Spice’s ‘Go Down Deh’ On NPR’s ‘100 Best Songs Of 2021’

The Grammy-nominated Queen of Dancehall Spice makes another substantial move in the North American music industry, nabbing a spot in the upper half of NPR’s 100 Best Songs of 2021 list. The Jamaican deejay logs an appearance at No. 48 with Go Down Deh, the popular bass-driven, Shaggy and Sean Paul-assisted lead single from her debut album 10.

NPR writer Otis Hart coins Go Down Deh “the dancehall track of the year,” adding that the Spice has “generated deserved buzz earlier this year for releasing the first official album of her 18-year career.” Hart further expanded that “Go Down Deh sits among, if not on top, her greatest hits,” explaining that “the X-rated single remains her…sweet spot.”

The author also noted the significance of seasoned acts, such as Spice, Shaggy and Sean Paul, routinely occupying space among youth-centric music consumers.

Go Down Deh, produced by Romanian Constantin “Costi” Ioniță, has racked up over 35 million views on YouTube and 16 million streams on Spotify since its release on May 1.

“This song has opened so many doors for me and I’m super grateful to know that I have two legends on this collaboration with me,” Spice told DancehallMag in August. “I’ve been hashtagging #TeamJamaica and #TeamDancehall because we came together in unison to represent Jamaica and Dancehall culture, So big up Sean Paul and big up to Shaggy.”

According to 10 executive producer Shaggy, the song marks the beginning of “endless possibilities” for Spice. Last month, the two-time Grammy-winning veteran told TVJ’s Entertainment Report that he believes “it really just boils down to you keeping yourself relevant, by creating good music…that is relatable to people.”

Shaggy, at the time, revealed that Spice has now serviced her contractual agreement with VP Records and is now free to seek a new musical home. The sometimes-actor also hinted that “we [Ranch Entertainment] have her for the next move.”

“We cultivated an album (10) that would not only please Spice’s fans but set them up to grow with her to move to another level,” Shaggy recently told CVM’s Onstage, adding that “‘Go Down Deh’ resonates with her core fans but also opens the door to actually receiving new fans.”

Shaggy regaled that Go Down Deh indeed made a cultural impact in the mainstream US and has since gained traction elsewhere, doing well in European countries, specifically Russia and Italy, and across the continental South America.

The Dancehall artist-turned-reality TV star continues to purposefully move the needle across the mainstream US entertainment markets. With the recently nominated project, Spice becomes the first hardcore female Dancehall act to be nominated for the coveted Reggae Grammy award.

Honorably mentioned among the NPR list is Capella Grey, a Bronx-born rapper of Jamaican heritage, who notched a spot at No. 58, with his wildly popular Dancehall-influenced Gyalis single.

NPR (National Public Radio) is a powerhouse not-for-profit, publicly- and privately-funded syndicator of some 1000 stations spread out across the United States.  Their 100 Best Songs Of 2021 playlist is available on five streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal.