Dancehall Artiste Skillibeng Signs To Sony/ATV Music Publishing UK
Dancehall artiste Skillibeng has made a mammoth ‘upmove’ after becoming the latest Jamaican artiste to be signed to a worldwide publishing agreement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing UK.
He joins recording artiste and producer Tessellated, who signed a similar deal in January this year.
In a press release issued on December 10, Sony/ATV UK noted that the Brik pon Brik artiste “has established himself as one of Jamaica’s fastest rising stars.
Sony also described the 23-year-old St. Thomas native as having “quickly become one of the hottest dancehall acts to emerge from Jamaica in recent years”.
“He is an incredible artist whose unique flows, delivery and wordplay have enabled him to become the leader of the next generation of dancehall. We are delighted to welcome him to Sony/ATV, and we look forward to elevating his career on a global scale,” the release said.
On its Instagram page yesterday, Sony also posted a welcome message to the Eastsyde artiste.
“NEW SIGNING ALERT. We are so excited to welcome the incredible Skillibeng to the Sony ATV family! Can’t wait to see what’s next and start working with you!” the company noted.
Regarded as the world’s leading global music publisher, Sony/ATV has a diverse catalogue of classic songs written by the likes of icons such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson and The Rolling Stones, as well as contemporary stars such as Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams, Drake, Lady Gaga, Kanye West, P!nk, and Ed Sheeran.
Sony/ATV Music was formed in 1995 following the merging of Sony Music Publishing and ATV Music, which was owned by late pop icon, Michael Jackson. The megastar had purchased ATV Music, which included the Lennon-McCartney song catalogue, in 1985.
Skillibeng, whose real name is Emwah Warmington, said he was extremely elated about the new partnership with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
“It’s a great feeling to know I’m signed by one of the biggest names in the publishing industry – I appreciate being a part of the team and I’m excited to be working with them,” he said.
The artiste, who emerged in 2019 with the hit song Brik Pan Brik, has continued his musical prowess since then with popular songs such as Crocodile Teeth, 50 Bag, and Mr. Universe which was also interpolated into a dub-plate for Prime Minister Andrew Holness, during the recent Jamaican general election campaign.
He has been working on several new projects including a collaboration with Popcaan for his latest release on Drake’s OVO label, and is also set to release his next mixtape dubbed Prodigy 2 on December 23.
The artiste, who is a Morant Bay high school old boy, grew up in the community of Lyssons in Retreat, St Thomas, and was part of a dance group at his school, where he also got the nickname Skillibeng.
He sat CSEC exams in 2014 at the school where he passed a total of nine subjects including core subjects Mathematics and English and others spanning the arts, science and business, namely English Literature, Office Administration, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Information Technology, Human and Social Biology and Agricultural Science.
In September he told The Star tabloid that, even though his academic accomplishments, made him able to choose to enter any career field, he was naturally drawn to entertainment.
“Everyone can create a song, a style, a certain flow and pattern. But at the end of the day, a di man who do all a dat the best a go stand out. Music is an art form,” Skilli had explained.
“It’s more than just flowing on a beat, it’s about putting your words together, crafting them in a unique way weh a go make people medz things different. And only education can gi yuh da edge deh innu,” he had added.