Teen singjay Suga Dhon rubs shoulders with dancehall elders
It’s every aspiring dancehall artiste’s dream to be associated with the genre’s elders. Singjay Suga Dhon out of Portland is no different.
The 17 year-old has been recording songs for two years. Her biggest assignment to date is the song 40, which is on the Green Concrete Riddim, recently released by Seltza Music Entertainment, a Florida-based company.
The compilation album features songs by dancehall heavyweights such as Sizzla, Norris Man and Turbulence.
On 40, the Crown Entertainment-managed Suga Dhon sings about the importance of staying focused despite life’s challenges.
“A whole heap of people can relate to di song. Whole heap a people come to mi an’ sey, ‘Yow, da song yah really touching, da song ya really mek mi sit down an’ meds’. So, di song can really do a lot an’ have a big impact,” she said.
Suga Dhon (real name Jelisa Coke), who attends Buff Bay High School, is strongly influenced by Chronic Law and Masicka, two of dancehall’s hottest acts.
“Dem man dey thing have feelings an’ meaning, a nuh jus’ always ‘bout violence. There’s more to it than just violence,” she said. “If mi sad mi jus’ listen a Chronic Law an’ a one Masicka an’ mi good again.”
Howard Campbell