Having cut his teeth as a singer on sound systems like Black Star and Black Scorpio, Hopeton Lindo knows the important role the dancehall plays in breaking songs. It is one of the mediums the veteran singer is using to expose Mi Selecta, his latest song.

Produced by Sly Dunbar, the single is from Purpose, his fifth album which was released in September. Lindo shot scenes for Mi Selecta‘s video at the popular Weddy Weddy weekly dance in late October.

“A dancehall video scene for Mi Selecta was crucial as it’s a tribute to all selectors and also celebrates the sound clash culture. I am blessed to have one of the biggest sound clash songs in Territory, so as my producer, the great Sly Dunbar says, this new song is like a continuation of our influence in the dancehall,” Lindo told the Jamaica Observer.

The self-produced Territory was released in 1987. A dance favourite, it was used as the Jamaica football team’s unofficial theme song during their historic campaign for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Mi Selecta is one of 16 songs on Purpose which was released by his Irie Pen Records. It contains several singles that topped the South Florida Reggae Chart, including Don’t Know Much, a cover of the Grammy-winning ballad that features fellow singer Novel-T.

Lindo described his debut set at the Stone Love-run Weddy Weddy as “awesome” and believes it can boost Mi Selecta’s stocks in Jamaica.

“The support of Fada Pow (Stone Love founder and owner, Winston Powell), Stone Love Crew, plus the legendary selector Jack Scorpio, all the artistes in the crowd was just amazing. The dancehall is a very integral part of our culture, so it’s very important to us as reggae artistes,” he said.

Lindo earned the nickname “The Pen” in the 1990s when he was part of producer Gussie Clarke’s creative team at Anchor Recording Studio in Kingston. While there, he wrote songs like Temptress for Maxi Priest, co-wrote Telephone Love for JC Lodge, and Mr Loverman for Shabba Ranks.