Toppa Top ’15: Fifteen Artists to Watch In 2015

Words by LargeUp Crew
Photo by Eddie Pearson

Now that we’ve finished taking stock of 2014, it’s time to take a look at what’s ahead in 2015. As we’ve done in each of the last three years, we’re putting our reputation on the line to pick the new artists we think are set to make an impact on Caribbean music in the next 12 months.

Two years ago, we named Chronixx, fresh off his debut mixtape but still relatively unknown outside of Jamaica, as our top artist to watch for 2013. You know how that turned out (If not, here’s an update). In 2014, we gave the honor to Jesse Royal, an artist who now seems to be following a similar trajectory; Alkaline, Kranium and Liam Bailey were a few other acts from the list who went on to have breakout campaigns.

This year, with no clear-cut leader emerging from the crop of new artists coming out of the Caribbean, we looked in a different direction, and made a surprise pick you might not expect. Here’s 15 new and up-and-coming acts we’re expecting big things from in 2015.

15. Sevana

Sevana only has one song and a few local appearances in Jamaica under her belt, so maybe it’s too early to saddle her with any expectations. But that one song left a real impression. Produced by Winta James (producer of our two favorite 2014 reggae tracks) and Protoje, “Bit Too Shy” is a reggae/R&B hybrid that recalls Jazmine Sullivan’s (supremely underrated) “Need U Bad”, with its combination of lyrical vulnerability and self-assured vocals. Based on the response we got when were premiered the track in October, it’s safe to say anticipation for her next move is high among those already in the know. With her stunning looks and soaring voice, it’s difficult to imagine a year in which word about Sevana doesn’t spread substantially. —Jesse Serwer

14. EchoSlim

Having recently wrapped a multi-year stint touring the world as the DJ for the duo Black Violin, Trini-American DJ/Producer EchoSlim is poised to make some serious waves this year. We first found Echo through his dope hip-hop/dub remix of Bob Marley’s “Bus Dem Shut,” which included a wicked performance video of the Wailers looking like they were playing the remix version. That was merely a taste of what Echo was capable of, however, as the producer effortlessly slips between genres, creating natural fusions, as seen by his EDM wobble-inspired dancehall remix “Salute We” featuring the Don Dada, Super Cat (also accompanied visually by awesome found footage). Early last year, we premiered “Di Best” (produced with Nicko Rebel), which mashes up EDM elements with trap and dancehall; more recently, he dropped a new Sizzla track, “Dem Bad Mind,” with his Miami-based part-sound system, part-live band outfit Yaga Sounds.

2015 promises to see a steady stream of releases (including a dancefloor-ready track inspired by Buju Banton), as the Miami- and New York-based Echo has spent more than a month in Jamaica voicing artists and working on a remix project with unprecedented access to legendary producer Bunny Lee’s catalog. —Kieran Meadows

13. Camille Safiya

We first came across Camille Safiya when we heard her track “Island Gyal” featured on this “dope” mixtape over at Wax Poetics. A jazz-inflected R&B/hip-hop tune with vocals that mix the King’s English, Espanol and a bit of Jamaican patois by way of Lady Saw, “Island Gyal” led us to her enjoyable Island Blues mixtape with producer Frankie P. Una Mami Dominicana by way of Philly, Camille puts a Latin twist on that city’s neo-soul sound, blending hip-hop, R&B and, occasionally, reggae. Her second mixtape, 24K, drops this week and while the island vibes are less prevalent than on its predecessor, her swagger and vocal chops are turned up all the way. —Jesse Serwer

12. Latty J

The success of Spice in the last few years has proven that there’s room for more than one queen in dancehall. There’s still a relative shortage of women deejays staking their claim in dancehall right now (especially in light of the increased visibility of popular female rappers recently), but there are definitely a few on the come-up who should be entitled to more ratings. Along with 2014 artists to watch J Capri and Marcy Chin (and, we should also add, U.K.-based Shuga), you have to include Latty J in that conversation. The Mr. Vegas protege more than held her own on last year’s most underrated dancehall tracks, a battle-of-the-sexes combination tune, “Who Rule” with Vegas. In fact, you could say she pretty much stole the show when she interrupted her counterpart with the following: “Hol’ on/What yuh say—you a King? Ay-ay, well ah mus [you must mean] Burger King.” She also put in a strong showing as the only female on Jah Snowcone’s Nuh Fraid riddim, one of 2014’s sharpest instrumentals. Just a few weeks into January, she’s already released several singles, including a collaboration with dancehall’s newest crossover king, Kranium.

