SKENG projected to torch the summer
Several music industry professionals, including music consultant JR Watkis, believe that dancehall deejay Skeng is heating up for another summer season.
Watkis, the principal at World Music Views, thinks that the artiste is just making sure he owns the era. “I think with every good artiste, lyricist or performer each has an era. Chronixx had an era, Buju Banton had an era, all of which was done by dropping hits. Skeng has been doing that since he commanded attention last year, in the summer,” JR Watkis told THE STAR. “Going into this year’s summer, he is already making waves, leading with one of the most notable dancehall tracks.” Skeng’s single Protocol, which was released in 2021, has been garnering streams across digital platforms including YouTube, where it has accumulated more than 11.2 million streams while the music video has 25 million views in its 27 weeks on the chart. On World Music Views, the song, which features Tommy Lee Sparta, peaked at the number one position.
Watkis said: “As we see YouTube streaming becomes more interactive, we will see other artistes breaking the record. Protocol has surpassed any other song streamed in Jamaica … for us, it is the highest streaming song. Before that it was Koffee’s Lockdown, and she is with a label and doing great things overseas, and Tarrus Riley and Shenseea with Lighter.”
World Music Views highlights, curates and showcases streams for Jamaica’s music as well as the wider Caribbean and the world. Currently, trap-dancehall is dominating the current era, having a “more saturated” place in the market, and not only locally. It is a trend the industry can expect to see more of, according to Watkis.
Several artistes have hailed Skeng as the next big thing including international R&B and rap diva Nicki Minaj and seasoned dancehall act Govana, who said he reminded him of his old self when he went by the name Deablo.
“Right now Skeng is definitely one to watch on the local scene. He has been maintaining a steady pace and keeping the attention as he followed that with Talibhan featuring Stalk Ashley and then London,” Watkis shared. “I can’t tell Skeng or our other artistes what to write about and perform but in order to find credibility within an era, he has to keep his tracks and streaming numbers consistent.”