We have officially crossed the half mark of the 2020s, and a lot has happened. In Jamaica’s music scene, many new Artists and movements emerged, some fell by the wayside just as quickly as they get the break, and others never made it to the 2020s for one reason or another. We remember those who passed away, and may their music and works live on. In remembering the first half of the 2020s, we look back at a few songs that made impact in the 2020s so far. These songs may have officially given the Artists their big break, rejuvenated a career or few, set Social Media and the streets on fire, and crossed over to the International market. Here are 10 of them in no particular order.
1. Valiant – Dunce Cheque (2022)
2022 was a year for Dancehall Artist Valiant. While he was building his career for a number of years, his name got the people’s attention thanks to a TikTok video. The video, which found him dressed in Ralph Lauren, gave the birth to the phrase, “Kotch E Hat A lie?“, which found life on Social Media thanks to various posts using the sound. From there, Valiant would capitalize off the buzz with singles like “St. Mary” and “North Carolina“. Those singles enjoyed love in the streets, but it was the Tarick-produced “Dunce Cheque” that took over households, and took flight to various parts of the world. The music video quickly hit over 1 Million views in a couple days, the single overall scored streaming numbers in the millions while securing a place in Dancehall and Social Media, and caused a few controversies thanks to the rise of the “Dunce” movement. Valiant officially became a star, and he keeps the fire going in 2026.
2. Skeng – Gvnman Shift (2021)
In 2020, people were made aware of an upcoming Dancehall Artist named, Skeng. The Spanish Town native was armed with aggressive lyrics and a presence that would unleash brimstone if he was approached the wrong way. He started to make noise with the gun-toting single “Brrp“, but it was his 2021 release “Gvnman Shift” that would open up the gates for him. His stance as an Intellectual who carefully detailed his badness throughout, placed him on the forefront of Dancehall music. The John Coop/DiTruth-produced “Gvnman Shift” enjoyed viral success, and even had kids in Basic School/Kindergarten reciting the lyrics word for word. Skeng became a star in the 2020s, with hit singles quickly following, and he successfully crossed over to the overseas market thanks to his collaborations with Rapper Nicki Minaj. Ay BWOY!
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