Although Mission da gr81 has been recording songs “for a minute”, it was not until last year that the Florida-based, New York-reared artiste released his first single.

That track, Champion, is produced by Lighthouse Records, the label that also produced Off The Hook, his follow-up song.

Both songs came out in 2022, paving the way for what Mission da gr81 hopes will be a fruitful 2023.

“What I really want is some shows and some movement. I’ve been doing shows but they are community events all over Florida and some in New York,” he said.

Mission da gr81 was born in Linstead and raised in St Mary. Migrating to the United States in 1989, he settled with his family in The Bronx and quickly consumed the music of hip hop acts such as the Notorious BIG and Busta Rhymes.

For the past 20 years, Mission da gr81 reckons he has done over 50 songs but none were officially released until Champion debuted last year.

The track sums up his respect for persons who are some of dancehall’s biggest supporters.

“It’s about the ladies who look good, so we have to motivate them. We are not in anything negative, nothing like that,” said Mission da gr81.

– Howard Campbell