Jubba gave up pursuing a degree in Quantity Surveying at the University of Technology for a career in music. Despite the struggles and moments of wanting to give up due to the lack of meaningful opportunities, Jubba decided to soldier on.

On Friday night at the Old Hospital Park in Montego Bay, Jubba was named the 2023 Magnum Top Performa. He won from an initial field of 16 competitors, which was whittled down to six, then four and then two. He went up against former Digicel Rising Stars alum Monifa Goss.

“I feel great. Mi just get mi first little sleep in about six weeks, but now the work start,” Jubba shared in an interview with Observer Online on Saturday afternoon in his community of Caymanas Gardens in Portmore.

He said the past six weeks have been hectic, with being out campaigning each day and night, trying to secure enough votes to advance in the competition.

Asked why he decided to enter Magnum Top Performa, Jubba said “I wanted to make connections in the music industry and also to showcase my talent. I saw a post on social media about the launch for Magnum Top Performa and I went to the launch and I even performed there and I was asked if I planned on entering and I said yes. So mi just send in mi entry.”

He said dropping out of university was the best thing for him at the time.

“The journey has been rough. Mi drop outta college fi dis. Mi never did a feel the whole university thing, but mi family did all a say why mi a tek a hobby a turn it into a career. Whole heap a work mi put een over the years,” said Jubba who is in his early twenties.

He said when his name was announced as the new Magnum Top Performa title holder, he had mixed emotions on stage.

“When mi see Jade (emcee) turn round and a look pon my side and say Jubba, mi feel like mi woulda jump off inna di crowd. All mi aunty she a call mi phone when dem a hand mi di big cheque, the way how she happy fi mi. Mi feel overwhelmed mi fadda, mi naw lie,” said Jubba.

Jubba said his pursuit in music was to carry on a legacy that his father Jubba Roses started.

“Mi father passed away in 2008 but him was an aspiring artiste. Now the legacy lives on. When him passed away, dem time deh mi did live a Bedward Gardens and him did live a Kintyre. Weh me did live too much tings did a gwaan at the time, so after mi fadda pass wi move to Portmore go live wid mi aunty cause mi madda did a fly out and she never waa lef wi uppa Bedward Gardens,” Jubba recalled.

Asked what he felt gave him the edge over the other competitors, Jubba said “The whole a di competitors dem do dem tings. They were all professional and dem did come out wid dem lyrics on point and stage performance. Is how me did connect wid di crowd, i think that’s what the people liked, especially when mi drop mi slang Hello.”

Jubba, whose real name is Tevaun Taylor, said the support of his friends kept him throughout his Magnum Top Performa journey.

“Believe mi, mi fren dem encourage mi. Dem deh deh fi mi through the struggles,” he disclosed.

Jubba won $1.5 million, a song which will be produced by hit factory Chimney Records and a performance at Reggae Sumfest. He will also be performing at Magnum Xplosion in Guyana.

Asked what he plans to do with his winnings, he said “I am going to invest into my career and do something to turn around money to invest in music. I’m going invest in a chicken farm, get some visual and production equipment so we can do our own music videos. Right after Sumfest is when the real work ago start.”