Hitting the pop charts with music that appeals to a diverse audience is the objective of Tucuzins Records, a company based in Atlanta, Georgia. The label debuted in August with S.O.U.L. (Sincerely Outpouring Unconditional Love), an eight-song compilation album.

The label is operated by XKhraig, a Jamaican artiste who lives in Philadelphia, and Adrian Hilary, his cousin. The songs on S.O.U.L. are a blend of dancehall, hip hop and rhythm and blues.

“It has all kinda elements; that’s the goal. Jamaica is a small place, you have to make music for the world, and that’s what we did,” said XKhraig.

His song, My Love, is the project’s lead single. Most of the tracks on S.O.U.L. are by artistes who live in Philadelphia and Delaware such as G Warrior, Synga Splaash and Rastabiggz.

Also contributing is Nanko, the singer who rode reggae charts in the early 2000s with songs like Lucky You.

From rural St Andrew, XKhraig was raised on the music of Anthony B Beenie Man and Capleton. After migrating to the United States in 2011, his appreciation grew for hip hop visionaries like The Roots and neo-soul acts such as Boyz II Men.

Many of his songs including My Love and Yaadi Girl have a dancehall/hip hop feel. He and Hilary hope that hybrid will be palatable to major markets.

“There is a big audience out there for the music. We as Jamaicans mus’ realise that we can’t just make music for you and your friends,” XKhraig stated.

— Howard Campbell