In April when the Hotta This Year rhythm project was released, Portland-based emerging dancehall artiste Rd Prominent realised that his song was among those making the track listing with international artistes.

The singjay’s Love Apple, a collaboration with Shelene Thomas, is listed among songs by Billboard chart-toppers Maxi Priest (If I Made a Wish), Shaggy (Call On Me), and Latin diamond-selling deejay Charly Black (Back it Up).

Other tracks featured on the compilation include Taking Me Over by Glen Washington and Vacation Girl by George Nooks.

“I feel elated to have been given the opportunity to work on a project with such a great group of artistes. As a young artiste it is often difficult to get opportunities like this and as such I gave it my all and so far everyone likes the work. This project has opened my eyes to the opportunities that come as a result of persistence and self-belief so from here on, it’s just more work and more opportunities,” Rd Prominent told Observer Online on Friday.

The Hotta This Year project was produced by Ian Clough and it was released via C&I JahBless Records.

Rd Prominent has high hopes for Love Apple, a song he says has the potential to make inroads outside of Jamaica.

“I believe the song has the potential to attract a global audience and crossover. The team of producers that worked on the project has experience creating platinum selling songs in the past so I have no doubt they have the reach to give this project a real chance of becoming a smash hit,” Rd Prominent opined.

In addition to Love Apple, Rd Prominent is also promoting the song Genie Wine.