OMG Digital Magazine OMG Issue 267 13th July 2017 COMPLETE | Page 42

OMG Digital Magazine | 267 | Thursday 13th July 2017 • PAGE 42
OVERSHADOWING
Even
Sizzla
and
Major
Lazer
Aba A. Luke
Portmore, Jamaicadefinitely has a way with music, doesn’t it? The latest hit creator
from the Jamaican garrison is an artiste who resides in the Baltimore DC area, but has
independently managed to make it to #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart. Theworld is
about to switch gears even further as dancehall music and its accompanying rhythmic
influences are securing chart tops like Billboard with ease it would seem; all this while
penetrating deep enough to influence top shelfinfluencers like DJ Khaled, Jay Z and
Drake. Since the album topped the charts, Xyclone’s been getting the calls he’s hoped for. “My
phone has been ringing off the hook and I’m grateful. I’m heading to Europe in August
on a semi-tour. I’ll be going to Leeds, Switzerland andBirmingham,” he mentioned,
adding that he’s also flying to Australia soon. Believe it or not, he’s the first independent
artiste, in eight years, to make it to the Billboard charts. Having conquered that feat, he’s
now making the right moves to ensure that he captures major global music markets,
including that of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean.
Xyclone is going after his. A recent spike in sales of his
sophomore album, ‘FromThe Basement to the Big Leagues’
has single handedly placed the owner ofRSQTHP Music
Group, ahead of big names like Major Lazer, Ziggy Marley,
Sizzla Kalonji and even Collie Budz. The album was released
last December and immediately debuted at #14 on the
charts. It stood at #12 in January and somefive months later
in May, with the remix of one of the singles on the album
- a track called, ‘How Yuh Bad Suh’, the album toppled
Major Lazer’s, ‘Know NoBetter’ EP, to the second spot
on the Billboard Reggae chart. The single, ‘How Yuh Bad Suh’ has a strong Soca flavor and this, Xyclone saysis what
he expects to hear more of from the top music creators worldwide asthe beats and
melodies of the Caribbean and Africa sell itself with ease. His journey has only just
begun and even having recorded with dancehall superstars like Beenie Man, Red Rat
and Spragga Benz in the past, this music maker is confidently pushing with one goal-
and that’s to make it to the top.
The young father of one is humbled but excited
all the same. He’s worked hardand continues to,
alongside a team that is headed by none other than
well-respected dancehall artist, Spragga Benz. “The
album’s doing very well. If Ican get it to #1 in the
US that would be great,” said Xyclone- this as he
pondered the recent course of the dancehall genre.
“A lot of the Hip Hop songs right now have a strong
dancehall vibe. It’s the sound that everyone’s using
right now, so I’d say dancehall is in a good place.”