dancehall
With the first days of spring finally gracing New York City, the summer is just a few breaths away — which means dancehall riddims and reggae grooves are about to be heard on every block from Flatbush to the Heights.
After picking up some hardware at February’s MOBO Awards, Vybz Kartel picked up two more trophies at last month’s International Reggae & World Music Awards (March 30), taking home the Peter Tosh Award for recording artist of the year and concert of the year honors for last Decemeber’s Freedom Street extravaganza. New York will experience their version of Freedom Street when Kartel graces Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on April 11 and 12. On Tuesday (April 1), Worl’ Boss dropped the official DJ Khaled-starring “God Is Greatest” music video to reflect on his whirlwind journey since his release from prison last summer. Spice, who many hope will join Kartel at his New York shows next month, picked up a major win of her own with her victory at Red Bull Culture Clash London 2025 (March 7-8).
On the reggae side, we lost a legend. Jamaican singer Cocoa Tea passed on March 11 after going into cardiac arrest shortly after a recent six-month battle with pneumonia and his 2019 lymphoma diagnosis. Known for classics like “Rikers Island” and “Young Lover,” Cocoa Tea often infused poignant sociopolitical messaging into his hits, bolstering his cross-generational impact.
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Naturally, Billboard’s monthly Reggae/Dancehall Fresh Picks column will not cover every last track, but our Spotify playlist — which is linked below — will expand on the 10 highlighted songs. So, without any further ado:
Freshest Find: Joé Dwèt Filé & Burna Boy, “4 Kampé II”
Late last year, the original version of Joé Dwèt Filé’s “4 Kampé” appeared in our weekly Trending Up column, which tracks the myriad songs and trends that are catching the industry’s attention. Just a few months later, the Haitian zouk-konpa singer has reinvigorated his global hit with an assist from Grammy-winning Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy. “Deja konnen mwen pral brile sa/ Excuse-moi, veux-tu danser konpa/ Mwen pat konn fanm ayisyen dous konsa/ Ou met mande, mwen se yon neg naija,” he croons in the intro, dipping into Haitian Creole to set the scene and introduce himself to a lady he’d like to dance konpa with. Burna Boy’s and Filé’s tones are an excellent match; their rich lower registers nicely contrast with the track’s seductive background guitars.
Ding Dong feat. Skeng & Kaka Highflames, “Street Jump”
Last month, “Badman Forward Badman Pull Up” singer Ding Dong announced his forthcoming debut album — 20 years after “Badman” became an intergenerational and international anthem. Keeping with the spirit of dance that’s grounded his entire career, Ding Dong calls on Kris Kross’ 1992 Hot 100 chart-topper “Jump.” Not only does he reimagine that song’s timeless hook into a more dancehall-flavored affair, but he also recruits dancehall superstar Skeng and rising Jamaican dance-turned-artist Kaka Highflames to bring their own delightfully manic energy to the track. When it comes to dance anthems that actually make you want to dance, few can stand shoulder to shoulder with Ding Dong.
Protoje, “Big 45”
Protoje isn’t one to inundate us with an incomprehensible amount of releases, but when he does drop music, it’s always worth the wait. He teased “Big 45” for several weeks before finally unveiling the official track, which boasts booming bass and sultry reggae groove courtesy of The Indiggnation and Winta James. Protoje’s rap-sung cadence pairs perfectly with their soundscape, effortlessly capturing the full-bodied sound of the peak sound system era.
Aidonia & Di Genius, “Agony”
“She waah agony oh she waah agony/ Early morning me a sleep and she a bother me/ She waah agony oh she waah agony/ Gyal waah wood, me give har the mahogany,” rhymes Aidonia at the onset of his new Di Genius-helmed single, “Agony.” Making the word “agony” shorthand for boning is certainly a choice, but if any deejay can make it work, it’s Aidonia with his sticky flow and devil-may-care delivery.
Yaksta, “Unconditional Love”
For his contribution to Crawba Production’s new Reggae Alive compilation, Jamaican singer Yaksta delivers a sweet, easy-rocking midtempo about the breadth of his unconditional love for his special someone. “I got this unconditional love/ And it’s only for you, baby/ No else but you,” he croons over steady classic reggae guitars and drums — a perfect soundtrack to a breezy summer evening. With an equally tender and earnest vocal performance, Yaksta infuses Crawba’s soundscape with the reverence that unconditional love often mirrors.
Mr. Vegas & Etana, “Trapped”
One of the best parts of trap dancehall is how the genre’s sparse, spooky snares allow artists the space to muse about society’s endless ills. “Trapped,” the new Rick Wizard-produced single from Mr. Vegas and Etana does just that. The two stars trade heady, heavy verses that zoom into the psyche of a child living in a fear and neglect-ridden household that only primes them for darker horrors. “Trapped, careless mumma wah mek you do your own pickney dat/ Yuh know sey di man a touch har and yuh nuh tell him fi stop/ Yuh turn yuh back pan har when di demon attack,” Mr. Vegas begins the song, immediately setting a chilling scene of child abuse and the nuanced conversations around it.
