Rik Rok - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Singer Rik Rok is stepping into his own shoes with the release of his debut album, Addicted, and the formation of his own company MOBA (Music Owned By Artistes) Entertainment.

Born Ricardo Ducent, Rik Rok skyrocketed to stardom alongside Shaggy with the hit song It Wasn't Me in 2001.

The first single from the album, In My Shoes, makes for a fitting start, as the song speaks to persons testing new ground and discovering higher heights.

MOBA's goal is also to make clean music that can be listened by persons young and old alike. For Rik Rok, his album might be just that, with a combination of dancehall, reggae, lover's rock, ska, pop and R&B. Addicted has a little bit of everything for all ages.

The album was the first to be released under the MOBA label on October 31, 2008, and was released digitally and made available on www.rikrokmusic.com, iTunes and other websites.

Rik Rok said the the release of his debut album after years in the music has been a phenomenal experience.

"Right now, we're doing the promotions but the feedback has been great. I am quite pleased. This is a project I've been involved in from all angles from start to finish," he said.

The second album to be released from MOBA Entertainment will be Prince Mydas' Made For Stage.

Rumours have been circulating recently that Rik Rok and Big Yard have parted ways, but when The Gleaner spoke to the artiste he said he is still part of the Big Yard family.

Rumours

According to him, the rumours began when he, singer Prince Mydas and musician Nigel 'Sleepy Splu' Staff formed MOBA Entertainment.

"I still record for Big Yard. Robert (Livingston) and Shaggy have been extremely helpful in releasing my album. You can't just get up one day and say your family is not your family. That's not a viable option and Big Yard is like a family," he stated.

He continued: "The reason I did it as a separate entity was basically because a company like this is an experiment. It hasn't been done in Jamaica before, so it wouldn't be fair to do it as a Big Yard debut."

Using dancehall and reggae as a foundation for the company, said Rik Rok, MOBA's mission is to become reggae's dominant label and give young artistes a chance to break through.