11. Flipo

Trinidad’s Flipo is a master of many trades, a singer and songwriter who’s also a producer, engineer, video editor, photographer and graphic artist. Initially gaining traction as a rapper, it was only a matter of time before he began venturing into soca, having never failed to bring a Caribbean flare to his hip-hop work. Flipo had his breakout hit in 2014 with ‘Doh Tell Meh Dat,’ one of the year’s most popular soca songs, and the subject of a Major Lazer remix that’s clocked over 2.3 million plays on Soundcloud. This year he’s returned with the same vigor, holding his own on the Kan Kan Riddim while adding “Sweat” and “Last Man Standing” to his catalog. Soca’s newest crooner, Flipo’s gentile and charming vocal tone is perhaps his most distinctive and memorable quality, easly setting him apart from more aggressive-sounding artists. With his crossover appeal and penchant for experimentation, his best is surely yet to come. — Marcha M. Johnson

10. Jo Mersa Marley

As the second generation of Marleys have firmly established themselves in the reggae pantheon, more attention is beginning to be paid to the third generation currently coming of age. We featured Ziggy’s eldest son, Daniel Bambaata Marley, in our Artists to Watch countdown in 2013 and, this year, the spotlight is on his cousin, and the eldest son of Stephen, Jo Mersa Marley.

The young raggamuffin released his debut Comfortable EP last year, following an impressive showing on his Jr. Gong-produced dancehall single “Bad So.” On the EP’s title track, Jo Mersa showed his ease with contemporary sounds that have crossover pop appeal, as he does on another track off the EP, “Sunshine,” also featured on the just-released Ghetto Youths International compilation Set Up Shop Vol. 2. His second song off the compilation, “Rock & Swing” is set to be the next single off that LP, which recently topped the reggae albums chart. 2015 looks bright for the young artist as he is currently recording his first full-length and again has plans to tour with the Ghetto Youths Int’l crew this summer. (And if you’re in the Miami-area, catch him performing Feb. 15th alongside his pops Stephen Marley, and Kabaka Pyramid.) —Kieran Meadows

9. Randy Valentine

Jamaican-born vocalist Randy Valentine is based in the UK, where he’s been making big waves on the European dancehall scene since 2010, but something tells us that he will be making his way to broader international stardom in the coming months. A veteran of several tours spanning Europe and the Caribbean, Valentine released his Break the Chain EP (including the LargeUp favorite “Sound the Alarm”) and Bring Back the Love mixtape with Switzerland’s Straight Sound, both last year. Now, you can catch him advising how to keep your woman happy (MAJOR points with the ladies) on his infectious single “Treat her Right” —Kendra Dennis

8. Ibeyi

Interest in all things Cuba has picked up since the announced “easing of tensions” with the US in December. But twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz, collectively known as Ibeyi, were already buzzing long before then with their unusual blend of traditional Afro-Cuban music, jazz and trippy electronic music. The daughters of famed Cuban conguero Miguel “Angá” Díaz (of Buena Vista Social Club fame), the twins were raised in France, but they’ve channeled their heritage through the incorporation of Yoruba chants still in use in Cuba centuries after being brought over via Nigerian slaves. Ibeyi’s debut album drops on XL Recordings (home of FKA Twigs, Radiohead and Jack White) in February and, judging by the praise they’ve received for singles such as “River” (watch the trippy video below), we expect an enthusiastic response. —Jesse Serwer

