IT’S every aspiring dancehall artiste’s dream to be associated with the genre’s elders. Singjay 1Suga Dhon out of Portland is no different.

The 17-year-old has been recording songs for two years. Her biggest assignment to date is the song 40, which is on the Green Concrete Riddim recently released by Seltza Music Entertainment, a Florida-based company.

The compilation album features songs by dancehall heavyweights such as Sizzla, Norris Man, and Turbulence.

On 40 the Crown Entertainment-managed 1Suga Dhon sings about the importance of staying focused despite life’s challenges.

“A whole heap of people can relate to di song. Whole heap a people come to mi an’ sey: ‘Yow, da song yah really touching, da song yah really mek mi sit down an’ meds.’ So, di song can really do a lot an’ have a big impact,” she opined.

1Suga Dhon (real name:s Jelisa Coke), who attends Buff Bay High School, is strongly influenced by Chronic Law and Masicka, two of dancehall’s hottest acts.

“Dem man deh thing have feelings an’ meaning, a nuh jus’ always ’bout violence. There’s more to it than just violence,” she reasoned. “If mi sad, mi jus’ listen a Chronic Law an’ a one Masicka an’ mi good again.”

— Howard Campbell