Shenseea has declared herself the new Queen of Dancehall, openly embracing the title during a Miami radio Q&A session while pointing to her statistics and commercial achievements as justification. Speaking with 103.5 The Beat during the US launch of her EP Catalyst, the Jamaican star expressed respect for Spice and the female artistes who paved the way but maintained that her current accomplishments support her claim to the throne. Her declaration comes days after Catalyst peaked at No. 1 on the US iTunes Reggae Albums chart, secured additional No. 1 positions in Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, and registered on Apple Music charts in 12 African markets.
During the interview, Shenseea was asked whether she considered herself the new Queen of Dancehall. An audience member suggested that the title was not necessarily permanent, acknowledging Spice’s achievements while arguing that Shenseea represented what the genre needed at the time. The audience member also referenced Shenseea’s “Shenyeng Anthem” as a defining moment in her career. In response, the singer made it clear that her position was not intended to diminish Spice’s legacy. “I respect Spice a lot, I mean I respect all the people who were before me in the business,” she said. However, she added that she agreed with the title based on her current statistics and what she was accomplishing in the industry. Her response prompted an enthusiastic reaction from the audience.
Shenseea’s confidence comes amid a notable international showing for Catalyst. The eight-track EP, released on November 6, secured three No. 1 positions across the US and Caribbean, while appearing on Apple Music charts in 12 African markets. Its African placements included No. 9 in Seychelles, No. 23 in Sierra Leone, No. 34 in Malawi, No. 61 in Uganda, and No. 63 in both Kenya and Nigeria. The project also features Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake, Dancehall veteran Vybz Kartel and Florida rapper Loe Shimmy, bringing together different musical markets. Its early performance adds to Shenseea’s growing international profile and provides measurable context for the commercial success she referenced during the interview.
The Queen of Dancehall debate has long been a subject of discussion among fans, particularly when comparing the achievements and influence of established stars with the new generation. Spice remains a major figure in female Dancehall, while Shenseea has built an international career through collaborations, chart performances and projects including her Grammy-nominated 2024 album Never Gets Late Here. Her latest comments are likely to intensify the conversation, but Shenseea has made her position clear: she respects those who came before her, yet believes her present-day achievements justify the crown.
