Garrison Hawk (a.k.a. Hawkman) is back with his latest single ‘Pretty Pussycat’, bringing his special brand of high energy-infused dancehall to video with the help of director Nevaris A.C. and videographer Jacques Lang.
“The meaning of this song lies in the beauty of a woman, not only by sight but at heart. Lyrics-wise, it’s about the king and a queen in their castle. Amidst all the service maids and entertainment, one girl catches the king’s eyes. He stares at her because of her beautiful cat-walk and her beautiful eyes. She has a very unique style so the king can’t help but staring andl the queen notices that he is caught up in her catwalk, causing him great trouble with the queen,” says Garrison Hawk.
This song can be found on his new album ‘The Adrenaline’, which finds this legendary artist returning to his roots with a fantastic dancehall and reggae collection. Having made a solid name for himself in alternative rock, pop and progressive rock for many years, on this LP, the listener can grasp hardcore Jamaican dancehall and a welcome return to the root of dancehall while giving you an adrenaline rush.
Each of the 13 tracks have a stealth intensity that speaks for itself – songs with a feel and meaning that will take you on an imaginary trip. Renowned dancehall deejay (and Janet Jackson collaborator) Beenie Man also makes a special appearance on the track ‘Gal Have Wants’.
After Garrison Hawk’s extensive work with triphop legend Tricky, including on his 2001 album ‘Blowback’, the UK artist having told Billboard magazine “Hawk is my partner, musically”. Garrison Hawk also gained wide recognition for ‘Gangsta Roll’, which nudged him on to the world stage, reached #9 on the HYPE TV top 20 chart, and received radio airplay around the world. Hawk’s charting club remix of ‘Sweet Music’ is also notable, having been leaked to radio and subsequently climbing to #11 on the UK pop charts.
“By doing work in different genres of music, I now have a bigger appreciation for loving my roots, which is dancehall and reggae, the real stuff like Shabba Ranks, Ninjaman, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Capleton. I just felt I needed to go back to my authentic roots and that return to the roots is the central theme for my new album,” says Garrison Hawk.
Born in Mandeville, Jamaica, Hawk was a teenager when his family relocated to the Bronx, New York. There, he cultivated a distinctive singing and rapping style, and began performing with local sound systems. By the time he was 17, he was touring the U.S. East Coast with key reggae stars, eventually sharing the stage with Shabba Ranks and Super Cat in the late ’90s.
After working with Tricky, Hawk signed on with Warner Brothers, with inner label politics seeing his album shelved. He has persevered since then, releasing his ‘Survive’ album with legendary reggae musicians Sly & Robbie (produced by Bill Laswell and released via NYC label M.O.D. Records) and collaborated with producers Roger Sanchez and Armand Van Helden, DJ Excel and Smoothe da Hustler, the Method Of Defiance collective, Teddy Afro, Gigi, King Jammy and dancehall legend Joe Lickshot, among others.
One of the brashest, most versatile and recognizable young voices to emerge from Jamaica in a generation, Hawk’s exciting but arduous journey has honed a nuanced style merging song and rhyme into a soulful mix, radiating life here in the dancehall chants of ‘The Adrenaline’, now available digitally everywhere, including Spotify and Apple Music.
