Rajahwild Shows Range With “FTW” Project, But Can It Advance The Culture?

I get it, Dancehall has become stagnant over the years. Complex styles and lyricism that many cheered for, have now given way to more catchy hooks, trendy topics, and controversial measures. No idea is original in Jamaica, and there have been Artists who have attempted to blend Dancehall with Rock Music, Hip Hop, R&B/Pop, and even Soca Music in the 90s. The newer generations coined them Traphall/Chop Dancehall, Rock Dancehall, Alt. Dancehall, Dancehall Pop, etc., in hopes of creating more globally-recognized subgenres. Some broke ground, but for one reason or another they didn’t maintain the presence for long. Different Artists, same mission.

In the late 2010s/Early 2020s, the Trap Dancehall movement secure some footing, allowing newer acts to experiment. Since the 2010s, the rise of Tommy Lee Sparta and his Goth Dancehall sound produced offspring. We’ve had Skeng, Cyash, Ayetian, Witty, and Rajahwild to name a few. Speaking of Rajahwild, since his advent in the early 2020s, he has built a movement taking influences from Trap Dancehall and Rock Dancehall. He leaned more into the Rock side in recent times, and while it has carried him far, is it enough to cause a major shift in scene, and put Dancehall on a much greater scale in the world? His “FTW” project looks to do its part.

Featuring 10 tracks, Rajahwild shows some range with the release of, “FTW”. Gone are the days of just deejaying, there are blends and subgenres that the younger generation will co-sign. He has already called himself a Rockstar, and “FTW” looks into the “Sinful” Deejay’s lifestyle of Women, money, drugs, and the fast life. On the surface it may seem all fun and high energy, but he slips in times where he deals with love and its various episodes, and moments of loneliness and depression. The energy on the new project is infectious, and for those new to the Deejay may be startled at first, but will catch on. The Production by Yo Christon, Dan Sky, RatBatColony, Anju Blaxx, Circa Eleven, and Dethwrld help to give Rajahwild’s lyrics the much-needed support, tapping into Hip Hop, Rock, Dancehall, and Alternative sounds. The Deejay owns the stage here, but still has space for his partner-in-crime Sp!da on one track.

We welcome the various extensions in Dancehall, and Reggae Music on a greater aspect. We have welcomed the many styles and experiments on this platform for years, and Rajahwild is no different. The advancements are important, but the bigger question is, can it advance the culture? It’s going to take more than Social Media discourse. We need fans to support to projects financially, buy the merch offered, attend the events, spread the word on a global scale. We also need more world collaborations, and we need the Artists to pay attention, and get to work. Every year there is an argument about Dancehall Music not having a GRAMMY category, we need to exit from the word salads and clouds of hot air, and make solid steps towards making the genre and subgenres serious contenders in the world. Today, press play on “FTW”. It’s a sinful season!

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