When dancer Prettii Prettii decided to make the transition into music, her debut was met with a boatload of negative comments.

Her first single, Buzzy, which she crafted with fellow dancer Rebel, sent the entertainment circuit into a tailspin with listeners highlighting her musical short comings. But, determined to chase her dreams, the entertainer transformed the backlash into a breakthrough, which today has led to a massive collaboration with dancehall stars Busy Signal and Konshens.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Prettii Prettii, born Tashlicka Laird, shared that her journey to musical maturity took grit and guts. She revealed that after the reactions from Buzzy, she wanted to throw in the towel but decided instead to use the feedback as a learning tool.

“I’m only human and, of course, that whole experience did have an effect on me. I was like, ‘OK, I’m not doing this.’ But then I said to myself, ‘Prettii, you’ve been wanting this so you’d be crazy to just give up after one try,’ she said.

“The transition was never hard for me because I know I naturally have this talent. I had to step back and change my frame of mind a little, listen to some experts around me, take some guidance, and get some help with putting my ideas together and expressing them better in a song. That made a huge difference, and when I came back with my next single, it was a hit.”

That single, Sad Eeh, was the shift the entertainer needed.

She revealed that after that track was released people’s perspectives about her decision to enter music changed, providing her with her first taste of musical success.

“Sad Eeh, that song was major for me. Up to this day that’s a song I have to perform whenever I touch a stage. People love it and I think it opened a lot of doors for me,” she said.

After steadily nurturing her talent, Prettii Prettii said a huge opportunity fell into her lap recently when she was selected to feature on a single with Busy Signal and Konshens. She said that since that song was released she has seen even more growth in her fan base as she has now been introduced to an even bigger audience.

“I don’t think people even understand how big this is for me. I used to dance for these artistes and now I’m on a track with them,” she said. “Crawba Di Genius reached out to me and said he had a rhythm with a song with Busy and he wanted me to be on it. When he said it, I was ready. He sent me Busy’s part and I jumped in the studio right away. When I got into my zone I told myself I had to come good on the track because Busy is a legend. I had to do it to the best of my ability.”

She shared that when she completed her verse and sent it back to the producer, he was so pleased, he started playing the song for countless people, dubbing it a hit almost immediately.

“When mi send it back, Crawba say a baay people him make listen the song and dem start asking who’s the girl. Him say when him tell dem say a Prettii, dem a talk ‘bout mi voice and how mi angle the song,” she said. “When he sent me the finished track with even Konshens on it, I was so proud. I said to myself: ‘I did not fail.’ ”

Mek Eh Bounce by Prettii Prettii and Busy Signal featuring Konshens was released just over two weeks ago and has amassed close to 100,000 views on YouTube.

Prettii Prettii says now that her audience has grown, she plans on keeping them entertained with new material. She says she’s been busy in the studio and already has a number of songs ready for release.

“Before the Busy, Konshens collab I dropped a song called Brace, which has been doing well, and I have more songs and more videos waiting to drop. There will be no easing up for Prettii. It will be back-to-back songs from me,” she said. “Mi think say when Father God did a say talent, him throw nuff water inna mi bucket and say tek talent, girl. So I can do this and I’m going to show people that I am a force.”