Pamputtae, “Rum Sexy”
To make a long story short, all Pamputtae needs is some rum to buss a wine. Though “Rum Sexy” has percolated on YouTube for a few years, the Jermaine Bailey-helmed track is finally on DSPs. A well-executed soca track that would sound right at home on any pre-game playlist for the road, Pamputtae’s animated delivery and bright tone are as effective as ever on this track.
Chronic Law, “Altar”
“If yuh pray, Jah will answer/ No weh yuh own anuh weh u can sponsor/ Have nuff things fi gave thanks for/ So me pray inna eh booth like altar,” Chronic Law sings at the end of the opening chorus of his new single, “Altar.” One of the hottest acts in dancehall, Chronic slows things down for a quieter, introspective moment in which he ruminates on the throughlines of prayer and his connection to God that have coursed through his life. Hungry Lion Records grants him the space to do so with an almost-morose mixture of trap snares and synths that invites listeners to focus on his soul-baring lyrics.
Najeeriii & Franc White, “Uptown”
Najeeriii doesn’t necessarily rewrite the trap-dancehall template — in fact, he explicitly leans on its most frequently used tropes here — but he does put his own stamp on it. Expected to appear on his forthcoming debut album, Book of Bob, “Uptown” finds Najeerii delivering a club anthem that sources its idiosyncracies from the way his youthful tone and nimble flows accentuate different pockets of Zini Record’s pristine beat.
Skeete, “Dem Dead”
Nottingham-hailing Afro-dancehall and R&B artist Skeete dropped his new 10-track mixtape Excuse My Language last month (March 20), and the saucy genre-melding set is every bit as global and unapologetic as its title suggests. Among the standouts is the tape’s penultimate track, “Dem Dead,” a fast-paced track that fuses the energy of ’90s dancehall with the melodic flourishes and warm electronic synths of ’10s R&B-informed hip-hop. He dexterously weaves in and out of different flows and dialects, never wavering in how comfortable he sounds playing the role of a dangerous uptown lothario.
It’s been 20 years since Ding Dong’s “Badman Forward Badman Pull Up” became an ocean-crossing, generational anthem for dancers and revelers — and the man behind the iconic track is finally unleashing his debut studio album.
Billboard can exclusively reveal that, on May 5, Ding Dong (born Kemar Ottey) will release From Ding Dong to the World, an album he promises will be a breath of fresh air for the dancehall scene. Featuring production contributions from Ricky Blaze, Khalfani, Felva, Dunwell, and Black Spyda — who mixed and mastered the entire project — From Ding Dong to the World will also house collaborations with scores of dancehall superstars, including Skeng, Skillibeng, Stalk Ashley, Govana, Afro B, Popeye Caution, Vanessa Bling and Grammy-nominated rap icon Busta Rhymes. Fans can pre-save the album here.
At a succinct 13 tracks, Ding Dong’s new album aims to place him in the pantheon of dancehall greats, several of which he names as inspiration, like Elephant Man, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man and Sean Paul, whose 2002 “Gimme the Light” music video he cites as one of the most important moments of dancehall’s dance culture being highlighted on a global scale.
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“This album is the evolution of Ding Dong,” the dancer-turned-recording artist declares. “I want to show people that I am a rounded artist, not just a dancer. This style of dancehall hasn’t been done on an album in a long time. I never knew the difficulties and the challenges of doing an album. It’s not a simple thing to get [samples] cleared, so I think the time is now. I am always current. It’s God’s will!”
Ding Dong finished the album last year, but sample clearances cosmically delayed the album release timeline to coincide with the 20-year anniversary of “Badman Forward.” One of those samples was Kris Kross’ “Jump,” which Ding Dong lifts for his new Kaka Highflames and Skeng-assisted single, “Street Jump.” Serving as the set’s lead single, “Street Jump” transposes the audacious energy of Kris Kross’ 1992 Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper into a floor-quaking dancehall banger that plays on Skeng’s own penchant for leaping into the sky during his live performances. The new single arrived alongside its official music video on Thursday (March 27).
“Kris Kross was one of the artists I really messed with growing up,” explains Ding Dong. “I remember when Khalfani did the riddim and I walked in the studio and he played it – without thinking, the first thing I did was [start rapping “Jump”] over the riddim. I recorded that right away, and then mi seh, “I haffi get Skeng pon di song.”
And he did. On a clip shared to his official Instagram page — which has amassed nearly 200,000 views — Ding Dong plays the “Street Jump” riddim for Skeng as he characteristically vaults into the air because the beat moved him so much. It’s similar to what happens when a DJ drops “BadMan Forward” at a function, people simply feel compelled to move. Playing on the legacy and timelessness of “Badman Forward,” Ding Dong also included a bombastic remix of the classic featuring new-age dancehall giant Skillibeng.
