Jahvillani, Skillibeng’s New ‘Smooth’ Video Reminds Us That Looking Good Is A Big Part Of Feeling Good

This latest banger which features two of dancehall’s current heavy hitters is an ode to style.  Smooth is a comfortable contrast to the grimey lifestyle often portrayed by both Jahvillani and Skillibeng in the scope of their performance. Style has always been a large part of Jamaican culture, our people are stylish and fashionable, something we hold in common with all blacks and people of African descent.

The vibrant music video, released on December 4, sees Jahvillani and Skillibeng as fashion connoisseurs sampling and brandishing different outfits accessorized by some very big drip.

Taking a page from the book of Michael Jackson the original “Smooth Operator”, the duo brings light to the importance of looking good to feel good despite a global pandemic. As sharp as these artists look in this cinematic video; they call to mind the La Sape subculture in the heart of the congo. La Sape which is short for the french term Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes. This roughly translates to Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People. La Sape has spread to many parts of the African continent and is even featured in the 2018 music video All the Stars by Kendrick Lamar, which speaks to how viral and catching the idea of a style is within the black community. 

Even with the context of the song itself, Jahvillani and Skillibeng refer to the style as a force or power which they use to accomplish things. Black America’s pimp culture is similar in its singular dedication to style.

This powerful link-up between the eastsyde and wileside boss comes as no surprise, with the recent Rytikal X Jahvillani single, Murdah, that generated a great deal of buzz. Yet, Smooth stands out as a single because Skillibeng and Jahvillani turned their creative eyes to the more glamorous trappings of the lifestyle. The track itself screams luxury, decadence, or a general good time and the video matches the vision of opulence evident within the lyrics. These are the lesser expounded or celebrated perks that come along with the lifestyle of these young stars and the style they wield so effortlessly in all their pursuits.

Watch Smooth below.