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Dancehall artiste Kyodi opens up on an emotional but "positive" journey through his debut album 146, which is a tribute to his late mom, whose "hard work and sacrifices" helped build his musical career.

The artiste, who became popular for his hit single, When Mi Nice, said before the world knew his name, his mother was the main motivational source behind his career who helped him to finance his way through her hustle.

"The album is titled 146 [one, four, six] which means the 14th [day] of the sixth [month] which is the day my mother -Paula Hunter - passed away from breast cancer last year," he said as his voice broke. "Mi finally finish up the little rough edges so I can release it on the day she passed. It's a dedication to my mom and it has a real deep meaning because during the whole music thing, she build a shop, and before mi get di buss wid ' When mi nice a suh mi gwaan,' a dat shop really build di ting fi mi can guh studio and guh parties to promote di song and miself."

"She watched me get mi dream and den she pass jus as mi reach di heights a mi career, suh dis [album] now a just fi show her gratitude fi di inspiration weh she gimmie and di dedication weh she show mi," Kyodi told THE STAR. He further noted that his mother's strength and endurance to battle cancer while still ensuring she helped him to acquire his dreams is a strong lesson which he will always transcend through his music and everyday life.

"I was not a perfect child, so this album is also to show her seh 'Mommy mi a work pon me and a do di things dem weh yuh always waah see mi duh.' Mi start mi business as well, differently from di music, weh she always desire fi see mi do. Suh this is like a connection with her," he said. "Most importantly to note too is, mi is a man weh procrastinate a lot and seh mi a guh duh things and nuh badda dweet. But wid 146, mi mek sure seh mi come outta mi comfort zone now and mek sure seh mi duh supm mi seh mi ago start and mi finish it fi she."

The Gratitude singer assured fans that the album will show his true versatility.

"And mi nuh sing bout no foolishness, every lyrics weh mi seh mek sense and tell a story. Yuh can just listen these songs and know who Kyodi really is because they're coming directly from mi heart, mi soul - just pure facts. I was introduced to the world as a party/vibrant artiste suh mi have di energetic songs on it, songs dedicated to my mom, and music also to motivate other people which is supm she'd also waah see mi duh - like a endorse and push a positive energy. Suh there's supm on it fi everybody," he said.

The 12-track compilation, scheduled for a June 14 release, consists of collaborations with a variety of dancehall superstars such as Nhance, Valiant and Shane-O. Kyodi, who commanded several local stages such as Sting, said he hopes for his album to break down doors to global stages while making a "positive" impact.

"I'm praying and I believe this album will go worldwide because mi pour out mi all inna dis and it a show di different sides to mi craft while still telling a real positive story. Suh mi waah dis fi go overseas on the international market and open some gates weh mi never open yet and reach some ears weh really tune in to dancehall and know real talent weh ago put mi pon a different level," he said.

Kyodi encouraged persons to love themselves, pay respect to their parents and "don't ever give up because life challenges can just come at yuh any time".

"Because see mi mother just dead suh at a young age and mi neva give up, mi still deh yah a fight it. Suh cherish yuh loved ones while dem deh yah because life short suh try mek di best a things and make the best of you while you deh yah same way," the Born Fi Great artiste stressed.