Don Yute Calls for Compassion and Selflessness on ‘Cry For The World’

Don Yute is asking listeners to look beyond personal success. In “Cry For The World,” his latest song, the veteran Jamaican deejay urges people to show selflessness regardless of how much money they have made.

Produced by Joshua Manning, the up-tempo track was released on August 18. Don Yute told Observer Online that the song reflects a side of his artistry that does not always fit his reputation for party anthems such as “Loving Excess” and “You Own di Man.” “Shows that I’m an artiste with soul and passion without fear of being different,” he said.

“

Shows that I’m an artiste with soul and passion without fear of being different.

The song follows “Upstream,” his collaboration with roots singer I-Wayne. Although audiences often associate Don Yute with 1990s dancehall, he said that period and sound do not define his career. He has also experimented with hip hop and pop, and says he enjoys blending genres.

Don Yute cites rock singer Jim Morrison of The Doors among the artists he admires for taking an avant-garde approach to music. At the same time, he takes pride in belonging to a decade when Jamaican performers including Shabba Ranks, Mad Cobra and Super Cat signed with major American labels and reached the pop charts.

“

I think dancehall from the ‘90s is special and timeless because the quality, context and content in the songs were more for the people that loved music, and they could identify who the artiste singing the song by their signature voices.

“I think dancehall from the ‘90s is special and timeless because the quality, context and content in the songs were more for the people that loved music, and they could identify who the artiste singing the song by their signature voices,” he said. “That made the vibe of the music stick with them like a part of their life and not just a trend for the moment.”

Born in Kingston, Don Yute, whose real name is Jason Williams, spent part of his formative years in Portland and grew up in Havendale. His childhood friends included Sean Paul, whom he introduced to the dancehall scene. His breakthrough came in 1994, when he shared the microphone with Wayne Wonder on “Loving Excess,” recorded on the Peperseed riddim.

“

That made the vibe of the music stick with them like a part of their life and not just a trend for the moment.