In 2010, the global impact of Hold You launched Gyptian to international fame, transforming him from a modestly followed artiste into a reggae sensation.

By that point, he had built up momentum with tracks like Serious Times, showcasing his smooth voice and poignant messages.

Now, two decades into his career, Gyptian continues to innovate, blending classic roots reggae and dancehall with fresh sounds, as evidenced by his newest project,
Guarded EP, released on July 26 via VPAL Music.

Born Windel Beneto Edwards in King Weston District, St Andrew, Gyptian’s musical journey began early. Mentored by talent scout Ravin Wong and legendary guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith, he honed his craft, emerging as a promising roots reggae voice with hits like Is There a Place.

Hold You peaked at #77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent nine weeks at #1 on the Reggae Digital Songs chart, while also being remixed by artistes like Nicki Minaj, Major Lazer, Shy FX, and Toddla T.

According to Billboard Magazine, “Not since Wayne Wonder’s No Letting Go has an underground reggae artiste garnered as much attention in the United States as Jamaica’s own Gyptian.”

Gyptian has since continued to evolve his reggae fusion style, amassing hundreds of millions of streams with hits like Wine Slow and Non Stop, and remains a dynamic force in reggae.

Now, with Guarded EP, Gyptian has once again joined forces with long-time producer Junior “Chambah” Stevens to push his sound even further.

Across seven tracks, Gyptian puts his range on full display. Songs like Together We Are Stronger, the sincere and streetwise Let Me Down, and the candid, Afrobeats-influenced title track show the singer at his best.

“I’m proud of this project,” says Chambah. “It’s a great body of work.”