After years of recording reggae songs, Richie Flo went for a change of pace on his latest songs, which are pop collaborations with Canadian artistes. Target, done with TOI (Truth Over Illusion) and Calling with Cleon Beckford, were released in July.

Richie Flo, a longtime resident of Toronto, Canada, is featured on Target. He shows his deejay skills on Calling which marks Beckford’s debut as a vocalist.

In an interview with Observer Online, Richie Flo said although he and TOI have not known each other for a long time, they clicked instantly.

“From the first time I heard her sing, I knew we would work well together. She knows her stuff so the respect is there.”

TOI, whose parents are Jamaican and Trinidadian, is known for R&B-flavoured songs like Storm and Body Talk. Target is produced by Dutty Juvii, who has made a name in dancehall circles with “riddims” such as the Tycoon and Princess Passager.

Richie Flo produced the seductive Calling, which hears Cleon Beckford on his first released single as a singer. Born in Montego Bay, he migrated to Canada as a child with his family.

Beckford is a leading session and show drummer in Canadian reggae circles. He has worked with leading artistes including Marcia Griffiths and Admiral Tibet, as well as soca star Alison Hinds.

Target and Calling are Richie Flo’s first songs since the release of St Thomas mi Born, his second album, which came out in late 2025.

— Howard Campbell