Starting out as a high school student with no formal musical training, Ainsley “Notnice” Morris convinced his mother to buy him a computer, and that decision changed the course of his life. He began experimenting with music, teaching himself how to create riddims from scratch, and soon developed a distinctive style that would later reshape the sound of modern dancehall and reggae. Notnice’s unique fusion of crisp hip-hop drums, soulful piano melodies, and the fearless energy of dancehall propelled him from a self-taught beginner to a Billboard-certified producer. He began his professional career at Rokus Records before branching out on his own and founding Notnice Records in 2007, a move that cemented his place among Jamaica’s most respected producers.
Between 2008 and 2011, Notnice became an integral part of Vybz Kartel’s Portmore Empire, producing anthems that dominated the charts and defined an era of dancehall. He was behind several of Vybz Kartel’s biggest hits, including “Last Man Standing,” “Cake Soap,” “Mama,” “Get Wild,” “Bend Like Banana,” “Colouring Book,” “You and Him Deh,” and “Benz Punany.” He also produced breakout records for other members of Portmore Empire, such as Jah Vinci’s “Watch Yuh Friends,” “Mamma Love,” “Birthday,” and “Murder Informer” ft. Vybz Kartel, along with “Oh Jah Jah”; Popcaan’s “Dream,” “Jah Jah Protect Me Pon the Battlefield,” “Gangster City,” and “Gangster City Part 2”; Shawn Storm’s “My Life”; and Gaza Slim’s “One Man.” His work reached international acclaim with the controversial and infectious “Romping Shop,” the collaboration between Vybz Kartel and Spice that became a staple on U.S. urban radio and peaked at #76 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2009.
2009 proved to be a defining year in Notnice’s career. Alongside his Billboard success, he received his first-ever industry award at the Portmore Awards, where he was honoured as Producer of the Year (2008). This recognition marked a major turning point, establishing him as one of Jamaica’s most promising young producers.
In 2011, Notnice was named Producer of the Year by the Excellence in Music & Entertainment Awards. That same year, he parted ways with the Portmore Empire and briefly joined forces with businessman Corey Todd, quickly finding more success with Jah Vinci’s number-one single “In My Life.” By January 2012, Notnice embarked on a fully independent path and continued his prolific run, nurturing the then-emerging talent Alkaline and producing hits such as “Things Mi Love,” “Live Life,” “Weh We A Guh Do,” “Move Mountains,” “Obeah,” “Lonely,” “Holiday Again,” and “Gyal Bruk Out.”
In 2016, he teamed up with his now business partner Kram Medley, who assisted in strengthening the label as both a production house and an artist management company. That year, he also collaborated with Popcaan on hits including “Feel Good,” “Never Sober,” “Ova Dweet,” and “World Cup.” The following year saw the release of the El Chapo Riddim, featuring Popcaan, Masicka, and Jafrass, further solidifying Notnice’s reputation as a producer extraordinaire.
Notnice’s influence was further recognised in 2019 when he was named Producer of the Year at the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA). In August of that year, he released his debut album Kyng Midas, an entirely self-produced project that reached the top 10 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. While Notnice was no stranger to Billboard success, he revealed that this particular achievement held a special place in his heart, as the Kyng Midas project was a solo endeavour that showcased his unique blend of sounds and styles.
In 2020 and 2021, he produced Jah Vinci’s I Am the World Singer EP, which included the hits “Eye of the Storm,” “Basic,” and “Virgin”, the number-one most streamed song on YouTube in Jamaica in 2021. He also produced Jafrass’ Faith EP and Jah Vinci’s Passion EP, which featured fan favourites such as “Worth It” and “Pretty Like a Rose.”
Accomplished and consistent, Notnice earned a 2022 Grammy nomination for his work on Spice’s album 10, which debuted at #6 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. The song “So Mi Like It,” which was featured on the album, achieved certified Gold status in Canada, Silver in the UK, and is now eligible for Gold certification in the U.S.A. Building on this momentum, Notnice went on to win a Grammy Award in 2023 for his production work on Colors of Royal, the collaborative album by Julian Marley and Alexx Antaeus, which won Best Reggae Album.
In November 2023, Notnice proudly unveiled Broken Child, the debut EP from his latest signee, Nordia Mothersille. The project soared to number 2 on the Reggae iTunes chart, further demonstrating his ability to nurture new talent while maintaining commercial success.
Most recently, Notnice has continued to shape the sound of contemporary dancehall and reggae with productions like Jah Vinci’s powerful single “Scream” (2024) and Nordia Mothersille’s captivating collaboration with Agent Sasco, “Ms. Dior” (2025). These releases highlight his ability to stay current while bringing out the best in the artists he works with.
Notnice has secured his legacy as one of dancehall’s most influential producers. Through Notnice Records, he continues to produce riddims, albums, and singles that set the pace for the culture while nurturing the next generation of artistss
