Although he had hopes of becoming a professional footballer, music was always his first love. Today, trap/dancehall artiste Areakode is making serious noise on the music scene.

His latest hit Level Up, a joint production between Cash Code Records and 1NE Bang Entertainment, is racking up numbers with over 630,000 views on YouTube and up to Thursday, May 15, held the #6 position on YouTube Trending for Music.

Level Up is the follow up to last year’s chart-topping Rey Rico, which to date has amassed more than 4.8 million views.

“I didn’t play schoolboy football, but I played for Alligator Pond FC in the second division, trying to qualify for the Premier League. I was a defender,” Areakode proudly stated in an exclusive interview with Splash, earlier this week.

The 29-year-old, whose real name is Alex Lennox Marshall, shared that dancehall kingpin Vybz Karel influenced his decision to pursue a career in music.

“I always had a love for music from mi young, mi father use to always a play music in the house. Alligator Pond overall has always been a community that supports Vybz Kartel, suh the influence was always there. Di Teacha, a him inspired me fi start do music. Fully Gaza,” the former BB Coke High student stated.

“I was always a football person a that mi did a focus on as my talent but mi always know mi coulda sing. A when mi start go high school mi start pree music from 8 grade,” he added.

Commenting on the success of Level Up, he said Cash Code Records has been supportive of his talent and has been critical to the project’s impact.

“Cash Code has always been a big supporter of Areakode and when we link up the creative energy always a flow. Di first project was Rey Rico which went to #1 trending on YouTube and our follow up project Level Up reached as far as #2. We definitely have a great musical chemistry, but we never expect the songs to take off so fast, because at first, we never knew what we were doing. We just did a do music because we love it, then we link up with Alex from 1NE Bang Entertainment and the rest as they say, is history,” said Areakode.

Areakode also revealed that Level Up was recorded four years ago.

“We promote the songs at least a month before we drop them and Level Up has always been an underground hit since 2021, which was when I first recorded the song for 1NE Bang Entertainment but it wasn’t officially released until now. At that time mi turn man and start mek mi own money and with all of my songs they’re all a representation of my life and my environment,” he disclosed.

And how has the journey been for him musically?

“Mi cya complain! We take the good with the bad and keep it moving but the journey has been good. I’m bringing different styles, flow and melodies. We’re always in the studio working and trying out new things fi better mi sound,” said Areakode.

Trap dancehall has come under fire due to the lyrical content and Areakode admits it will take some time before it’s accepted.

“Mi woulda say just give it some time because it’s a new genre and it ago tek time for people to get accustomed to it just like in the 90s and early 2000s when the sound did a change.

With an EP in the works, Areakode intends to keep bringing the hits, with the determination of having a lasting career in music.

“Mi wah reach the highest level of music. Bring it further than Vybz Kartel and Sean Paul dem. Win couple Grammys and put back dancehall in its rightful place,” he reasoned.