IWaata has had enough of fair-weather friends. On ‘Cold’, the dancehall star takes aim at the people he says let him down, from old mates he once fed and clothed to producers he believes put their money behind their friends while his tracks sat on the sidelines.
“All of we get left in the cold at some point in our life and we have to figure it out by ourselves,” said the artiste, whose real name is Jason Bailey.
Produced by Redboom Supamix Productions, ‘Cold’ landed on 12 October, with the video following on 30 October. By early November, the two uploads had clocked more than 267,000 combined YouTube views, with the video alone topping 177,000 in its first week. The single also picked up more than 10,700 Audiomack plays and a ‘Blazing Track’ spot on the Hapilos Digital Charts.
For IWaata, who broke through in 2019, the single doubles as a reckoning with the business. He says some producers he recorded for gave his songs less attention while backing people in their own circles.
“I always try to be Iwaata,” he said. “Maybe that’s why me no reach further than where mi fi reach.”
IWaata and fellow dancehall artiste Intence parted ways with Andrew ‘Boysie’ Campbell’s Boysie Records in the summer of 2020. The label claimed they had broken a five-year contract before three years had elapsed. In March 2026, IWaata signed with Reynolds Entertainment Agency, which took over his career management as he looks to build his profile in Jamaica and abroad.
Some of the grievances behind ‘Cold’ go back further. IWaata says people he grew up with tried to damage his reputation, even after he had helped support them. He keeps some of those stories to himself. When he explains why he cut ties, he turns to Psalm 27.
“You dun know, you have people who alter your soul with all kinds of demon things so you have to cut and clear dem tings de with Psalm 27,” he said.
Fatherhood has changed what he brings to the studio. His son is six, and IWaata says raising him has changed how he sees himself and sharpened his sense of who he can rely on.
“The songs sound different,” he said. “Mi image, everything change.”
Seven years after his breakthrough, IWaata is grateful to still be making dancehall. He also reckons he should be further along by now.
“In 2027, we have to kick off the door fully.”
