After taking a break from releasing songs, Rawyard Records returned with a flourish in 2025 with a stream of new music, mainly by artistes from its Cockburn Gardens base.

Neziah Nesbeth, its founder, told the Jamaica Observer that there will be even more recording activity from the label this year.

“Our plans for 2026 is to push our artiste that is signed to us back on the market. He is known for single such as Polo, which was the biggest hit to run the streets in 2019. We want him to get back out there with a bigger and better buzz,” said Nesbeth.

That artiste is Hot Frass, a St Thomas-born deejay whose promise resulted in the catchy
Polo. Bad Party, his latest song, is produced by Rawyard Records.

While Hot Frass is the label’s flagship act, Nesbeth is also working with homegrown artistes like Activ and Sleepy Don. They had songs released by Rawyard Records in late 2025.

“We have three artistes from the community, really talented and driven young men. Sleepy Don, KQ6, and Jah Be, who each have new singles coming this year, so you can be sure to look forward to that,” said Nesbeth.

Originally from the Southside community in Central Kingston, Nesbeth was raised in Cockburn Gardens, an area that had a thriving sound system circuit in the 1970s and 1980s.

Best known of those sounds systems was Stur Gav, owned and operated by legendary toaster U Roy. At its peak in the 1980s, its ranks included deejays Josey Wales and Charlie Chaplin, and selector Inspector Willie.

Rubbing shoulders with them inspired Nesbeth to get involved in the music business. Prior to starting Rawyard Records in 2008, he produced songs by artistes such as Anthony B, Sizzla, Lutan Fyah, and Fantan Mojah.

— Howard Campbell