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International reggae superstar Sizzla, one of Jamaica’s most gifted, most prolific, and best-loved artists of the past decade, has signed with the Damon Dash Music Group (DDMG). With over 30 full-length albums released for labels like VP Records, Greensleeves, and Jet Star, and countless 7-inch singles released in his native Jamaica – including last summer’s crossover smash “Just One Of Those Days (Dry Cry)” – his forthcoming DDMG release, set for an early-2006 release, will mark Sizzla’s major-label debut.

What may seem at first a strange musical marriage – Jamaica’s Sizzla, a reclusive, devout Rastafarian and Harlem’s Damon Dash, the brash, outspoken mogul and CEO of DDMG, Sizzla joins an already eclectic DDMG roster including the infamous rapper Beanie Sigel, R&B singers Rell and Nicole Wray, and the legacy of the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

“The signing of Sizzla to the Damon Dash Music group is actually a perfect fit,” explains Dash. “I am an entrepreneur: when I see a market I haven’t yet infiltrated, I’m going after it. Reggae and Caribbean music is a huge international marketplace and, of course, I like the scope of that. Sizzla is unquestionably the genre’s biggest, most talented, most prolific, most important star. I’m looking forward to reaching Sizzla’s already massive fanbase, and more importantly, exposing him to a brand new one. I’m proud and excited to have Sizzla as a new addition to the DDMG family.”

Emerging during the latter half of the ’90s, Sizzla – born Miguel Collins in the rugged August Town area of Kingston – has been one of the leaders of the conscious dancehall movement. Along with veteran acts like Buju Banton and Capleton, and more recently I-Wayne and Damien “Junior Gong” Marley, Sizzla has helped lead dancehall back to the musical and spiritual influence of roots reggae, favoring organic productions and heavily Rastafarian subject matter. Something of an enigma to the public at large, Sizzla has rarely granted interviews and has kept his concert appearances to a minimum. All of that, Dash insists, is about to change.

“When my VP of A&R, Clark Kent, brought Sizzla to me, I didn’t know what to expect. This artist has blown me away. We’re actually very much alike. He’s a workaholic, like me. He’s in the studio every day, recording literally hundreds of songs. He’s not only punctual, he’s actually early for promotional appointments. We’re both respected and accomplished, yet we’re both still hungry.”

Regardless of his public persona, Sizzla has ranked as arguably the most popular conscious reggae artist of his time. From his breakout year of 1997, which saw the release of his critically and publicly-acclaimed second and third albums, Praise Ye Jah and Black Woman & Child – both instant classics – to 2004’s return to form Da Real Thing, Sizzla career-spanning 30-plus albums have amassed a catalogue of anthems beloved by reggae fans everywhere, including “Dry Cry,” “Thank You Mama,” “Solid As a Rock,” “Praise Ye Jah,” “Black Woman & Child,” “Good Ways,” “Holding Firm,” and many, many more.

While plans are in the works for a new studio album in early ’06, fans both new and old will have the chance to hear Sizzla perform those anthems as he launches a major U.S. tour on August 18th.

****CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO SEE DAMON DASH & SIZZLA AT SUMFEST IN MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA****

Sizzla Summer ’05 U.S. Tour Dates

Thu-Aug-18 FARMINGDALE, NY THE DOWNTOWN

Fri-Aug-19 PHILADELPHIA, PA ELECTRIC FACTORY

Sun-Aug-21 NEWARK, NJ MILITARY PARK

Mon-Aug-22 NEW YORK, NY BB KINGS

Tue-Aug-23 BURLINGTON, VT HIGHER GROUND

Wed-Aug-24 PROVIDENCE, RI LUPOS at the STRAND

Thu-Aug-25 MARTHAS VINYARD HOT TIN ROOF

Fri-Aug-26 POUGHKEEPSIE, NY THE CHANCE

Sat-Aug-27 ROCHESTER, NY WATER ST.MUSIC HALL

Sun-Aug-28 BLADENSBURG, MD CROSSROADS

Tue-Aug-30 BLOOMINGTON, IN BLUEBIRD THEATER

Wed-Aug-31 CLEVELAND, OH HOUSE OF BLUES

Thu-Sep-01 COLUMBUS, OH ALROSA VILLA

Fri-Sep-02 New York, NY HOT 97 show

Sun-Sep-04 QUEENS, NY ROY WILKINS PARK

Tue-Sep-06 BOULDER, CO FOX THEATER

Thu-Sep-08 LAKE TAHOE, NV CAESARS

Fri-Sep-09 REDWAY, CA MATEEL COMM.CTR

Sat-Sep-10 BERKELEY (SF), CA SHATTUCK DOWNLOW

Sun-Sep-11 SANTA CRUZ, CA THE CATALYST

Mon-Sep-12 LOS ANGELES, CA HOUSE OF BLUES

Tue-Sep-13 SOLANA BEACH, CA BELLY UP TAVERN

Thu-Sep-22 JACKSONVILLE, FL PLUSH

Sat-Sep-24 DECATUR, GA CLUB CHOCOLATE

Sun-Sep-25 TAMPA, FL JANNUS LANDING

Thu-Sep-29 RALEIGH, NC LINCOLN THEATER

Fri-Sep-30 NORFOLK, VA NORVA THEATER