Shatta Wale Led ‘Tropical Cruises To Jamaica’ Album Sees Billboard Compilation Success
The Shatta Wale-led Tropical Cruises to Jamaica: Reggae Collector’s Edition continues to trend upward with the album achieving another major milestone after placing on the Billboard Compilation chart, the only Reggae compilation album to achieve this level of success in recent times.
Up to Tuesday (August 18), the album stood at the No. 16 position on Billboard’s Compilation Chart. The Compilation chart is another new addition to the album’s achievements so far including that of the Ghanaian artiste being dubbed the Dancehall King of Africa.
According to the album’s producer Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards, this is important for the album because it not only continues to sit on the Billboard and Itunes Reggae album charts which is the furthest a reggae work may go, but it is now entering spaces that reggae albums find hard to stream in.
Contractor says this means that the album is now competing not only for reggae streaming spots but rather it’s going up against the bestselling in the global music world.
The Compilation Chart which sees Now 75 by various artistes in the No. 1 spot consists of mainly pop, R&B, and rap music compilations.
In an invited comment, Wale, whose song on the album is called Dream, told DancehallMag that being an artiste from Africa and seeing the success of the album is one of the greatest feelings he has experienced especially since he headlines an album which consists mainly Jamaican reggae and dancehall artistes. Dream is an inspirational anthem that craves for success while putting God first.
He says this album is a stepping stone to his goals -“this is an opportunity for me to work hard on this so I can climb the ladders I want to climb because I believe that being on an album like this is one of the greatest gift anyone can get through a talent like this (ability to sing).
He says he will continue to work hard and thanked his fans in the Caribbean. “I know most of you have heard my music but hasn’t seen my face but I’m proud to be on the tropical cruises album.”
Meanwhile, the album moved up to the No.3 spot on the Itunes Reggae Albums charts for Ghana also on Tuesday and since being released 10 weeks ago, has been in the top 10 Itunes reggae charts.
Wale says the song Dream is a true reflection of his aspiration to see everyone who is African grow up to see their dreams come alive. “I have a big dream and that dream is to see every African child grow up to see his dreams come alive, his dreams come to reality. Most people don’t really believe in dreams but I see dreams as when you have a focus, a direction, you know who you are and you know where you want to go in life, you don’t want to join any bad company …force yourself to fall into any trap that would stop your life from getting [to] your dream.”
He added that he hopes the song motivates every ghetto youth from every corner in the world “that when you believe you achieve. It is a motivational song, meditate on it,” he urged.
Wale has been enjoying chart success in recent weeks, as his work pays off with his collaboration Already with Beyonce on her Black is King visual album. The artiste hints that his biggest dream to date is to collaborate with his favorite icon- Vybz Kartel. His plans to travel to Jamaica have been stalled by the global Coronavirus pandemic but technology can still make the project a reality.