7. Krishane

Jamaica-born, London-based Krishane is set to bring his tropical-flavoured pop (Think Jason Derulo, if he had a real Jamaican influence) to the music world in 2015. The 21-year-old already scored his first UK top 40 hit in 2014 with “Drunk & Incapable,” a lust-at-first-sight conversation with fellow Atlantic signee of Jamaican heritage, Melissa Steel (“Kisses For Breakfast”) that featured Beenie Man on the remix. The infectious song also caught the ears of Justin Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun, who tweeted “Love this song. Mark my words, it’s a hit,” and is now said to be managing Krishane. He’s been cooking in the studio with producers including Di Genius, KZ (nephew of Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul fame), and, soon, Harmony Samuels (Ariana Grande, Fantasia, Ciara), amongst others. Oh, but we almost forgot what some might say is the most important detail on Krishane’s resume— he’s the son of dancehall icon Barrington Levy. — Marvin Sparks

6. Noise Cans

We’re going out on a limb a little with this one. Noise Cans doesn’t yet have any original tracks out, just a trio of DJ mixes and a remix of Buju Banton’s “Champion.” But we’ve heard some of what this mysterious DJ/producer, whose sound blends EDM, dancehall and soca with the Carnival vibes of his native Bermuda, has in store for 2015, and it’s straight-up platanos. First up is “Bucka,” a debut single featuring Mr. Vegas and Lady Bee dropping on Dim Mak Records. Subsequently, an EP will feature I-Octane, Jesse Royal, Skinny Fabulous and Mr. Lexx. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Read more about Noise Cans and his unique spin on badman rave sounds in our interview here. —Jesse Serwer

5. Gully Bop

We couldn’t have a list of Artists to Watch for 2015 without including the most hyped “new” dancehall act of the moment, Gully Bop. Now, we must put new in quotations because Gully Bop is actually about 50 years old, and has been around since the ‘90s, when he used to go by the name of Countryman. It’s just his fame that’s new, really. Late last year, the wizened and reportedly once-homeless deejay became a sudden star when a video of him freestyling about how “every gyal wanna wuk offa mi” was spliced over the Punanny riddim, and then re-recorded as the single “Pussy Specialist” (or, as it’s radio-friendly version is known,“Body Specialist”). That led to TV appearances, newspaper covers and ultimately the most talked-about and anticipated appearance at Reggae Sting in December. Gully has continued to feed demand for new music, and he’s scored a minor follow-up hit in “Dem Nuh Bad Like Me,” but time will tell if he truly has staying power, or if he was just a flavor of the month. —Jesse Serwer

4. Toian

With an already-impressive resume that includes working with acclaimed reggae revival leader Protoje; Di Teacha, Vybz Kartel; and multi-platinum producer Don Corleon; Toian’s growing list of credits and accolades are steadily propelling her to star status in her native Jamaica. Formerly known as Toi, the multi-talented deejay, singer, songwriter, designer and model has built a loyal fanbase with her music and with her personal style. The latter half of 2014 saw her drop the well-received single “Rude Boys”  setting the tone for the vintage dub/roots vibe of her upcoming EP, entitled Retrospect. Toian is taking it back to the foundation of reggae music with the EP, due out in February. Showing her versatility, Toian also recently featured on the potential crossover single “Ice Queen” by Kartel. If you don’t know Toian’s unmistakable voice by now, be on the lookout for her during what should be a huge year from her musically and stylistically. —T.K.

3. Leadpipe and Saddis (aka Porgie + Murda)

The rest of the Caribbean is starting to catch on to what Barbados has known for the last two years: that Leadpipe and Saddis, aka Porgie and Murda, are the freshest thing happening in soca. The Bajan duo, who first came to renown on their home island with their comedic “Porgie and Murda” web video series, have had a handful of goofy hits in that guise, including their breakout track, “Condense.” But it’s a song released in their “serious” shoes as Leadpipe + Saddis that’s currently soaking up fetes across the islands. “Ah Feeling” was the “Song of De Crop” at Barbados’ carnival, Crop Over, last year, and it’s vibes are carrying into 2015, notably in Trinidad, where they’re sure to be contenders in this year’s Groovy Soca Monarch competition. Together, this duo have brought a much-needed dose of originality and leftfield-ness to a genre reliant on the overlying (and, some might say, overdone) themes of drinking rum and wining.—Jesse Serwer