“’BadMan Forward’ is the first song I recorded. If you notice, there are no verses, I just wanted to buss a dance, not a song. The version that you hear is the demo version, it’s not mixed,” reveals Ding Dong. “At the time, the willie bounce was everything but I realized di people dem wan change. So I made the song with the dance to make my mark as a dancer. When I chose the name of the song, I was told it was too long. Mi seh mi nah change it. If you wan mek change inna your life, you have to do things differently. It started in Jamaica, went to England, and then New York. The energy, the kick of the riddim and the dance itself made the song a staple within so many generations.”
Watch the official “Street Jump” music video below.
The style of dancehall currently dominating the streets of England is quite different from the dancehall that ruled the Billboard Hot 100 in the early 2000s. Trap dancehall — the aptly named subgenre of trap-infused dancehall — has been king for the last couple of years, and Manchester-bred Jamaican dancehall artist 1Ski OG is looking to leverage his new stage name into a grand return to the royal court.
“When I came up with the name 1Ski Mask, it wasn’t planned,” he exclusively tells Billboard over Zoom while visiting family back home in Manchester, Jamaica. “I was just having fun and called myself that, it went viral and the name stuck with me at that time. Some artists already had the name overseas, so I was informed that for new releases I could no longer release under that name. I never wanted to stray from the name or change it completely, so I just removed the mask part. The ‘OG’ is a shortening for ‘original,’ I wanted people to know it’s still the same original 1Ski Mask.”
A former social media comedian, 1Ski OG rose to prominence as 1Ski Mask with “Dawkniss,” a Falconn-assisted single that arrived in spring 2023. To date, the song has amassed more than 1.5 million streams on Spotify alone, helping him score a deal with Against Da Grain/Epic Records by October 2024. In the years that followed, 1Ski’s musical output slowed down, due in large part to him taking some time to recalibrate following his signing and name change. Now, he’s readying a new project due later this year and launching his 1Ski OG era with a pair of new songs that he calls “more universal”: “Feel Like” and “Double Life.”
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For both songs, 1Ski took inspiration from his personal life. His “gyal at di time” served as the muse for “Feel Life,” which was recorded a year ago, and “Doube Life” is the product of his desire to “speak to the experience of living a double life with [yourself] and your partner” and his general observations of toxicity in daily interactions. The new songs build on the trap dancehall foundation he established upon his debut, but the melodic flourishes of their respective soundscapes signal a push into a more expansive sound.
“I’m not the kind of person who sticks to one sound because I’m thinking about longevity,” he says while musing over trap dancehall’s current dominance. “You have to create music that can last and trap dancehall is not so lasting. I don’t think it’s fully crossed over yet outside of New York, Florida, and Connecticut – places with a lot of Jamaicans. But what if you want to reach Africa or England or Canada? You have to always be open to change. The more potent and structured songs that we can all relate to are the ones that last. I still have trap and hardcore dancehall, but you have to have a mixture.”
With a new name, new music, and a clear, intentional focus behind the next stage of his career, 1Ski OG is ready not just to reintroduce himself, but also establish himself as one of the leading Caribbean artists of his class.
“We have to evolve and put the face behind the brand,” he stresses. “[The new name] gives you different options in terms of styling because nothing is tied to the mask anymore. The power is not in the mask, the power is in me.”
Watch the official “Feel Like” music video below.
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Right on the heels of Trinidad Carnival — where she mounted the sixth iteration of her own Sokah Origins concert — Caribbean Music Award-winning soca superstar Nailah Blackman is ready to launch her next era.
Billboard can exclusively reveal that Born A Diamond (B.A.D.), Nailah’s sophomore studio album, will arrive via Big Money Records in the second half of 2025. The new record is the follow-up to 2022’s Teknique, her debut full-length album, and promises to uphold Nailah’s commitment to deepening and broadening the scope of her soca foundation. Featuring collaborations with Grammy-nominated pop-dancehall princess Shenseea, rising genre-bending Canadian star Sadboi and Latin Grammy-winner Nicky Jam, Born A Diamond finds Nailah with her eyes set on global domination.
“I feel like Iike I’ve always known who I was from the beginning, but for whatever reason, I got lost in the woods, and I’m trying to head back home,” she muses. “But every thought process made me feel like I was already there. Precious gems — or people who are supposed to do big things — I don’t think that they are made. I think they’re born, and they will always have their purpose even if they don’t know it yet. I believe I was born a diamond, not just made one.”
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In a way, she’s correct. Nailah is the granddaughter of Garfiled Blackman, better known as Lord Shorty, the inventor of soca music, which soundtracks Carnival celebrations across the Caribbean. Fans can expect an abundance of soca on Born A Diamond, specifically some splashes of bouyon soca from Dominica. The new record will also feature dashes of R&B, Afrobeats and dancehall, further cementing Nailah as one of the most limitless and versatile artists of her class.
“I think with the music that I do and how I do it, it’s inevitable for me to cross over because I’ve been a crossover artist from the beginning of my career,” she stresses. “My sound has never been completely defined, but it has redefined the sound of soca. Being the granddaughter of the creator of the genre, I know the sound that is dynamic and ever-evolving. I’ve never necessarily followed the rules, and I believe the purpose of soca is to bring nations and people together, and that’s what I want to do.”
