KINGSTON, Jamaica -Eight years ago, when he built a beat intended to be used as a collaborative project featuring artistes from Belize, producer, beatmaker and recording artiste KaleX, has something to celebrate.

The beat was the backdrop to dancehall artiste Popcaan’s hit song My Type. The song was on Friday, May 16, certified silver in the United Kingdom by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales and streaming equivalent of 200,000 units.

“My Type started back in 2017 when I was a student at the University of Technology studying architecture. I made the riddim for myself for a collaborative juggling with some artistes from Belize. My ‘bredrin’ Ade ‘Jelly’ May (who is also Popcaan’s brother) heard the riddim, and he had some ideas for the musical arrangement of the riddim based on his own unique ear for sound. He said he would take it to Popcaan, and when he did. Popcaan instantly created the hit that is being celebrated globally today,” KaleX told Observer Online on Friday.

The labels credited for the song are Jelly Bads/Unruly Entertainment/KaleX Productions. The recording session was done by Popcaan and Jelly Bads.

“It was really Jelly Bads who spearheaded that part of the process (production). It was actually after the track was released that I met and started to interact with Popcaan. Popcaan has been one of the dancehall greats during my time, and it was a good feeling knowing that he appreciated something I started and then chose to collaboratively produce it with Jelly Bads and myself,” KaleX explained.

He said he isn’t surprised at the success of My Type, of which its official music video has racked up more than 36 million views on YouTube.

“I am not surprised because we knew it was a really great record, but I am extremely grateful because this track was done independently (outside of a label promotion). I’m just soaking up all this achievement because it serves as motivation that greatness is within all of us when we really love what we do and put passion and creativity at the core. I am so motivated to collaborate and create more because last week Friday (May 9), my ‘bredrin’ Aundre ‘Riddim Boss’ Edwards and I released a new reggae juggling called ‘Sacred’ that is released by Trifactor Studios and distributed by New York-based DubShot Records. It includes songs from some really talented artistes (Ras-I, Akina Eman, Chris Malachi, Zhayna, Royal Blu, Imeru Tafari & Haile Celestial, King Izem and Indie Allen). I’m also confident that with time this riddim will also see similar success, as reggae jugglings are such an important part of the international acclaim that our reggae genre has enjoyed.” KaleX disclosed.

Born Keron Alexander, he grew up in east Kingston and attended Wolmer’s Boys’ High School.

As the recording artiste KaleX, he has released songs including Palm Trees & Liquor, Come Thru and Tun Up Di Vibes (featuring Dehshh, Artikal & Projexx).

-Kevin Jackson