One of The Gambia's promising hip-hop sensations, Batch Samba Gaye aka Smokey, is currently in the studio busy on his new album.

The RnB star, since the released of his debut "Ghetto Noire" album, has been working tirelessly to release another album. To be crafted by different producers around the world including one of the world famous producers, Hakin of the Suns of Light based in the United States, the forthcoming CD album entitled 'Negritude' would hit the market probably in December. The 14 tracks-sound will be one of his best creative artwork, as the new masterpiece has no western influence.

Smokey, who hailed from Serekunda, after his high school at Saint Augustines, left The Gambia for Canada, to study at the University of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It was in 2002, while in Canada, to be precise, in the city of Toronto, he started hitting freestyle sessions in downtown Toronto, as he hooked-up with some Toronto rappers and started a cliq called the Five Pointaz. They made a couple of songs together and later opened his own record label called 'Down Home Records'.

Speaking in an exclusive with What’s On recently, Smokey as he was fondly called, disclosed that after his arrival in the country, he together with his friends setup a hip-hop movement called "La Costra Nostra", and with the collaboration of some Gambian rappers they have released a compilation called 'Get Familiar Vol one, which has done fairly on the streets.

"We celebrated our fifth year anniversary of ‘La Costra Nostra’ recently and this even attracted other big stars from neighboring Senegal. However, some of the hits tunes in the forthcoming album include ‘Down Home’featuring the famous Hakim of the Suns of Light, G-Baby, and another tune called "Slave 2 Ma Rhythm. In these songs, we are trying to mix–up hip-hop with African cultures," he stated

Commenting on his musical career, Smokey went on to say,"Actually, I started music in 2002 but it was in 2005, when I took it more seriously while I was going to school back in Canada. I later met Hakin of the Suns of Light and even did a duet with him  and that was part of his debut album called "Ghetto Noire". But what makes this forthcoming album different from my previous masterpiece is the maturity of the album, because it will pass through many producers"; stressing that after being away for so long, it’s like he is back to take his identity.

Smokey further went on to state that when you are away you get some kind of assimilation, but back home is really African style. He pointed out that the forthcoming album would have no western influence as it is strictly African and adding that the album will be released worldwide. “Since I returned to The Gambia, I was involved with my own record Label called ‘Mystic Entertainment’ along the University Road, where I also do other multi-media works,” he told What's On. To get in touch with this incredible music star, check him on www.myspace/akasmokeydoctor.com. Also watch out for his new video coming out soon on GRTS "Fiila TV Show".