On Friday (March 14), Nailah released the lead single from Born A Diamond, “Feels Like Love.” With an assist from OVO Sound’s Roy Woods, the new single infuses its Jakey Krumm and Hunter Tomeo-helmed pop&B soundscape with a healthy dose of Jamaican dancehall. With Trinidad and Guyana both represented on the steamy new track, “Feels Like Love” proves everything’s better when the Caribbean joins forces.
“I went to Toronto for Caribana last year, and we did the song in a writing camp,” says Nailah. “I’ve never done a dancehall fusion like that before, and I knew I wanted somebody to bring a Caribbean element but still keep that hip-hop influence. I’ve always loved Roy Woods’ music, so when I heard about the possibility [of collaborating] with him, I was super excited. We met the same night I flew into Toronto, and we did another studio session. We shot the video the next day at my show with 15,000 people, which was incredible.”
Born A Diamond will also serve as Nailah’s first project since signing with Philadelphia-based label Big Money Records in 2024. “When I saw her stage presence and music and everything she’s doing in the Caribbean, I knew I wanted to be a part of this to help soca crossover to the U.S.,” says CEO Jamelia “Whoa” Ho-sang. While she’s still finalizing tour plans, Nailah is prepping for an intense global promotional run, including a performance at D.C. Carnival and her historic appearance as the first soca act to grace Roots Picnic (May 31-June 1). Last winter, she brought soca to On the Radar, a rare foray into Caribbean music for the live performance platform.
Watch the official “Feels Like Love” music video below.
Less than a year after dropping his Jamaican Situation EP, two-time Grammy-nominated Jamaican reggae star Protoje is set to embark on a world tour — and he’s also just dropped his highly anticipated new single.
On March 9, Protoje will hit the stage at Australia’s WOMADelaide festival before spending the rest of the month hitting stops across Europe, including Lisbon, Portugal; Berlin; and Copenhagen, Denmark. On April 4, the “Who Knows” singer will kick off the U.S. leg of the tour with an appearance at the Reggae Rise Up festival in Tempe, Ariz. Over the following month and a half, Protoje will visit fans in Southern cities across the states, including Miami, Atlanta and Asheville, N.C. By July 25, he’ll return to Europe for the final leg of the tour, playing festivals across the continent, including Sweden’s Uppsala Reggae Festival (July 25) and Austria’s One Love Reggae Festival (Aug. 9). The international trek will conclude on Nov. 29 at La Cigale in Paris.
To accompany his tour announcement, Protoje also unveiled a new single titled “Big 45.” Inspired by Jamaica’s iconic sound system culture, the St. Elizabeth-hailing artist-producer has crafted a booming, bass-driven track that playfully teases a rap-sung cadence over a sultry, groovy instrumental. “Big 45” — produced by The Indiggnation and Winta James — also arrives alongside a SAMO-helmed music video. The clip prominently features the massive sound systems traveling through the streets of JA.
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“This is just a reggae and dancehall anthem,” Protoje said in a press release. “It’s talking about sound system, it’s talking about live music … the moment we started [playing] it, everybody got excited because we knew it was one of those ‘bring everyone together’ type of songs.”
After teasing “Big 45” on socials and in his live shows, Protoje has finally released the song. The new track is a natural progression from the national pride that colored tracks such as “Where We Come From” from last year’s Jamaican Situation EP. Protoje’s last solo full-length album was 2022’s Third Time’s the Charm, which featured collaborations with Jorja Smith, Lila Iké, Samory I and Jesse Royal.
Protoje has sent five consecutive projects to the top 10 of Reggae Albums, including two chart-toppers: 2015’s Ancient Future and 2018’s A Matter of Time. In 2018, he entered the Emerging Artist chart for the very first time at No. 42.
Check out the dates for Protoje’s 2025 world tour below.
March 9 — Australia @ WOMADelaide
March 14 — New Zealand @ Womad Aotearoa
March 19 — Aarau, Switzerland @ KIFF
March 21 — Barcelona, Spain @ Razzmatazz
March 22 — Lisbon, Portugal @ Disaster Club
March 25 — Berlin, Germany @ Maaya Club
March 26 — Hamburg, Germany @ Fabrik
March 27 — Cologne, Germany @ Die Kantine
March 28 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Grey Hall
March 29 — Legorreta, Spain @ Legoreggae
April 4 — Tempe, Ariz. @ Reggae Rise Up
April 16 — Miami, Fla. @ Miami Beach Bandshell
April 17 — St. Petersburg, Fla. @ Jannus Live
April 18 — Ormond Beach, Fla. @ Granada Theatre
April 19 — Atlanta, Ga. @ Sweetwater 420 Fest
April 20 — Asheville, N.C. @ Orange Peel
May 23 — Monterey, Calif. @ California Roots
May 30 — Durango, Colo. @ Rise and Vibes
July 12 — Marshfield, Mass. @ Levitate Music Festival
July 25 — Uppsala, Sweden @ Uppsala Reggae Festival
July 26 — Fraga, Spain @ Monegros Desert Festival
Aug. 1 — Geel, Belgium @ Reggae Geel Festival
Aug. 2 — Milton Keynes, U.K. @ Reggaeland
Aug. 9 — Wiesen, Austria @ One Love Reggae Festival
Aug. 10 — Saint-Malo, France @ No Logo BZH
Nov. 20 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
Nov. 21 — Zurich, Switzerland @ Rote Fabrik
Nov. 29 — Paris, France @ La Cigale
Two months removed from his Billboard cover story, Vybz Kartel is effortlessly maintaining his comeback momentum.
