Inspired by stalwarts of dancehall and its clash culture, up-and-coming artiste Yardy Cashflow developed a strong interest in the genre as a child.

He told OBSERVER ONLINE that it was the legendary feud between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer that first drew his attention.

“Honestly a di Beenie man and Bounty Killer war mek me start love dancehall when me younger. Then from there me learn about the rest of artistes like Ninja man, Merciless dem and after that me realise me can’t do anything without music,” the artiste said.

“Me and my friend dem used to beat on desk and sing over the artiste dem song, and who rate Bounty, and who rate Beenie would clash just like them. From there so now we start learn from Kartel and Mavado and a just straight dancehall from the younger time until now,” Yardy Cashflow stated.

The 36-year-old Seaview Gardens native migrated to the United States in his teens and carried his love for dancehall with him. This transition along with hip-hop influences from Tupac and Notorious BIG, who were known for their beef in the 90s, helped to create a dancehall/hip-hop and rap fusion that was fitting for Yardy Cashflow.

The artiste, given name Ricardo Johnson, said that the first time he released any music was around age 20, and he actually wrote and recorded six songs at the time.

“Me go downtown Springfield, Massachusetts because there is a big studio set up down there and I recorded my first three tracks that I had written myself. And there was this other studio that was close to the house and I went there and recorded the next three tracks,” Yardy Cashflow explained.

“When me have them together now on two CDs, there was this college radio station that was always playing some good reggae music. They also had songs from local artistes and when them sound good they would have up those songs for weeks,” he continued.

Yardy Cashflow went on to explain that he found the college radio station and introduced himself to the operators. He gave his CDs to one of the station’s djs who after listening to the songs stated that he loved them, but one song stood out.

“So him say him ago play dah one here, one name ‘Yardy’ and it was on the radio for weeks and weeks and weeks. Me did even come Jamaica during that time and spend a month and when me come back up the song did still a play on the radio. So from that feedback and push, me say me ago take music serious and me just start write more music from then,” Yardy Cashflow told OBSERVER ONLINE.

When asked why he decided to do a fusion of dancehall and hip-hop/rap, the up-and-coming artiste said that he did not want to be boxed into one genre when he has been exposed to both.

“My music is definitely fusion because when I started doing music I didn’t want to leave out one side of the craft. I didn’t want to put myself inside of a box and just say me a dancehall artiste or because I am in America I am only going to rap. I am around a lot of artiste both rappers and Jamaican artistes, and from I was starting out, I made the decision to include fuse dancehall and rap,” he said.

Yardy Cashflow recalled that when he first started releasing his fusion music, friends in Jamaica told him that people would not be interested in his music, but through evolution, that same type of music is prevalent in the dancehall arena today, dubbed ‘Trap Dancehall.

“And when I started releasing my music back then nobody was used to it. My friend dem in Jamaica used to say ‘nobody nah go play this enuh Cash’ because them a say a hard core dancehall the thing deh and I was using a rap riddim and deejaying over it. But over the years things evolve and now there is a trap dancehall so obviously something happen,” Yardy Cashflow explained.

He told OBSERVER ONLINE that so far his music has been well received in circles in the US but his hope is to break into the Jamaican market and make it big here. He also hopes that his music will transcend generations.

“I am trying to build something that crosses generations. A generation from now fi still can listen to my music and it will still have an impact and be meaningful like it is now. Me just a look at my future and want my thing to be at a level, so me nah rush it and me a try work on my craft and ensure me own it the real way; own all of my rights and my masters. So now I feel like I put in the work and now me just want the people enjoy it,” Yardy Cashflow said.

He stated that his most recent release, ‘Boogie’ is doing well and can be found on YouTube along with his other music. His catalogue can also be found on all streaming platforms.