Next time you’re cleaning out your MySpace inbox and come across a message from a musical megastar like, say, Sean Kingston, don’t just roll your eyes and click ‘delete,’ assuming it was sent by an impostor – that message just might be your ticket to the big leagues! Such was the case for I.Y.A.Z. Smith; though the British Virgin Islands-bred singer was skeptical when the Caribbean-pop hitmaker first contacted him, he ultimately swallowed his disbelief and played along. Now signed to a deal with Beluga Heights, Warner Bros, and Kingston’s own new Time Is Money Entertainment label, I.Y.A.Z. is preparing to go international with his Booth-acclaimed “Island Pop” sound.
As usual, DJBooth.net hopped on the bandwagon early. I.Y.A.Z.’ debut single, the J.R. Rotem-produced “Replay,” earned a tremendous four-star average when it hit our front page back in May. Six months later, the cut is riding high at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and #3 on our own Top Hip Hop and R&B Chart), and the sing
