Several entertainers came out to support the launch of rising newcomer Yung Lion’s début EP Lion Up.

The event, held last Friday at the TGL Lounge in Twin Gates Plaza, brought out the likes of Chi Ching Ching, Torch, Jiggy Boss, Chappz, and former Magnum King of the Dancehall Accid.

“From good reggae music a come out Torch haffi mek himself available. Mi come out come see what a gwaan and show mi support,” Torch told the Jamaica Observer.

Dancer and deejay Jiggy Boss said it was important to support emerging talent.

“I’m here for the love of music. Yung Lion is a good artiste, and its very important to support new artistes,” he said.

During Yung Lion’s performance he was joined on stage by dancehall artiste Chi Ching Ching.

“Yung Lion, gwaan put een the work mi bredda,” said Chi Ching Ching.

In a post-event interview with the Observer, Yung Lion, who is based in the United States, shared the inspiration behind the name of the project.

“My mentor Jo Mersa Marley, who died more than a year ago, used to tell me, ‘Yow yute, Lion Up, whenever I am feeling down or depressed. All the songs on the EP have a mixture of emotions and feelings, down to heartbreak. So I decided to name the EP Lion Up,” Yung Lion disclosed.

The 8-track project, which was produced by Kelly Beats and recorded in Charlotte, North Carolina, took two months to complete.

“I want to make music happy again. I’m bringing the joyfulness and the happiness back to the music,” he reasoned.

Released on April 26, Lion Up features songs such as My Dream, Alone, Bun, I Don’t, Sugar Cane, It’s You, and Life So Sweet.

“I grew up listening to all sorts of music. I used to be a DJ and then I moved into producing and making beats,” said Yung Lion, whose mother is from Greece and father from Trinidad.