GROWING up, Suriname-born, Netherland-based artiste Lil Q fell in love with dancehall and hoped to be a player in the genre’s arena. He felt that dream was fully realised when he appeared on stage at the return of Sting in December.

“It was great. For me, it was one of the most important things for my existence. I know Heavy D for a while and we talk on a regular basis. And I saw the announcement of Sting [on social media] and we were talking, and I asked him to send his digital promotion and I told him I could help him promote it. All of a sudden, one day he sent me a message to call him and he said I’m putting you on Sting,” the singer, whose birth name is Maglon Gonsalves Jardin de Ponte, told the Jamaica Observer.

“There were no bottles thrown at me, so that’s good. I’m grown by dancehall music. I’ve been watching Sting from the beginning of time and people are now looking at us like how I used to look at Bounty Killer and Ninja Man. Everybody was great,” he continued.

Sting returned on Boxing Day at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann.

Lil Q has released tracks such as Bounce, Go Hard featuring Blak Ryno, and Oreo. This was the second visit to the island for the entertainer who has been in the industry professionally for only a few years.

He noted that reggae and dancehall need more promotion in his neck of the woods.

“Dancehall and reggae in Suriname are very popular. In Holland it’s very popular but because we don’t have too much entrepreneurs dealing in dancehall and reggae, we don’t have too much platform to show us the outcome of dancehall and reggae. They’re kinda hidden ’cause there’s nobody to put upfront the dancehall,” he explained, adding that Shane O, Aidonia, Tommy Lee Sparta, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer are among his favourite dancehall artistes.

For the remainder of the year Lil Q has myriad plans.

“I have a lot of singles, including one with Etana titled Don’t Give Up. We have the music video shoot the end of February and the video in Suriname, and there’s [also] a song with Tommy Lee. There are also projects with Ishawna and Rema,” he shared.