Raheem Sterling Gives Jahshii’s Music His Stamp Of Approval
Manchester City and England footballer Raheem Sterling has given fast-rising deejay, Jahshii, his stamp of approval, and says the Born Fighter artist has a big space on his playlist.
Sterling, who was on Tuesday designated Jamaica’s new tourism ambassador in Europe, was speaking with Television Jamaica’s Anthony Miller at the Trench Town playfield where he participated in an exhibition match as part of the festivities for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
“Right now, what’s on your playlist? Who you listening to? I know you like Jamaican Dancehall music,” Miller had asked during the interview which was aired on The Entertainment Report on Friday night.
“Right now to be fair, Jahshii. I like his music. I think the message that he’s pushing across in terms of the positivity, the struggle that he’s been through and he’s right. And that’s my sort of music – cultural music,” Sterling replied.
The 27-year-old who was born in Kingston and spent his formative years in Marverly, will be the global face of destination Jamaica through various engagements and public-relations opportunities to mark Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of Independence.
In the meantime, Jahshii is basking in the success of his recent show in Georgetown, Guyana, where he performed for the first time ever, to throngs of doting fans, and toured the streets of the capital.
The 21-year-old is also still celebrating his stellar performance on the Onstage show with Winford Williams two Saturdays ago, where he was hailed by hardcore Dancehall and Reggae fans as the genres’ next prince.
He posted a video clip on Instagram, of his performance of Born Fighter during the show, where he had performed with a live band, for which he received commendations from some of his musical compatriots, among them Dre Island who wrote: “Keep on Rehearsing bro!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🏆🏆🏆”.
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There were also calls from fans for Jahshii to be booked for Jamaica’s two biggest Reggae Festivals, Reggae Sumfest and Rebel Salute.
Kemar Highcon also joined the comments.
“Nuff A Dem cyahhhhh do this 🔥🔥🔥Normal 🔥,” he wrote.
In the days ahead, Jahshii’s reputation will continue to be built as the music video for Headline Fi Front Page, his collaboration with 2015 Best Reggae Album Grammy Award winners Morgan Heritage titled , is set to premiere this Tuesday on BET. The song which also features Rytikal and I-Octane, was produced by Johnny Wonder.
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The collab was announced in December last year, days after Television Jamaica aired an interview in which Jahshii had made explosive comments about the crime and corruption in Jamaica, and pointed out to veteran journalist Anthony Miller that, among other things, many overseas-based Jamaican musicians were “afraid” of collaborating with their younger, less-known musical compatriots.
That interview gained the Grants Pen native a lot of admirers as well as a lot of critics who accused him of being too brash, as well as unprofessional, as he had turned up for the interview in a state of inebriation.
The collab with Morgan Heritage though has been seen as a huge accomplishment for Jahshii, as the Down By the River band, has the distinction of gaining the prestigious Grammy Award over successful albums such as The Cure by Jah Cure, Luciano’s Zion Awake, and Barrington Levy’s Acousticalevy in 2016, with their album Strictly Roots.
Jahshii, whose given name is Mluleki Tafari Clarke, is signed to Herah Music Productions (HMP). Among his songs are Keep Up, Cream Of The Crop with Navaz and 25/8.
The Excelsior High School old boy, made his foray into music at age four, debuting with the song Me Name Jahshii, in 2004 which he recorded for producer Diavallan Fearon’s Builders Music label.
In 2016, while still in high school, he entered Popcaan’s popular Unruly Clash competition, where he was the first runner-up to Rum and Boom artist Quada in the final.