2. Kali Uchis

Hailing from Virginia by way of Colombia, 20-year-old Kali Uchis blends doo-wop, G-Funk, Latin freestyle and other styles from bygone eras into a sound that’s as current as it is retro. (A similar observation could be made about her personal style, described by Dazed Magazine as “part street princess, part Anime character.”) And there’s a whiff of reggae vibes in some of her recordings as well. Producer Bunx, one of Kali’s primary collaborators, hails from New York via Nevis, and his tracks with her often come with Caribbean flair. The vibes are most prominent on “Know What I Want, ” the subject of her latest video—and probably her best song. Introspective yet upbeat, the track recalls the best elements of Lovers Rock but with a digital twist. Her upcoming album, tentatively titled Por Vida, is eagerly anticipated. Until then, her <em>Drunken Babble mixtape is highly recommended. —Jesse Serwer

1. Jozif Badmon


If you follow hip-hop, you’ve already known all about Joey Bada$$ for a while now. The 20-year-old Brooklyn rapper has been on a steady climb since he and his Pro Era crew crash landed on rap blogs in 2012 with a sound straight out of the mid ’90s (the same era in which they were born), culminating in the release of Joey’s much-anticipated debut album B4Da$$ today.

We’re here to tell you about Jozif Badmon, though. That’s the name Joey, whose mother and father are St. Lucian and Jamaican, has taken to calling himself (on Instagram, and in song lyrics) since dropping the reggae-inflected “My Yout” on his 2013 mixtape Summer Knights (and subsequently shooting the video in St. Lucia). Among other things, B4Da$$ fleshes out the Badmon persona, placing him in the tradition of Special Ed, Busta Rhymes and Biggie—Brooklyn MCs whose Jamaican roots and surroundings in Central Brooklyn’s Caribbean community were integral to to their sound.

The Hitboy-produced “Belly of the Beast” features a cameo from Chronixx, the reggae artist whose young age, old-school influences, and swift rise mirror Joey’s own come-up; “Curry Chicken” is a sort of tribute to his mom’s home cooking; Then there’s “No. 99,” essentially the Jozif Badmon anthem, with the rambunctious energy of Leaders of the New School and Da Bush Babees (another group out of Joey’s home turf in Flatbush), and a sample of Ding Dong’s “Badman Forward, Badman Pull Up.” Real Badmon! —Jesse Serwer

+1: Sarkodie/Timaya/Wizkid/Davido

From Scandinavia to Trinidad, West African sounds are infiltrating dancefloors around the world. At the same time, if you’re attuned to the tempos of dancehall, soca and other Caribbean music styles, you can’t help but notice how much current West African music is influenced by the Caribbean. Timaya, Sarkodie, Wizkid and Davido are well-established acts in their native Nigeria and Ghana (and in many other places, too), so it’s not entirely accurate to dub them “up and coming,” hence their “+1” status. But it’s possible that at least one could (or perhaps Burna Boy, from 2013’s Artists to Watch class) could soon be a household name in the Caribbean, too, thanks to the blurring lines between Afrobeats, dancehall and soca. Timaya, a staple presence in Nigeria’s hip-hop scene since 2007, is the closest to that breakthrough, thanks to “Shake Your Bum Bum,” a 2012 track that was the subject of separate remixes by Machel Montano and Sean Paul last year. His latest hit “Sanko,” is a near-perfect fusion of Afrobeats and island pop that our DJ Jam Central tells us is getting big reactions at Trini soca fetes. Sarkodie’s “Love Rocks” (featuring Samini) is another strong recent track to fuse reggae with Afrobeats. Davido’s “Skelewu,” easily one of the biggest songs out of Nigeria last year, has been tackled by dancehall choreographers, though it’s not as indebted to dancehall as his 2013 hit “All of You.” And Wizkid, 2014 artist of the year at The Headies, Nigeria’s version of the Grammys, made his own dancehall influences explicit on his 2013 remix of Popcaan’s “Only Man She Want.”