After attending last month’s Grammys (Feb. 2) on the heels of his very first nomination (best reggae album for Party With Me), Worl’ Boss received the Impact Award at the MOBO Awards, where he performed a medley of “Fever” and “Clarks.” This summer (July 13), he’ll join three-day headliner Drake as a special guest alongside PARTYNEXTDOOR, Summer Walker and Burna Boy.
Of course, the Caribbean music scene has been buzzing outside of Karrtel and dancehall. Earlier this week (March 3-4), Trinidad celebrated its Carnival with a explosive collection of new soca anthems. Machel Montano’s “Pardy” was crowned the Road March winner, racking up 267 plays. Bunji Garlin’s “Carry It” — a heavy favorite for the title — landed in a close second with 253 plays. The Arima-born artist also placed in third with “Thousand.” Montano’s victory marked his 11th Road March title, tying him with the late Aldwyn “Lord Kitchener” Roberts for the most of all time. The King of Soca also claimed first-ever Chutney Soca Monarch title with “Pepper Vince,” but he came in fifth place at Calypso Monarch behing Yung Bredda’s third place-finishing “We Rise.”
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Naturally, Billboard’s monthly Reggae/Dancehall Fresh Picks column will not cover every last track, but our Spotify playlist — which is linked below — will expand on the 10 highlighted songs. So, without any further ado:
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Valiant, “Whole Lotta”
One of dancehall’s brightest stars, Valiant continues his streak of solid rap performances and trap dancehall offerings with “Whole Lotta.” Fingerpicked guitar introduce the track, eventually slinking into the background and serving as warm complement to the dark underbelly of the song’s dancehall soundscape. “Rick Owens beats currency/ Gyal, come with me cah yuh man n’ave no sense/ Travel ’round the world, we nuh travel inna comments/ Compare me and me take that as a offense,” he raps in the first, immediately establishing an arresting cadence that nods to the agression of classic gun chunes without visiting that space lyrically.
Kraff Gad, “Chant”
Leaning even more into trap than dancehall, Kraff Gad’s latest track is one that you can’t help but “Chant” along too. Kraff probably has the most interesting flow of his class; it shapeshifts effortlessly, going from rapid fire delivery one second to a more laid-back cadence that plays on the kick drum instead of the skittering hi-hats another. Less of a club track and more of a vibe, “Chant” offers an interesting look at what happens when you slow down the tempo and temper your trap with Jamaican patois.
Lila Iké, “Too Late to Lie”
One of the leading female voices in contemporary reggae, Lila Iké has been on a roll with her recent releases, including collaborations with Joey Bada$$ (“Fry Plantain”) and H.E.R. (“He Loves Us Both”). On this tender roots reggae ballad, Lila croons of the specific pain sourced from betryal and shattered trust. “I know my life will never be the same/ You made your choice and I will not complain/ Don’t raise your voice/ Please don’t speak my name,” she sings in the chorus. “Just say goodbye/ It’s too late to lie.”
Likkle Vybz, “Miss Independent”
Last month, we named Likkle Addi one of 10 Caribbean Artists to Watch in 2025. With the release of his Valentine’s Day-themed Love Lane EP, Likkle Vybz — Addi’s brother and fellow offspring of Vybz Kartel — lets it be known that he’s also one to keep an eye on. “Miss Independent,” a smooth, guitar-inflected dancehall midtempo dedicated to the baddest lady in the room, is a surprisingly solid showcase of Likkle Vybz’s vocal abilities. He tenderly sings the hook, bleeding into verses that echo his father’s cadence while opting for a notably lighter, flirtier tone.
Voice & Bunji Garlin, “Flatten”
Though he came up short for the Road March title at Trinidad’s Carnvial, Bunji Garlin was once again an inescapable voice and presence this season. Outside of “Carry It” and “Thousand,” “Flatten” stands as a winning tribute to the fetes of soca’s golden era. Anchored by relentless “Hand up, hand up, hand up” chants, vigorous drums and jaunty background brass, “Flatten” isn’t just a reflection of the road; it’s a reflection of the road before the commercialization of Carnival started significantly altering its vibe.
