So Drake’s album Iceman spends a fourth week at #1 in America on the all-genre Billboard 200 Albums chart.

The album features the track Ran to Atlanta by Drake, featuring Future and Molly Santana. The song was co-produced by Montego Bay-based Mxssivh, who receives credit on the project.

It’s not often that an album with credited participation by a Jamaican producer or recording artiste tops the Billboard 200 Albums chart. Matter of fact, only once in the history of the Billboard 200 Albums chart that an album by a Jamaican went to #1.

In late 2000, Shaggy’s Hotshot began a four-week run in the #1 spot. It is still the only album by a Jamaican to top that chart.

The album features credits to a number of Jamaicans, including producers Christopher Birch, Robert Livingston, Dave Kelly, Tony “CD” Kelly, as well as musician Nigel Staff and backing vocalists Dorrett Wisdom, Brian and Tony Gold.

Birch, who is a former member of Shaggy’s backing band, co-produced the album’s title track. He told the Jamaica Observer that contributing to the chart-topping album was a blessing for him.

“It was indeed a blessing. I had been a musician playing and making music, so the word got around. It was an amazing feeling at the time. I was on tour when the album went to #1 and the news hit like a ton of bricks. It was just surreal,” Birch reflected.

Matthew “Boi-1da” Samuels (Photo: Relz Life)

Birch’s fortunes would later improve when he went on to start his labels Echo and Birchill Records.

The Echo label broke through with the Thrilla rhythm that spawned several chart hits including Macka Diamond’s breakthrough hit that landed at #1, Done Already.

American producer and music executive DJ Khaled has worked with several Jamaican acts over the years who have also been featured on a few of his chart-topping albums.

His 2017 album Grateful, which topped the Billboard 200 Albums chart, features Sizzla on I’m So Grateful, which producer Troyton Music was credited for the track Unchanging Love by Mavado.

DJ Khaled’s 2021 album Khaled, Khaled, which also topped the chart, features the track Where You Come From by Buju Banton, Capleton, and Bounty Killer. A year later, DJ Khaled’s God Did, which has been certified gold, features
These Streets Don’t Know My Name with Skillibeng, Buju Banton, Capleton, Bounty Killer, and Sizzla. Panta Son received credit for engineering.

Mineral Boss Records CEO Tawanna Jones said the song Progress by Mavado, which she co-produced with her husband Cleon, and which was included on DJ Khaled’s 2016 #1 album Major Key, gave her label respect within the dancehall music space.

“Being a part of a great music project that went to #1 was more than just making music. It helped me to create a legacy. It’s inspiring to work with creative minds who share the same vision and passion. The process requires commitment, patience, self-belief, and trust. Seeing the final product come to life and resonates with audiences, makes the experience an unforgettable dream become reality,” Jones told the Observer.

He continued: “It was definitely a game-changer, and it brought credibility, industry recognition, and opened doors for us that had been out of reach. The attention that we got attracted new artistes to our label, other producers began to reach out as well as investors and business opportunities, while proving that Mineral Boss Records (MBR) can compete on a larger scale. It also validated the hard work, vision, and dedication of everyone involved, and it created a momentum that elevated my entire organisation. It also positioned my label as a serious player in a competitive industry. That level of recognition was the catalyst that transformed Mineral Boss Records into a respected brand.”

Tawanna Jones of Mineral Boss Records.

Drake’s Iceman album also features a production credit to Jamaican-born Matthew “Boi-1da” Samuels, a frequent collaborator. He produced the track National Treasures.

Boi-1da is also credited on other chart-topping albums by Drake including 2010’s Thank Me Later, Take Care, Nothing Was the Same, Scorpion, Her Loss, Care Package, If You’re Reading This its Too Late, What a time to Be Alive, and For All the Dogs.

Veteran singer Beres Hammond received vocal sample credit for the track Ice Melts on Drake’s chart-topping mixtape More Life, which was released in 2017.

Drake’s 2016 album Views not only featured credits to Boi-1da, but also to Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor, Moses Davis (Beenie Man), Andre Sutherland (Popcaan), Dwayne “Supa Dups” Chin-Quee, Mavado, Craig “Serani” Marsh, and Daseca Productions brothers Craig and David Harrisingh.

Boi-1da also racked up credits on chart-topping album Anti (2016) as well as albums by rapper Eminem, including
Recovery (2010), and Kamikaze (2018). Chin-Quee also produced the track WTP from Eminem’s Recovery.

Beyonce’s 2011 album titled 4, saw Adidjah “Vybz Kartel” Palmer receiving a co-writer credit after his Major Lazer hit
Pon De Floor, was sampled in Run The World (Girls).

Beyonce showed more love to Jamaicans on her 2022 album Renaissance. Gospel deejay Papa San’s son Tyshane Thompson aka BEAM (born in Kingston), veteran artiste Grace Jones, Boi-1da, and engineer Delroy “Phatta” Pottinger all credits their contribution to the project.