TeeJay Encourages Jamaican Artists To Promote Their Music Internationally
Jamaican artist TeeJay is urging fellow Dancehall artists to promote their music internationally.
In an Instagram video on Saturday, the Drift singer said he has noticed a pattern where some entertainers ease up on the pedal when marketing their music outside of Jamaica.
“Hear wah mi ah seh to mi G dem inna Dancehall, zeen? Promote unuh song dem, mi fada dem…nuh listen to nobody at all,” Teejay began in his charge.
“Mi know wi ah Jamaican an’ more while wi drop ah song two months, three months wi feel like it old—wi ah listen to people ah seh ‘rae rae rae’… yuh might need ah next one inna Jamaica fi keep up di momentum same way, but mi bro, yuh haffi memba seh a billions ah people live out there inna di worl’ bro suh if three million people or six million people hear yuh voice bro, come on bro—yuh ‘ave billions ah people fi know dis ting bro.”
He further emphasized the global appeal of Jamaican culture: “Remember wi culture big Jamaica; people out there love it… people just love wi culture, naturally, suh people aguh support wi. Suh all mi ah seh to unuh my bro dem, tek time fi just promote di ting dem an’ just place dem inna di right place dem. A good producer once told me that a good song tek five years to reach where it supposed to reach. Check out Omi and di whole ah dem ting deh.”
The 28-year-old speaks from a position of success and experience, having scored one of the biggest hits of the summer with Drift. Through that track, he secured publishing and record deals with Warner Music Group and Warner Records, as well as FLOW Summa Campaign Brand Ambassador.
Following his own advice, he released a new visualizer for the song on September 20, even though the track already had an official music video with over 11 million views, since its release at the start of summer. The new video highlights Jamaica’s underground Drift car competitions and bike culture.
Teejay explained, in a press release, that he stepped out of his comfort zone to pen the track. “You know, it’s pretty simple to explain. It’s not that lyrical because I realized people only want a melody and something to dance to nowadays. I got the beat from Panda the Producer and wrote it in less than an hour.”
The viral song was produced by Panda, DJ Mac, and Topbraff Music.
TeeJay’s call to action over the weekend resonated with many, particularly on social media, where the conversation about the business of music is often overshadowed by the music itself.
“Marketing is the best thing to invest in, but they rather invest in badness,” one Instagram user said.
“Facts but the artist them need to understand they are products and should be marketed as such. However, the product want to be producer, mixer, marketer, beat maker etc,” another added.
TeeJay, whose real name is Timoy Janeyo Jones, is slated to drop his debut EP I Am Chippy, later this year. It will be executive-produced by Shaggy and released via Warner Records.
“Chippy” was his childhood nickname, a call back to his upbringing in the St. James garrison of Montego Bay, Jamaica.