While club hopping in South Florida during the 1990s, Kēvens noticed the embrace of underground sounds by diverse audiences. Those events, known as raves, introduced a mash of beats that became known as EDM (electronic dance music).

Raised in Miami, Kēvens was a member of Le Coup, a reggae band that also included Anthony Booker, Bob Marley’s brother. He is a pioneer of that city’s rave scene which set the pace for EDM heavyweights like Major Lazer, a trio that includes Jamaican Walshy Fire.

Unlike Major Lazer which gained global fame by working with some of the genre’s biggest artistes, his contribution is largely overlooked.

“I must admit, sometimes I see the massive growth of the EDM scene and think back to those early days when raving was viewed in a negative light, before the big festivals, before the brand deals. I was the lone reggae band leader who went walking into the rave culture at the right time. And I know how much a lot of us gave to this EDM movement,” Kēvens told the Jamaica Observer’s Splash.

“My brethren Keith Palmer of The Prodigy, Rabbit In The Moon, my ole friend MC Conrad (RIP) — all of us helped to shape that early fusion sound. So, sure, there are moments when I wish more people understood that reggae’s pulse helped shape this movement. But, ultimately, the music speaks for itself. The truth always rises,” he continued.

The Prodigy and Rabbit In The Moon are British and American bands hailed as early exponents of what became EDM. Kēvens, whose influences include Sugar Minott, Super Cat and Brigadier Jerry, was linked to the latter, who are from Tampa, Florida.

“I started as an MC for Rabbit In The Moon, introducing toasting elements with an uplifting message, and performed at Ultra (EDM festival) when it was still just an underground Miami party back in 2000. That’s my role, I helped open the door for reggae’s spirit to flow into EDM. I planted a seed, and it’s still growing,” he said.

EDM exploded a decade ago with major artistes experimenting with the sound. Many of them sought the expertise of Major Lazer who cite Jamaican dub visionaries like Osbourne “King Tubby” Ruddock and Lee “Scratch” Perry as influences.

Major Lazer have collaborated with many Jamaican acts including Busy Signal, Tarrus Riley, and Johnny Osbourne, and staged live shows in Kingston.

Kēvens is currently promoting Call to Balance, his second album, which was released last October.