Lutan Fyah, “Pieces of Broken Soul”
“Abundance of weed, crack pipe and liquor so cheap, there’s a lot of hungry mouths to feed/ There’s a lot of hungry mouths to feed!” Lutan Fyah cries out in “Pieces of Broken Soul,” a heartwrenching reggae ballad that yearns for humanity to achieve some semblance of wholeness. Fyah’s voice is at once forlorn and cautiously hopeful, just like the horns that wail in the background across Zion I King’s lush roots reggae production.
Patrice Roberts, “The Great Escape”
“I’ll take you to a place not too far away/ Where all of your dreams come rushing in like a tidal wave/ You could be my Carnivl dahlin’/ And we gon’ fete till we fall in love,” sings soca queen Patrice Roberts. Written and produced by Tano alongside Kitwana Israel, Mical Teja Williams and Jovan James, “The Great Escape” is a classic, no-frills Carivnal jam. With her lyrics painting a gorgeous portrait of the road and Kyle Peters’ guitars adding a melodic touch to those pounding drums, “The Great Escape” is a welcome taste of musical escapism.
Yung Bredda, “We Rise”
This song helped Yung Bredda place third in his first-ever Calypso Monarch appeance — and it’s clear to see why. The Ato Williams-helemed track shifts Bredda away from soca and zess and toward classic calypso. His charismatic, animated vocal performance appropriately honors the message of the song: that Trinidad and her people will rise again despite the ever-changing forces of oppression that seek to keep them down. Written by Leeanna Williams, Kester Stoute and Ato, “We Rise” is calypso that you must listen and dance to — another stellar offering from Trinidad’s hottest new star.
Kes & Tano, “Last Drum”
Kes has been dominating the season with both the Full Blown-assisted “No Sweetness” and their own “Cocoa Tea,” and they’ve once again teamed up with longtime collaborator Tano for another anthem for the aunties. With his pleas for his lady to “show me your wild side,” Kes continues his streak of clean, digestible soca tunes that are perfect for all ages and audiences, while still maitaining the unbridled energy at the center of the genre.
Aidonia, “Waste Har Time”
Though Aidonia preceded the trap dancehall wave, he’s routinely proven that he can hang with the best of them in that space. As X-rated as the come, “Waste Har Time” is Aidonia’s personal lesson in seduction. “You don’t know what fi do with it/ She wine pon di cocky right to the tip,” he rhymes before slightly dipping in his falsetto for a hook that would make any avid reader of “spicy books” blush. “I get you wet, I make you cum/ She like when sex is fun/ We haffi go one more time when we done,” he proclaims.
“New York, that’s Jamaica outside of Jamaica!” Vybz Kartel told Billboard in his January cover story. And in March, the Big Apple will be able to prove Worl’ Boss correct. On Monday (March 3), Kartel announced his first U.S. live performance in more than 20 years, set to take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, […]
If your TikTok FYP frequently feeds you clips of semi-professional dancers, you’ve probably heard a snippet of Blaiz Fayah and Maureen’s intoxicating “Money Pull Up.” “Money pull up/ Action we ah turn it up/ Shatta run di place and guess/ Who ah bring it up?” the French dancehall artist chants over an infectious, percussive beat.
Hailing from Paris, France, Blaiz Fayah turned his childhood experiences of following his saxophonist father around to zouk gigs in Guadeloupe and Martinique into a bustling dancehall career that’s now birthing international viral hits. According to Luminate, “Money Pull Up” has collected over 1.7 million official on-demand U.S. streams, an impressive number for a song from two rising international stars operating in a relatively niche genre. On TikTok, the official “Money Pull Up” sound plays in over 231,000 posts, including multiple clips from TikTok-Broadway star Charli D’Amelio; the official sound also boasts nearly 30,000 Instagram Reels.
The track – which infuses its dancehall foundation with Martinican shatta (a subgenre of dancehall pioneered in the French Caribbean)– appears on Fayah’s new album Shatta Ting, his first full-length offering since the conclusion of his Mad Ting trilogy. The new record features several collaborators, including Italian-born basshall artist Kybba and producer Mafio House, who helmed several songs, including “Money Pull Up.” His most collaborative project yet, Shatta Ting also gifted Fayah with the opportunity to play his new music for his biggest dancehall heroes in Jamaica.
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“When I listen to Shatta Ting, I’m happy. It was important for me to see all these Jamaican artists and producers and engineers embrace the music when I played it for them out there,” he tells Billboard between rehearsals for his forthcoming tour in support of the new album. “For me, going to Jamaica is like when Muslims go to Mecca. I was a bit shy playing the music at first because these guys have been doing this for over 30 years, so when they hear a song, they don’t have a [physical reaction]. But when they said, ‘Bro, you’re a mad artist,’ I felt at ease.”
Blaiz Fayah’s latest tour kicks off on Feb. 27 in Toulon, France, and will visit concert halls in Nice, Lyon and Luxembourg before concluding on March 29 in Dortmund, Germany. In an illuminating conversation with Billboard, Blaiz Fayah talks about his new Shatta Ting album, the French Caribbean music scene and the merits of TikTok for dancehall’s present and future.
Where are you right now?
