When Interscope recording artist Maurice “Verse” Simmonds first recorded his smash hit, “Buy You A Round” he didn’t think it was going to be a big deal.

“I just thought [the record] was cool,” admits the rapper/singer/songwriter behind the song that is currently the favorite of “that girl” in the club. “I didn’t think it was [a hit] like it’s becoming now. I just thought it was a good song for the clubs. But when the DJs heard it, they’re the ones that brought it to life. I was like, ‘Damn ya’ll like it like that?’ Okay.”

As the first audio example of what he is branding “Island B,” “Buy You A Round” has made Verse a burgeoning international superstar almost overnight. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Virgin Islands before moving to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Verse’s current show schedule is already looking like a mini-World Tour with dates in and out of the country.

“With the background I have, it definitely gives you an edge of appeal,” says Verse, who also recorded a Spanish version of his hit single. “Other artists may not be able to get into that market, so my background and the type of music I make helps me touch more people. It makes them more familiar with my sound.”

But first, he had to get familiar with himself. As the first person in his family to delve into music, Verse didn’t have a blueprint to follow. He got his start by writing his first song in sixth grade and performing other people’s songs in talent shows growing up along side childhood friend Theron Thomas, who would go on to become one half of the Caribbean-hybrid group Rock City.

When he moved to Florida after high school, he crossed paths with fellow music maker Shama Joseph. The two eventually formed their own production team, The Jugganauts. They moved to California in 2003 and contributed to many major label projects, which allowed Verse to hone his songwriting skills until he was ready to introduce himself as a recording artist. Four years later he moved to Atlanta and hooked up with uber-hit makers Akon and Rodney Jerkins, who would eventually help broker his record deal with Interscope.

This past summer Verse released his first mixtape The Sextape Tape Chronicles offering a unique blend of sexual but honest tunes that pushed the envelope, but not the ladies away.

“There are things you can say that are edgy, but still acceptable,” says Verse, who credits his knack for talking to women to his days growing up working in his grandmother’s hair and nail salon. “But I still want to make music with class, I don’t want to just say things to get attention.”

As the buzz behind him continues to grow, he will surely get plenty of attention when his debut album Stories of a Bachelor hits stores soon.

Words by Maurice G. Garland

» www.djbooth.net

From MiaShynes.com

I recently had a chance to chop it up with newcomer Verse Simmonds. He has the hottest club banger out now “Buy you a round”. We talked about everything from his Caribbean roots, drink buying, to his Gumby! You don’t want to miss it…

Me: How did you get your start in the music industry?

Verse: I started officially in 2003 I had gotten called out to Cali with my production company “The Juggernauts” me and my partner Sham. We were called to work on an independent project and from there once we were out there making music we started getting placements with other artist that were signed so we were working with them putting their project out. Eventually I moved to Atlanta and that’s when I decided to continue working on my own music because I had been putting it to the side for so long because I was so focused on writing and producing music for other people that I kind of just was like okay let me try to focus on this now. I know that you have to have a strong background as far as being able to write and as an artist being able to create yourself musically. A lot of people don’t do that and I think that’s what set certain artist apart. I had always been performing in between time so I just decided to turn it up to get the impact that I needed.

Me: How does your Caribbean background influence your music?

Verse: For me I think that being raised listening to calypso music and reggae music along with hip hop and R&B kind of just opened me up to a lot of different variety and I think that it kind of shows in my music so I think that it has really influenced me a lot. I from the Virgin Islands I was actually born in Puerto Rico that’s where my Mom is from but I was raised in the Virgin Islands.

Me: Who are some of your musical influences?

Verse: Ah man I mean it goes from Beres Hammond to Bob Marley definitely writers and singers like Babyface and Boys II Men. I like all types of music but those are just a few who influence me.

Me: Okay I’ve been dying to ask you who influences your personal style? I see you rocking that Gumby Bobby look lol!

Verse: Lol I used to have braids and I got up one day and was like yo I feel like cutting my hair so I went to the barber shop and said give me a Gumby and that’s what I got and I have been having it for like 3 years now

Me: I’m sure that we are not going to see to many people rocking the Gumby but if we do then we already know where it came from

Verse: Lol you already know! Yep

Me: Lol I already know because I sure haven’t seen anybody rocking that

Verse: Man but you know what. People are coming back to that I promise you that. Like since I been on the road I’m starting to see people with it especially little kids are all cutting their hair like me and that’s kind of cool.

Me: So how does that make you feel? Like a trend setter?

