album, 1986's "Is It Really Happening To Me," was followed by "Two Sides Of Tippa Irie" in 1987.

The following year, "JA To UK Clash" with Papa San was released for Fashion Records.

Then came "Original Raggamuffin" (1989) and "New Decade" (1990), both for Island Records.

Tippa Irie then linked up with Rebel MC and his label, Tribal Bass, for the release of "Done, Cook, And Curry" (1991) with Peter Hunnigale.

'A Me Dis' (1992, I.R.S. Records) was Irie's long-awaited U.S. debut recording, while his second stateside release was "Sapphire And Steel" (1993, I.R.S.) with Peter Spence.

England's Mad Professor then produced "Rebel On The Roots Corner" (1994) for RAS Records, several years after which Tippa Irie's "Best Of" compilation for Jammin Records was appropriately entitled "Mr.Versatile" (1998), and featured five of Irie's #1 hits.

"Divide & Rule" (2000) with Musical Sniper a.k.a. "Rappa Robert" was produced for Music Avenue in Belgium, while Resin Music released both "I Miss" (2001) and "Sign Of The Times (2003) in North America, "Combinations" (2004) with Lloyd Brown being released next in the UK on Discoflex Records.

To this day, Tippa Irie remains one of the most requested Reggae entertainers internationally.

The surviving members of Sublime made sure their Long Beach Dub All Stars debut for Dreamworks Records had the necessary Dancehall credentials by commissioning Tippa Irie to contribute Sensi on their "Right Back" (1999) CD and be their special guest on their subsequent North American tour.

In 2000, Irie was invited to support UB40 on their sold-out "Labour Of Love III" UK tour.

Later, he was called back in the studio with Long Beach Dub All Stars to record "Life Goes On" featuring Half Pint and Jurassic Five's Charli2na on LBDA's "Wonders Of The World (2001) CD for Dreamworks Records.

Impressed with Irie's rapid-fire lyrical arsenal, Jurassic Five asked Tippa to record together and the end result was a wicked Tippa and Charli2na combination entitled 'The Struggle.'

The Rap world took notice, and soon enough Tippa Irie was once again summoned to record with some of the music industry's biggest stars.

In 2005, Irie is doing his part in promoting UK Reggae by hosting his own weekly radio show called "4 To 6 Super Mix" on London's Vibes 93.8 FM.

In addition, he has started his own record label called In House Productions, the debut release set to feature UK reggae sensations Lloyd Brown and Peter Spence, as well as up-and-coming artists Ras Degus, Patrick Johnson and Tippa Irie himself.

For hardcore video game enthusiasts, Irie also has two tracks featured on Playstation 2's "Fugitive Hunter" game.

Also, lovers of the late, great Peter Tosh can check out Tippa Irie's 'Ketchy Shubby' (featuring Better Chemistry) on the new "Peter Tosh Tribute Album."

"The Best Of Tippa Irie - Hello Darling" Track Listing:

01. Hello Darling
02. Raggamuffin Girl (featuring Peter Huningale)
03. Get Ready (featuring Frankie Paul)
04. Stress (featuring Lloyd Brown)
05. Girl Of My Best Friend (featuring Peter Spence)
06. Baby I Been Missing You (featuring Janet Lee Davis)
07. Ketchy (featuring Better Chemistry)
08. It's Good To Have The Feeling You're The Best
09. Baby (featuring Peter Huningale)
10. UK Reggae (featuring Lloyd Brown)
11. Good Old Days (featuring Pato Banton)
12. Leaf & Branch & Stem
13. Superwoman (featuring Winsome)
14. War
15. Tippa Vex
16. Make A Duppy Yet
17. Stand By Me (featuring Peter Spence)
18. Staying Alive (featuring Fever)
19. Hey Mama
20. Cutey, Cutey

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