Some Dancehall followers have taken subject with Whap Whap artist Skillibeng’s declaration of himself as the best Dancehall artist of his period.
In an article printed final week Thursday in British fashion journal The Face, it was reported that Skillibeng, who was being interviewed at a studio in Brooklyn, New York, had made the pronouncement a day earlier than his efficiency on the Rolling Loud present in that metropolis.
“I’m the best Dancehall artist of my period…. That’s what I’m. I’m simply doing my job. And I’m good at my job,” the St Thomas native is quoted as saying, in the course of the interview, which additionally included a style photoshoot.
Skillibeng gained his first main music award on November 30, when he copped the MOBO Award for Finest Caribbean Music Act on the twenty fifth annual Awards within the UK.
He’s finest identified for his songs Whap Whap, Crocodile Tooth, Mr. Universe, Coke, Brik Pan Brik, Not, and Bin Laden with Tommy Lee Sparta, and has racked up credit with US artists such DJ Khaled, Nicki Minaj, French Montana, and Younger M.A, and Busta Rhymes.
Since 2019, when Skillibeng’s breakout hit Brik Pan Brik was launched, there have a number of different rising stars who lean closely on Hip-Hop and Entice-infused Dancehall beats, together with Jahshii, Silk Boss, Intence, and Skeng, who not too long ago launched an EP titled “Beast Of The Period”.
In August this yr, Skilli had reiterated that he didn’t contemplate himself a Entice-Dancehall artist, as he had been labeled by many, however purely a Dancehall artist.
Within the new interview, the creator had said that Skilli had ‘snickered’ when the subject of Entice-Dancehall was broached, and that the Crocodile Tooth artist had identified that: “Simply because these tiny little adjustments are being made, it doesn’t imply it’s not Dancehall. It’s an evolution of the music.”
Whereas declaring himself a Dancehall artist in August, Skilli had mentioned that he was “not an individual who focuses on making Entice Dancehall sound” however was fairly a “one who likes making music” and incorporating completely different sounds in his productions.
“Folks say my sound is Entice, so I’m not going to actually argue with anyone, as a result of there may be extra folks on the market; there’s simply me right here. So, if the individuals are saying it appears like Entice, that’s what it’s gonna be for now,” he had defined.
In January final yr, throughout an interview with Seani B on BBC1 Xtra, Skilli had additionally addressed criticisms being made by Dancehall purists, who have been of the view that Dancehall-infused Entice beats had watered down the style.
The St Thomas native had mentioned that whereas he had accepted the time period Entice Dancehall: “at di finish a di day Skillibeng nuh actually go after Entice Dancehall. Mi go after good music…”
As well as, the Morant Bay Excessive Faculty outdated boy had additionally mentioned that the kind of style he selected on any given day to take pleasure in relies on his temper on the time.
“As we speak mi will really feel like mi fi sing a souls, tomorrow mi really feel like mi wi jus kill seventy folks pon a riddim, tomorrow is an entire gyal vibe, di odda day is a weed vibe, even di identical day. Mi jus like fi be optimistic, nuh physique nuh fi know wah me a ahead wid…,” he had defined.
The St. Thomas native had additionally mentioned that the Entice Dancehall sub-genre was good for the music as: “children inna fi wi period nah go have an excellent time listening to dem mother and father set ah music…”
The 25-year-old had additionally argued that there was nothing inherently flawed with fusing music genres, or experimenting with ‘international’ sounds, as he had been doing.
“We haffi ah buil new sound and new music fi di folks dem, straight. so nutn nuh flawed if we combine Dancehall wid a Hip Hop beat, as a result of di largest platforms been ah tek weh fiwi fashion and use it how dem waah use it,” he had added.
Earlier this yr, Bounty Killer had said that artists who’ve by no means recorded any Dancehall or Reggae songs of their lives, ought to not be labelling themselves as “Dancehall artists”, however ought to model themselves as being of the style which they solely voice beneath, for instance, Entice.
The Warlord had argued that whereas foreigners embrace the nation’s genres, some Jamaicans have been depriving youngsters of the music of their forefathers as he was listening to extra Rap, Entice, Afrobeat and Drill than Reggae in Jamaican events.
“Di kind a music weh you do, you might be dat kind a artiste. Suh in case you are doing Entice you aren’t Dancehall artiste. You’re a Entice artiste – inna Dancehall…Entice is doing its factor and it’s making its mark. Si Skillibeng guh a England guh deal wid it depraved… Suh wi simply hope it maintain and proceed to develop and construct…,” Bounty had mentioned.
As for being the best of his contemporaries, whereas some a number of commenters expressed settlement, others, together with therockstvrlondon, who responded on The Face’s Instagram web page, weren’t in settlement.
“I disagree 😂 strongly he’s over hyped identical flows on every thing dry n infinite gun discuss gibberish,” he jeered, whereas rochella added: “I’d need to disagree so long as Poppy nonetheless round.. however he’s positively entitled to really feel that means given his success.”
Skilli’s supporters like karlkhani, in expressing settlement together with his ‘designation’ replied: “Esyde rule the earth 🔥🔥 info”, whereas notdanielle added: “A fi chu (true)”.
“He’s not mendacity,” was the declaration from maddeostlie.
