The Silk Sonic Effect: 5 Dream Dancehall Collabs
Silk Sonic – the incredible R&B fusion of singers/songwriters, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak – is arguably one of the most brilliant strokes of musical serendipity we stumbled upon in 2021. Not only did their collaboration blindside the global musical community, but the duo of individually successful artists has, since the release of their first project together – Leave The Door Open , consistently topped the musical charts.
More recently, with the release of Smoking Out The Window , Silk Sonic dropped yet another chart-topper, proving that magic can be found in the most unexpected places. And that’s got us thinking: What if there was a Dancehall/Reggae Silk Sonic? Which two Dancehall/Reggae artists, currently doing well or has done well for themselves, could combine to not only blindside everyone in the industry, but reap wild success while they’re at it?
Dynamic duos of Dancehall/Reggae, akin to Silk Sonic, are nothing new to the genres. In fact, if you’re old enough – or have a well-developed palette for music for all ages, you’ll recall that in times past, there have been iconic collaborations between powerhouses in the Dancehall/Reggae fraternity – from Chaka Demus and Pliers to Buju Banton and Beres Hammond, and even Buju Banton and Wayne Wonder. The blueprint is there and has been for a while.
However, with Silk Sonic’s album (‘An Evening with Silk Sonic’) debuting at Number 2 on the Billboard 200 Chart, perhaps the time is ripe for the modern revival of the Dancehall Dynamic Duo. Here, we’ll explore five pairings that could yield that desired shock, awe and serendipitous success the genre doesn’t know it’s missing.
(No one in these pairings needs the other person.)
5. Skillibeng and Alkaline
Unlikely as it may be, if Emwah Warmington (Skillibeng) and Earlan Bartley (Alkaline) – given their respectively unique talents – became a duo, even for the short term, Dancehall fans would lose their collective minds. Not only does this duo bridge the divide between two passionately opposed fan bases, but it would sufficiently shock Dancehall lovers and followers the world over. Shock aside, musically, this duo would undeniably obliterate their individual ceilings, and redefine the limits of what happens when two internationally appealing Dancehall artists methodically and intentionally fuse their unique styles of delivery.
Though it all exists in theory (for now), imagine Skillibeng’s Trap Dancehall delivery seamlessly merging with Alkaline’s on, say, ‘Formula’ or ‘After All’. It may not be a bad idea for them to, even temporarily, put away their beef and get to baking up some classics for Dancehall fans all over the world.
4. Jada Kingdom and Dexta Daps
Let’s face it – if the super-talented Banana singer, Jada Kingdom and Mr. Bring It To Di Owner himself, Dexta Daps, were to collaborate in Silk Sonic-like fashion, they would easily have the potential to be singularly responsible for a Baby Boom in Jamaica, and maybe even in the Caribbean. Her undeniable talent aside, Jada Kingdom is a sex symbol and Dexta Daps, whose real name is Louis Anthony Grandison Jr., is easily Kingdom’s male equivalent in Dancehall. Chances are that a treasure trove of timeless, baby-making music could be sleeping between them in their untapped potential as a duo. Jada is a proven lyricist and vocalist, and in a world where her seductive, often erotic vocals entwine with Dexta Daps’ usually dramatic, provocative and sensual sound, musical and visual magic are most certain to abound. Consider how steamy Dexta Daps’ ‘Bring It To Di Owner’ was. Now imagine Jada Kingdom on that song. Take it a step further – imagine Jada Kingdom in that video. Enough said.
3. Koffee and Agent Sasco
If you’re old enough to remember when Jeffery E. Campbell was Assassin, then you’ll have no qualms about this talent pairing of Agent Sasco and Jamaica’s very own Grammy kid, Koffee, whose real name is Mikayla Simpson. If you’re not old enough to remember Campbell’s Assassin days, however, then you’re likely more familiar with his reinvented persona – Agent Sasco. Firstly, any artist that manages to still hold sway in a rapidly evolving musical world following a major rebranding absolutely deserves his due – and that’s Agent Sasco. His consciously sound music, after pivoting from hardcore Dancehall, is testament to his versatility and barefacedness in a genre that often punishes reinvention and innovation. Combined with his lyrical proficiency, the Agent Sasco X Koffee is the collaboration we may just be missing at this point in time. Koffee is a superstar, and her versatility as a singer and a deejay – heck, even as a rapper, could prove to be the X factor that catapults this Silk Sonic-like combo over the top. Considering, as well, Agent Sasco’s years in the industry, it’s quite likely that his extensive knowledge and ear for good music (evidenced by the successes of his recent projects) would add a compelling touch of wisdom and experience to Koffee’s youthfulness and desire to explore. This collaboration may just be the pumpkin waiting to be transformed into the magical coach that carries the genre, even if only for a short while.
2. Beres Hammond and Shaggy
Listen – when we say this collaboration would yield instant classics, it’s hardly an exaggeration. Back in 2013 when Shaggy and Beres collaborated to release ‘Fight This Feeling’, the song oozed images of zinc fences, felt hats, vests, glittering dresses and sound systems. Not many artists alive, if any at all, can recreate that authentic, old school reggae feeling without sounding pretentious and archaic – and for the two legends, Shaggy and Beres, to effortlessly accomplish that, it represents just the tip of the iceberg of what an extensive collaboration between these two could do for Reggae and Dancehall music. The two highly decorated icons are royalty in a genre that’s searching for itself while the world is searching for it, and should Shaggy and Beres – like Silk Sonic for R&B, decide to do Reggae one last grand favour and bury themselves in the pursuit and realization of such a project, very Reggae imitator would be put to shame, and every Reggae lover would get a taste of musical heaven. This needs to happen. And fast.
1. Spice and Shenseea
Shenseea and Spice sit comfortably atop the Dancehall world, albeit on different sides of the throne, but if they were to collaborate – to become Dancehall’s International Dynamic Duo, their collective success would know no bounds, and would set impossible standards for those who would dare to follow them. The two women – who for unconfirmed reasons do not have a working relationship – represent the pinnacle of Dancehall success and given their much-publicized lack of a relationship, a collaboration out of the blue, much like Silk Sonic, would be ridiculously unfair. Spice is an unmatched performer and incredibly talented artist, and Shenseea is the embodiment of hard work, dedication and what it truly means to have your finger on the genre’s pulse. That’s why they both continue to excel and why they remain Dancehall’s arguably most marketable acts. Now, imagine both of these formidable forces teaming up for an extensive project – complete with all their unique creative ideals and sounds. Further, imagine what a modern-day Spice X Shenseea music video would look like.
Both artists have secured Grammy nominations this year, with Spice’s 10 being up for Best Reggae Album, and for Shenseea – by way of her work on Donda – being in the run for a share of the spoils in Album of The Year. Truly, there is more cheese to be had than beef to be made. The world awaits this dream of a collaboration between these absolute winners.
Which other Dancehall talents do you think could pull off being a successful duo? Let us know.