RECORDING artiste I-Shenko is calling for more unity in the industry to promote growth.

“I would like to see more unity in our music industry — setting aside our egos as artistes, selectors, producers, promoters, et cetera to rebuild our influence on the world at large as it once was when I was growing up as a youth. I would like to see disc jockeys, selectors and gatekeepers of the industry start promoting more positive and empowering music.

“There are so many talented artistes out there that are not being heard because of the politics that surround our industry and, in my opinion, this is what is slowing our growth globally because most of the music that is being pushed out of country these days lack substance,” the singer, whose real name is John McKenzie, told the Jamaica Observer.

The Spanish Town, St Catherine native, who now resides in the United States released his debut album, King Life on January 27. The 13-track set is a joint production by Drettbeats and Rebel Kolony Entertainment.

“The name King Life really represents most of the tracks on the album and is also the title of one of the singles off the album. King Life represents the journey you have been through in life — from your struggles to your achievements — and a reminder that no matter what hardships you go through, every man is a king and every woman is a queen. It’s up to us to motivate ourselves/each other and push accordingly,” the artiste explained about the project.

With a fusion of hip hop, Afrobeat, reggae and dancehall in tow, the artiste showcases his diverse musical chops, with collaborations from fellow reggae artistes including Turbulence, Booba Starr, Dwayno, Righteous Rush, Goldy Badlion and Jizzani I.S.M., as well as rappers Five Steez and International Hak.

With the release of this album, I-Shenko is looking forward to continued growth on his journey.

“Being an artiste from Jamaica who loves and appreciates my culture, I have fused my sounds with different genres with the hopes of reaching potential fans globally while also sharing my culture and experiences with them. I hope my music can reach fans worldwide to uplift and motivate them in whatever way possible,” the artiste added.