Wayne J Is In No Rush At Age 18

Reggae and Dancehall singer Wayne J is one of those artists that have been giving us great content to listen to since he was a child.  Born Wayne Anthony Smith, the now 18-year-old Jamaican popped onto the scene with a song about the Chikungunya epidemic in 2014. The social commentary caught Dancehall on fire back then and the young singer is poised to create an impact like the greats before him.

DancehallMag got in touch with Wayne to summarize his journey from the Chikungunya (One Panadol) song to his emergence with the Young Boss Remix.

How would describe yourself, Wayne J?

Always full a lyrics and flow, my metaphors and similies always up along with my delivery. When mi deh pon di stage a different ting to, from mi a likkle bwoy till now.

What got you into music?

From mi born mi fada a do music. Everybody round mi did know I woulda be an artiste. Mi fada a mi biggest inspiration. Because as you know as children we live what we learn. Mi just born a dweet.

Do you remember the first time you recorded?

The first time I recorded I was six years old. A long time mi a dweet man more than ten years.

Which established acts would you say inspired you?

From mi young mi a listen to Vybz Kartel, Sizzla Kalonji and the greats, mi really study dem man deh performance. Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Capleton etc. An man like papa san wicked … a di Vybz Kartel a dem time deh.

What would you like to add to what those greats have already done?

Firstly I would give thanks to get to their level because those persons have done it all musically. If possible I would also like to take it further. I would do a few movies because man a movie star as well. As the younger entertainers, we just have to have the mind-set to build on what was left for us.

You just turned 18. What school did you attend?

I attended The Hydell High School.

How did being in school help build your fanbase?

Attending school helped to build my fan base in more ways than one. Apart from gaining fans from the schools I attended, I also did school tours. I did a Hype TV school tour, RJR school tour and also my own Wayne J plastic bottle school tour. A lot of my fans came through those school performances.

Do you think being 18 and in the spotlight qualifies you as an ambassador for the youth?

Funny enough I have already been a Youth Ambassador that has represented Jamaica internationally. I represented Jamaica as the youngest delegate, a 14-year-old at the United Nations COP 23 Climate Change Conference which was held in Bonn, Germany in 2017. So I guess I have always been an ambassador for the youth. Other than that a di Wickedest ting mi nuh know, the utes always gravitate to my ting. Maybe seeing that I was their age added to that however they have always supported me and still do.

How did the New Millennium EP with Blvk H3ro come about?

Long-time mi know Blvk H3ro enuh, mi producer Dennis The Greatest Hamilton set da link deh. Still we never really put out nuh music together. Till wi she we a guh do a ting ( Put out music). We wrote the whole project together in a writing camp style and the rest is history.

Who were the producers behind the project?

We had a talented production team that includes the likes of “Dennis The Greatest Hamilton”, BHM, Bad Art Muzic and Delicious Vinyl dealt with all our distribution. A teamwork mek the dream work!

What was the impact of Young Boss on your career?

First and foremost the people saw the growth in Wayne J. The fans saw me first as a child of 9 years however I kinda grew up outta dem sight after that. That gave me the time to grow as an artiste outside of the public. Therefore when I came back with Young Boss they didn’t readily recognize me as “ the kid” I was Wayne J the artist. Young Boss helped me to transition from child star Wayne J to a full blown Dancehall star.

How was the experience working with Skillibeng?

A wi general man, a one eastsyde. He is a cool individual and we have to give thanks for his contribution to the Young Boss song and the New Millennium EP at large, u zii?

What is your favourite song from The New Millennium EP?

Mi woulda seh mi love all a dem but Young Boss a my song. Mi love di Top Team energy still enuh. However the fact she Young Boss a di big song right now mi affi seh it a mi favourite. It also have the “three di hard way” energy like dancehall classics of old suh it a rock the fans dem right now. Young Boss a world tune.. when wi did a bill young boss it strike di right balance. Wholesome dancehall music, Young Boss a mi favourite fi real!

We recently did an article about Skillibeng’s Top collaborations and the Young Boss remix was placed at No. 1. How do you feel about that?

Yuh know a whole heap a people tell wi seh is one a Skilli’s best collabs however wi just give thanks for the collaboration cause wi know di gad ( Skillibeng) have a lot of great collaborations out right now. Wi also haffi give thanks fi di #1 placing, is a joy.

I can see from your Instagram and music video comments that Wayne J has a healthy female fan base. Can we expect some songs directed to the ladies soon?

Yeah man! WE haffi do some songs fi di ladies because as yuh she dem support Wayne J to the fullest. If only mi coulda mek yuh hear wah wi have lined up for them. In due time though, wi nah rush the process, mi have some great things for the girls, a just fi put them out!

What else next for Wayne J?

We have a single fi put out with Johnny Wonder called Hard Work with a lot more to follow. I also have a project in waiting called The Renaissance which the people can look out for. We are just organizing to make sure that the work is released properly with the right energy behind it.

If you could give the Youth of Jamaica or even the world at large a message what would it be?

I would tell them that everything begins from the mind. Anything you want, you can achieve it. It all comes with hard work and a vision. Never let anyone tell you what you can achieve.

If a man aguh build a car, him affi guh inna him mind an imagine it first, set the goal and then go about building his dream. Yeah man It all begins in the mind.