If you didn’t know, since March 2025, we premiered a new weekly Playlist called, “What’s On 13th Street?“. Since then, we have featured over 600 new songs from Artists in and outside the Caribbean. Some are your faves, others are legends in the game, and some newcomers. All we ask of you is to show the Playlist some love through regular shares, follows, and your enjoyment.
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.
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.
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!
How was your 2025? Was it filled with uplifting moments? Or did you experience plenty of stress? The good news is, we made it to 2026, and we have more opportunities to do some great things. Today, we do a quick reflection of the year where music is concerned. Many Artists enjoyed high moments, and earned viral success. Today, we look at “5 Songs That Went Viral In 2025“.
The 2020s has been good to Dancehall Artist Masicka. With two albums in, he has been building his way up to becoming Dancehall royalty. “Mute” found him at the top of his game, and his delivery showcased him being very secure. Social Media loved “Mute”, and kept it running all year through posts, giving it a lot of viral love. Lock di business with a suit indeed.
He waves two flags (Haiti and Jamaica), but Ayetian went global in 2025. While the previous year gave him breakout moments, “Wah Yuh Deh Pon” kept ringing in the ears of Dancehall lovers around the world. Whether you got hooked on the “Ram Putu nuh nyam Putu…” line on TikTok or you were glued to the music video, the Govana-featured single is in the top list of Ayetian’s growing catalogue.
Yesterday (Dec. 23), Dancehall Lyricist Skillibeng celebrated his birthday. With a new year here, expect a lot more greatness from the mind of Skilli. 2025 found him in more places, collaborating with high profile acts, and expanding his brand to even more markets. As a part of his birthday celebrations, he shared the video for, “City“.
Produced by Madenka, Skillibeng is all about his prowess, the money, the Women, and the rides in, “City”. With an accompanying visual, he hits the streets, burning rubber thanks to his muscle car, and showcasing that he’s good wherever he goes. He’s a Gold-selling Artist, and we looked forward to calling him a GRAMMY-nominated Artist for 2026, but maybe in 2027. All the best to the “E Syde” Lyricist on his new year, and may he see many more. Don’t size up wid Skilli.
Check out the video below, and share with a friend. Show us some love/follow us on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram at @13thStreetPromo.
Cholita is an upcoming Recording Artist who is already making strides on the scene. Her debut single “Next Time” caught the attention of brands like H&M, and she’s propelling herself to become a household name. She continues building her catalogue with the release of, “Without You“.
Produced by Dre Skull for Mixpak and featuring Skillibeng, Cholita shares her desire to be with her love interest in, “Without You”. She shares the benefits of having the right person in her life, while Skillibeng outlines his reasons why she should get with him, and leave her current partner behind. It’s a perfect match when the love is mutual, and the compatibility is undeniable. This collaboration is ready for the International market, so don’t be surprised if another International brand scoops this one up. Some are saying Cholita is the next International superstar to emerge out of Jamaica, and with her current releases, we believe she’ll be doing even more damage with future releases. Keep your eye out for this one.
Months ago, Nigerian Producer Sarz was working on his then-upcoming Debut Album, “Protect Sarz At All Costs“. While he had contributions from some of the major African stars in his contacts, he believed in expanding his horizons. The album was released recently, and it tapped into some Caribbean energy. One of the contributors was Dancehall Artist Skillibeng, and you can find him on, “Getting Paid“.
Featuring fellow Naija stars Asake and Wizkid, Sarz brings his sound, and calls up Skillibeng for, “Getting Paid”. The song speaks on the Artists coming from the struggles to making it in life, and the benefits that come with their success. The track off of the “Protect Sarz At All Costs” album brings the energy, and it is displayed further in an accompanying Visualizer. Shot in Lagos, Sarz gathers with the people, further showing strength in numbers. Sarz has been a part of the careers of many Artists for years, and with his debut, he’s ready for the takeover. His “Protect Sarz At All Costs” album also features an appearance by Dancehall/Hip Hop Artist Byron Messia.
Check out the Visualizer below, and share with a friend. Show us some love/follow us on Twitter, TikTok, Threads, and Instagram at @13thStreetPromo.
