In a period marked by a noticeable dip in new reggae and dancehall releases and a media landscape saturated with Vybz Kartel mania, fast-rising dancehall artiste Blaize Shell Shell is making waves on his own terms. Hailing from Grants Pen, Blaize is pushing against the tide with three new singles—”Too Late,” “Nah Get Nuh Bligh,“ and “Artiste Who“—all of which are gaining significant traction despite the challenges facing the industry.
A recent report published by Prism Marketing Consultants highlights a striking downturn in the volume of new releases. A European distributor noted a 41% drop in Jamaican genre submissions in August, while U.S.-based distributors reported less severe declines of 26% and 15%. Amid this musical drought, Blaize sees a silver lining.
“Mi see some reports on the internet about a decline in new music releases, nuff people a talk seh a Kartel cause it,“ Blaize remarked. “While yuh have to be strategic as an artiste because yuh don’t want your work to get overlooked because of hype and controversy around someone or something, for me! I am mindful with my moves.”
Blaize’s strategy appears to be paying off. His three singles, released just days ago, have all racked up between 100,000 to 300,000 views each on YouTube, underscoring the artiste’s growing influence. “I dropped three songs wid music videos a few days ago and have been promoting dem aggressively online and inna di streets, and di numbers are there to show,“ Blaize noted. He attributes this success to his relentless promotion and keen awareness of the industry’s current state. “The reason I did this is because I notice like the whole industry just cold up since Kartel drop a road.”
While the dancehall scene is undeniably competitive, Blaize is proving his resilience and determination to carve out his own space. “Dancehall is a very competitive game, and di only way to know if yuh built for dis is to step out bold even when people trying to discourage yuh,“ he emphasized. Despite acknowledging the influence of Vybz Kartel, Blaize remains focused on his own trajectory. “Right now di ting up and while I can say big up Kartel because mi glad him deh a road, I have to focus on myself and my career, so a dat mi a do!“ he concluded.
With more projects on the horizon, Blaize Shell Shell is not only thriving amid a musical drought but is also positioning himself as a formidable force in the dancehall arena. As he gears up for another major release later this year, the artiste remains tight-lipped on details but promises much more in store.
