Spice Reflects on ‘Go Down Deh’ at 5: “I knew it was a hit from the first moment”

Five years after its release on April 30, 2021, Go Down Deh, Spice’s career-defining record, has surpassed 400 million streams on Spotify. It is the first song led by a Jamaican female artist to reach this milestone.

Produced by Costi Ionita, the landmark collaboration with dancehall heavyweights Shaggy and Sean Paul helped drive Spice’s debut album 10 to a Grammy Awards nomination for Best Reggae Album in 2021.

Marking the anniversary of the track, which went platinum in Canada, the Queen of Dancehall is reflecting on the historic record and why she knew from the start it would be special.

Spice- Contributed

“I remember the very first moment I heard ‘Go Down Deh,’ I knew it was a hit,” she told World Music Views. “I reached out to Shaggy to do a collaboration and he invited me to New York, and he was playing multiple different beats for me to choose. The moment I heard it, I said, ‘That’s the one I want to record on.’”

From there, the record came together quickly. “Shaggy and I recorded first and then I sent it to Sean Paul, and he recorded within a day and sent it back,” Spice recalled. “And I said, ‘Yes—they hear what I hear.’ So I knew from the start having two legends on one track would be historical.”

Shaggy shared images of the plaques he recently received for himself, Spice and Costi Ionita for Go Down Deh Canadian certifications

The collaboration marked a rare moment in dancehall, bringing two global icons together on the same track—something Spice says she doesn’t take lightly.

At home, the music video for “Guh Down Deh” immediately made an impression, peaking at number one on Jamaica’s weekly YouTube Chart after its global premiere on May 1, 2021. The Jay Will-directed music video has reached almost 400 million views on YouTube, the only music video lead by a Jamaican woman to reach those numbers.

“Working with Sean and Shaggy proved to me why they are so successful and legendary,” she said. “Their work ethic is unmatched. I remember having early morning interviews with them, and they would be up even from 6 a.m. and ready to help push and promote the song when they are already so established and didn’t have to.”

She added, “I’m very grateful to Shaggy and Sean Paul for this opportunity to be the first to have both of them on a song together.”

As she celebrates this milestone, Spice is also looking ahead. “My next song drops this month, May 29th, and in celebrating the five-year anniversary to ‘Go Down Deh,’ I’m gonna be celebrating my platinum record during this entire new season of my career.”