10 Dancehall Artists to Watch in 2019

Dancehall music has entered a new realm. In the past year, the dancehall scene has been reshuffled with some new acts, a number of which hail from western Jamaica. These young talents have been putting in some serious amounts of work and seem promising. For this reason, you should be on the lookout for what is to come in 2019. In no particular order, here are 10 dancehall artists to watch in 2019.

Squash

Raw talent is one way to describe the 6ix boss. He has a very unique sound that is generated from a myriad of flows, coupled with raw yet potent lyrics. Squash first appeared on the scene in 2015. His career took a boost in 2017 with the release of his hit single ‘Lavish’. He gained widespread recognition in 2018 with the release of songs such as ‘Trending’, ‘Oh La La’ and ‘Money Fever’.

Quada

Quada has made a name for himself in the dancehall scene with his lyrics and delivery. He released a number of singles and videos in 2018. His most notable works were ‘Reflex’ and ‘Celebration’ featuring Jah Vinci, which were arguably two of the best songs of that year. Being the protege of Popcaan, Quada ended 2018 with a performance at Unruly Fest where he shared the stage with the likes of Tory Lanez and Drake. With all the work he has put into his craft, things can only get better for Quada and there is hardly any doubt that 2019 will be any less for him.

Alexx A-Game

Alexx A-Game is an artist that not only manages to keep a clean image but also clean music. Besides being a gifted singer/DeeJay and songwriter, he is also a trained musician that plays multiple instruments. In 2018 he released the singles ‘Go Harda’, ‘Double Up’ featuring international rapper Tory Lanez and ‘Chuck It’ featuring Ding Dong. Last year was only a preview of what this man can do and 2019 should be no less of an exceptional year for Alexx A-Game

TeeJay

TeeJay is currently one of the top players among the dancehall artists from the western side of Jamaica. He made his cross-country debut with the breakout single ‘Uptop’ early 2018. He has been doing well on the western scene for some time, however, his follow-up hit ‘Uptop Boss’ cemented his place in dancehall as well as paved the way for him signing a management deal with Kingston-based production company Romeich Entertainment. The chart-topping single was followed by the release of new singles like ‘Braff’ featuring Ding Dong, ‘My Type’ and ‘Owna Lane’. It is quite evident that Teejay has been working really hard and 2019 should yield great rewards for him, making him one of our 10 dancehall artists to watch.

Shane E

His sound can be described as a kind of melodic darkness. He made his debut in 2016 at Jamfest, where he delivered a remarkable performance. The track ‘Blessings a Flow’ did well in 2018, while ‘Hundred Duppy’ which was previously released gained some traction in the past year as well. Shane E has since released songs like ‘Gone Sleep’, ‘Money Dream’ and was featured on Prince Swanny’s ‘Ztekk Bomber’. 2019 just might be the year that Shane E becomes a household name in dancehall music

Chronic Law

He hails from St. Thomas, his style is characterized by a melodious flow filled with punchlines. His single ‘Government’ became a party/street anthem in the latter part of 2018. Chronic Law has since released a number of singles including ‘Hilltop Badness’ and ‘Hillside’, which have been doing exceptionally well in the streets, online and on the radio, gaining him a lot of publicity. With such versatility, it is hard to predict what he might come with next, making Chronic Law one of our 10 dancehall artists to watch for 2019.

Rygin King

One of our top picks from St. James, and perhaps the man of the moment is the trap king himself. He’s undoubtedly the biggest breakout act of 2018, his singles ‘Learn’ and ‘Things Go Change’ took the airwaves and the streets by storm. This wave followed into the summer of 2018 where his ‘Tuff’ single did rounds on the charts as well as in the streets. He has since been on a roll with such hits as ‘Legacy’ and ‘3ZN’. Rygin King most certainly has a way with words and we anticipate what he has to say in 2019.

Jada Kingdom

She made her musical debut in 2017, with the release of her first single and music video titled “Love Situations” which sparked controversy and created a huge online buzz, garnering over 3 million views on YouTube. Her style of music is unique in that it reflects some indie and neo-soul elements. She has since released singles including ‘Better Than That’ featuring Govana and ‘Wasteman’ featuring Stalk Ashley. Our top picks are ‘Banana’ and ‘One Time’ and we are certain Jada Kingdom will be doing bigger and better things this year.

Maestro Don

With a melodious sound and catchy lyrics, his music easily resonates. Maestro has been on the music scene since 2013 and has had his singles that have done well in the streets and on YouTube. His music usually centers on friendship and loyalty, which are all relatable topics. Following the release of his Project Journey mixtape in 2018 and signing a recording contract with Gyptian’s Ryte Dyreksan record label, we are expecting to see more from him in 2019. Our top picks from the young don are ‘Young Don’ and ‘Chargie’.

Alicai Harley

Although she is based in London, she had much to offer the dancehall scene. She displayed her talent with the release of her ‘Gold’ single and video in 2017. The Jamaican born artist has a sound that is representative of a dancehall crossover vibe. With her hit single ‘Proper Paper’ getting placed on BBC 1Xtra’s A List and ‘Naah Done’ seem very promising, making her one of the 10 dancehall artists to look out for in 2019.