I’m actually in a rehearsal studio in Paris making small details before the first show of the tour. It’s a new show for the new album, so I have to [revamp] everything. On the last tour, we mostly used the same show with a few new songs sometimes. By the end, it was a bit too easy because it was so automatic. I was a bit lazy by the end of the tour. I like a challenge, so for the next tour, I have some pressure on me to remember my blocking and everything.
Where are you and your family from? What’s your relationship with dancehall?
I was born in Paris, and we have the French Caribbean as well with Martinique, Guadeloupe, etc. My father was the saxophonist of Kassav’, a big zouk group from the French Caribbean. When I was really young, I used to go to Guadeloupe and Martinique and go to some studio sessions with him. When I grew up, I was assisting in the studio as well. I’ve always been around this culture, listening to reggae and dancehall. I used to listen to Sizzla, Buju Banton, Richie Spice, and all these roots reggae artists. I was digging deep and understanding the story and evolution of the music. I’ve always been like a magnet to this music, not the Jamaican culture.
I don’t act like I’m a Jamaican, and it’s really important to say that… I remember one time I was writing in Jamaica, and someone told me to say “likkle” instead of “little.” I said, “Bro, I’m not Jamaican!” It’s really important for me to stay myself. I’m not saying “bomboclaat” every two sentences. I really like the energy of the music. I never felt this free listening to anything else; there is no other music that brings me this kind of madness.
How would you describe shatta?
Shatta comes from Martinique. It’s a type of riddim with big bass, snares, minimal hi-hats, and, sometimes, no chords. Remixes of Vybz Kartel‘s [vocals] on shatta riddims used to go crazy at every party, same with Aidonia’s voice or Buju’s voice. Martinique still has a thriving dancehall scene and people wanna dance. The shatta riddim makes the people dance. When I play shatta riddims for other artists like Busy Signal and they think it’s fresh, I have to give them their flowers. They started all of this; we’re the result of their influence.
When you hear [Kartel’s] “Benz Punany,” there is no kick drum, only bassline, that’s a choice to make the music stronger. When you hear [Charly Black and J Capri’s] “Wine & Kotch,” it’s the same thing. Jamaica has been doing this for 10-15 years; Martinique just put their own vibe on it. We don’t go as hard lyrically as some Jamaican dancehall artists because it’s not the same culture, but it’s still party music.
How did “Money Pull Up” come together? When did you start to realize that it was growing into a big hit?
I was in Martinique with Mafio House, who wrote the arrangement for the song, listening to “Benz Punany” again. I wanted to combine Gaza-type strings [in reference to Kartel’s Gaza production camp] with a shatta bassline and percussion. 15 minutes later, the first version of the riddim was done. Initially, I wanted Boy Boy on the track because it had a bit of a Trinidadian vibe, but [plans fell through].
I ended up being in the studio in Paris with Maureen, played her the riddim, and she loved it. We wrote and recorded the song immediately, and I sent the track to one producer to clean it up and make it feel less like a demo. But after four weeks, I still had nothing, so I gave the track to Mafio. Three hours later, we had a finished cut of the song.
The label liked the song, but they wanted something easier for people to latch onto. I was like, “If we do what is working now, then we’re not leading our thing. It’s too easy.” Sometimes, I make choices, and the stars are not on the same line at that moment, but I’m not ashamed about it. They agreed to put some money into the video, and within one month, Spotify streams started hitting 500,000 per day. I’m so happy, because I believed in the song ever since I heard the first note of the riddim. And I’m happy, I followed the Gaza influence and made a real collaboration [with Maureen].
How has TikTok and the dance community helped dancehall’s global presence?
TikTok is a really, really good thing because I can see the impact. But it’s a really, really bad thing because a lot of people make songs for TikTok. I think that’s a trap. “Money Pull Up” is my biggest hit [so far], and I never expected it to be big on TikTok. If you make songs for TikTok, you’re on the wrong path for hits.
TikTok can also be kind of unfair to dancers because phones do so much of the work, and onstage, they look completely different. I see some of these TikTok dancers, and there is no attitude. The result on the app is crazy, but they move too small for the stage. Even the crowds know when a dancer is there because she’s sexy and beautiful, over the dancers who working and taking lessons every day of the week. TikTok can be a good thing because everybody can be a star or go viral quickly — but you have to be careful of the way TikTok influences how you create.
This is your first album since the Mad Ting trilogy ended. Where did you want to go musically and conceptually after the trilogy?
I started working on Shatta Ting about a year and a half ago. I had a writing camp in Martinique and kept half of the songs we wrote there. It was the first time I recorded songs like that. I really enjoyed creating [in collaboration], and I took some risks on some of those songs – but those aren’t on Shatta Ting because I wanted something easier for people to listen to.
I also feel that it’s time to put the “shatta” name in people’s heads; that’s why there are more proper shatta riddims on this project. There is less risk, but nobody listens to me for slow songs or songs about the world. When people listen to me, they just want to have fun.
Did the writing camp approach change anything else about how you normally make albums?
