Stonebwoy Taps Five Jamaicans For ‘Up & Runnin6’ Album

Afro-Dancehall star Stonebwoy has released his sixth studio album, Up & Runnin6,’ which features Jamaican artists Spice, Jahmiel, 10tik, Chi Ching Ching, and Blvk H3ro. The album, released on October 24, is a multi-genre compilation of contemporary sounds from Africa, United States, and Jamaica, courtesy of his label Burniton Music Group and Warner Music Group’s ADA Worldwide. 

“Spice, the Queen of the Dancehall was my favorite one to work with on this album,” Stonebwoy told DancehallMag. “I haven’t tapped into such a masterpiece this way before and that makes me confident about introducing that fresh breath of carnival dancehall anthems onto the album.”

“Jamaican sound has always been represented in my career style of Afro-Dancehall, therefore there’s always a need, if possible, to further concretize that and there cannot be a better way than inviting Jamaican born superstars on my projects; this album will not be an exception,” the Jejereje singer shared.

On track 6, the R&B-Afro fused Geography opens with Blvk H3ro’s hypnotizing vocals delivering an early chorus, while Chi Ching Ching’s signature toasting complements the vocals of rising Belizean singer/songwriter Kaylan Arnold.

Overlord, the 11th track on the project, features the consciousness of Jahmiel’s penmanship, while 10Tik spits heavy bars alongside Ghana’s newest Dancehall star Larruso.

To date, Stonebwoy stands as one of the most featured African artists alongside Jamaican musicians, including features on three Grammy-nominated Reggae albums and more than 30 collaborators inclusive of Beenie Man, Jah Cure, Tarrus Riley, Alaine, Etana, Tifa, Kabaka Pyramid, Agent Sasco, Wayne Marshall, Squash, Kranium, and Shaggy amongst a host of others.

The Ghanaian star is a far cry from anxiety or nerves after years of intentionally cementing his sound as a purveyor of “music of black origin” focused on uniting black people and music lovers through the echoing melodies of the Motherland.

“I have moved from nervousness into tactical practicality where I allow music to be as organic as it can be, to allow the direction of a natural choice to complement a particular record in terms of featuring artists,” he said.

In 2018, the award-winning songwriter was the second African performer to grace the stage of Jamaica’s revered festival Reggae Sumfest, after Nigeria’s Patoranking, who performed in 2017.

Earlier this year, CNN named Stonebwoy as one of their ‘African Voices Changemakers’ citing, “very few have propelled Ghana’s Dancehall movement to greater heights than Stonebwoy. He is not only one of the most renowned Reggae and Dancehall artists across Africa but he also commands the respect and admiration of the Caribbean.

Stream Up & Runnin6 below.