Verse: Yeah in a sense you know it was something that was already done but you know everything starts over so I guess I’m just at that time

Me: You have created your own lane in this industry and you describe your style as “Island B” can you explain how you came up with that concept and exactly what is “Island B”?

Verse: Island B is a mixture of hip-hop R&B with a Caribbean flip to it. I created it because after I was finished working on my album people would be like “So what do you consider your style of music”? and I couldn’t really say it was all the way R&B and I cant say it was all the way hip hop or all the way Reggae but it’s influenced by all of those elements so I just felt like “Island B” was the best way to represent the style of music that I do. So I just came up with it like that so now when people asked I can say my style is “Island B” and it kept moving from there.

Me: You have been added to Ne-Yo’s concert how does that feel?

Verse: You know what the one date is coming up and that will actually be my first time so I will be sure to let you know after I’ve done it but its cool to know that I will be opening for him its cool.

Me: Are there any other artist in the game right now that you would like to work with?

Verse: Aw… I mean I would like to work with all of them. I would like to work with Young Money they are real hot right now I like the music they putting out. I would like to work with Nicki Minaj I know she’s part of Young Money but that would be crazy

Me: You and Nicki Minaj on a track would be so hot!!!

Verse: Yeah it would be

Me: Can you tell us a little about your album “Stories Of A Bachelor”

Verse: Stories of a bachelor is kind like just a lot of different situations that I feel like a lot of people can relate to you know so that’s why I decided to call it stories of a bachelor seeing that I am a bachelor. People will be able to hear a lot of things that they can relate to both male and female and at the same time it will be a lot of things that people don’t normally say but everybody thinks you know what I’m saying. But once people listening to the album I definitely think they will be blown away by it. I have songs on there like “I’m Sorry” which is basically a song asking a girl to come back because the guy messed up and I just feel that people will really be blown away by the passion in the song.

Me: Is that song based on a personal experience?

Verse: To some extent you know all of us mess up at some point in life and wish they could’ve done something differently so yeah I think that people will be able to relate to it.

Me: When can we expect to see the album in stores?

Verse: We are looking for a summer release. I got another single that I’m putting out next month and I think people are really going to love it. I don’t really know which one it’s going to be because I actually have two that I’m putting out.

Me: Is it “Show me what you got” because I love that one!

Verse: Lol you like that one?

Me: Yeeeeaaaaahhhh I was there when you were shooting the video for it but I didn’t have my sexy on so I wasn’t all up in the front! Lol I wasn’t looking right but I like that song… I have the mix tape.

Verse: Lol naw that’s going to be one of them but if your heard the mix tape I like to get people’s reactions because when they hear it a lot of people say “I wasn’t expecting you to say that”

Me: Lol yeah I was listening to some of the tracks and I was like “Did he just say…..” Whoa Okay Verse!!! Lol

Verse: Lol and that’s kind of how “Stories of a bachelor” is I feel like I can express myself and the way that I feel in a way that people will not take offense to. So I really try to not offend anybody by getting my message out there.

Me: Speaking of messages you released a video for “Pass me the rubber” that promotes safe sex. Can you explain what made you want to do that?

Verse: Because I have a mix tape called “The Sex Chronicles” and the name of my album is “Stories of a bachelor” I felt like with all of that sexual content I needed to have something that says its cool to be doing what you are doing but do it safely. If you watch the video you will see that it doesn’t look preachy and the song is not preachy and redundant. It’s just about a guy trying to get with a girl but realizing that he needs to use protection.

Me: Can I just say that I love your accent. I’m sure you get that all of the time

Verse: Lol yeah sometimes not all the time though lol I could always hear it more lol

Me Okay so what advice can “The Bachelor” give to the fellas out here that think that if they buy you a drink you have to be stuck with them all night???

Verse: Right. Now you don’t have to talk to him all night but he does deserve a certain amount of respect at the same time because if he bought you the drink he derives at least a little bit of conversation since that’s the reason why he’s doing it but at the same time if you buy her a drink that don’t mean you get to follow her around the club lol stake out and follow her to the bathroom lol that’s real lame. Just leave it at the bar and realize you got jipped for your drink son! Haha that’s ridiculous.

Me: Well you said it best!

Verse: I notice now that when people go out its really now for show than it is for fun so that’s why I made “Buy you a round” because its fun. I like to see the ladies get excited when it comes on because it’s for them.

Me: And we ladies appreciate that and we hope to hear more of that in the future. Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me.

Verse: Thank you

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