This was the first time I made a bunch of songs and then chose a few from the pack for the album. I’m not an artist who records a bunch of songs for an album and throws half of them away. I like quality over quantity. I have 8-10 songs from those sessions that I’ve put to the side. The BPM is also a bit higher on Shatta Ting than my other projects, so the tour will be more dynamic.
What else do you have planned this year?
We have a big tour for Shatta Ting, of course. I have another writing camp with Kybba in April, and we’re going to make a joint project. After that, I’ve just re-signed for two other albums. I have a better deal now because I’ve created my own label. Shatta Ting is a co-production with my label, Mad Ting Records, and Creepy Music, which works with X-Ray Productions. Now, I own 50% of my publishing. That kind of thing can happen when you have some strings, and the strings come from songs like “Money Pull Up.” When you have good numbers, then you can negotiate these things.
Companies like Universal and Sony approached me, but nowadays, we don’t really need them. They’re more like a bank. I prefer a small label with money; I really feel better than when I call someone, and a person [at the label] answers. It’s important to feel like we’re working on the same wavelength. We’re not here only for money. Another big thing is that I can do what I want creatively. The label tells me nothing. I have some parts of the deal that I must respect, but I’m free in the creation, so I’m really happy.
Last year, the returns of Buju Banton and Vybz Kartel catapulted Jamaica back to the forefront of the global music conversation. With reggae and dancehall giants coming back to the stage as several subgenres of the two styles continue to gain traction worldwide, the future is looking particularly bright for Caribbean music.
Back with Blood & Fyah, his second full-length album (due late spring/early summer 2025), Keznamdi is looking to add his flair to that momentum as an independent reggae artist. Combining traditional reggae with dancehall, Afrobeats, R&B and hip-hop, Blood & Fyah continues Keznamdi’s yearslong exploration of the limitless potential of contemporary reggae. He introduced the new set with “Time,” a heartfelt single accompanied by a cinematic video shot in Ghana, one of several African countries that significantly impacted Keznamdi’s life and the new record.
“In the process of making the problem, the music just sounded like Africa,” he tells Billboard. “It was a far-fetched idea at the time [to shoot the video in Ghana] because we didn’t know anybody there, but we just packed up our things, brought two cameras and went down there with the whole team. The reception was crazy; [on] the second day, we were summoned by the Ghanaian president. At the time, his parliament won some kind of office, and they wanted to play my song with Chronixx called ‘Victory’ on the radio. They called the station, and the DJ told him that I was actually in Ghana at the time. Shortly after that, we were at his palace.”
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Before he received royal welcomes, Keznamdi lived a regular life across Africa for years. Born in Jamaica, he lived on the island until he was 13, by which point he and his Rastafari family moved to Tanzania, where they lived for three years. They then moved to Ethiopia, where Keznamdi lived for another three years, eventually graduating there as well. To support Blood & Fyah, Keznamdi is formulating a tour that will reach parts of the world that the reggae industry tends to neglect.
“Reggae is huge for the next generation in Africa,” he stresses. “There’s a lot of countries like Burundi that listen to reggae every single day and not one reggae artist has gone there. Africa is a very untouched place for reggae, which is a genre that sings to Africa. Our generation is playing an important role in bridging that gap and continuing the work our elders have already done. We spend so much time touring in America and Europe, and, truly, Africa is where the music is really made for. We’re singing about that third-world struggle. Everything is pointed towards Africa, which was something that all of the elders inna reggae and inna Jamaica and inna Rastafari always prophesize.”
While reggae is the core of Blood & Fyah, Keznamdi is also treating fans to a pair of two blockbuster dancehall collabs. Dancehall superstars Mavado and Masicka – whose “Whites” single continues to dominate the Caribbean – will both appear on Keznamdi’s new record. Through Vas Productions’ Richardo Vasconcellos and producer Don Corleonie, Keznamdi (who also co-produced the track) was able to get in contact with Masicka for “Forever Grateful,” which features production contributions from Off Grid and Major Seven.
“I always envisioned him on this record,” Keznamdi gushes. “Masicka is the voice of the streets right now. He’s inspirational and uplifting; when you listen to him you want to get up and do better in your life, so I wanted him on this track.”
Vas Productions also helped Mavado and Keznamdi join forces. “Bun Di Ganja” — which also features Marlon Asher — was initially created for a Vas project, but the irresistible banger found a home on Blood & Fyah.
“Because I’m so focused on what I’m doing, it’s hard for me to do features unless the track is inspiring,” Keznamdi explains. “As soon as I heard it, I sent him my vocals the next day. It was a little struggle getting Mavado for the video because he’s an elite artist, but we were able to shoot it in Miami with him.”
Listen to “Time” below.
After winning performer of the year (dancehall) at last year’s Caribbean Music Awards, Jamaican reggae sensation Dexta Daps is set on securing the next Valentine’s Day anthem with his new “Lockdown” single. Over waltz-evoking guitars, Dexta forgoes the fete to spend some intimate one-on-one time with his special lady singing, “I’ve been staying home lately […]