‘Monsta of My Era’ - Nhance declares dancehall dominance
Dancehall's fast-rising force, Nhance, took centre stage Thursday night as he launched his debut EP, Monsta of My Era, at Di Lot on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew.
The title, he explained, captures the essence of his journey - his evolution into a dominant figure in today's dancehall scene.
"Because I am the monsta of my era - look at me," Nhance said with a laugh, puffing up his chest and throwing his fists forward in a playful, gorilla-like stance.
"So that's where it came from. It's also a play on the word 'monster' to show how big I've become in music," the entertainer told THE STAR.
"It's not like a violent monster or a dangerous monster, but it's like, where I've reached now in ma career, a dah kinda monsta deh - I'm the monster of my era right now because mi a dominate and everything," he added.
Monsta of My Era, a seven-track project, according to Nhance, reflects his "different sides." In a recent Instagram post, he also described the body of work as "raw, fearless [music] that's built to shake up the game. This isn't just music, it's a statement"
On Thursday night, entertainers and fans gave it the thumbs up to the body of work. Fellow entertainers Jahshii, Kyodi, Silk Boss, Jquan, Kranium, ZiZi, Kant10t, and Melody all helped to amplify the energy in the venue. For Nhance, the night's vibe wasn't just about celebration - it was a reflection of his identity in an often dark dancehall space.
"I'm a positive monster. The fact seh mi can stand out and be different and still deh inna di run, it prove seh mi addi monsta because with how my generation and di world a operate right now, is like, if it ain't negative, it ain't selling. Suh mi a show dem seh mi a di monsta and mi can dweet di positive way and it still sell," he told THE STAR.
With the EP now officially out, the Unstress artiste is optimistic about its reach and impact.
"Mi a expect big things, yuh have a song deh pon it name Big Energy, suh mi a expect a big energy fi surround it. Mi want it fi a play inna every community, every continent, every island/country - everyweh. Mi want it just have that big impact yuh nuh," he said.
"Dah song yah is exactly how mi and mi friend dem think and di things dem mi reason wid dem bout daily because mi and mi dawg dem always a dig a big energy," he added.
"The rest a song dem a guh be supm people a guh waah play right through as well, because people still a guh have emotions after summer, and a guh feel different, different ways right through suh every song ago hit."
In addition to Big Energy, the project contains tracks such as Every Day, All About Her, and the deeply personal Mama, a tribute to his mother, recording artiste Sheba.
Diehard supporter Sheba Zheng journeyed from Portmore, St Catherine, for the launch in St Andrew.
"I had to be here and I'm enjoying the songs on the EP so far," she said, adding that her favourite is All About Her.
Nhance made sure the ladies had their moment on the EP, but said there was no way he could drop a project without honouring the woman who means the most to him -- his mother.
"It wouldn't be a Nhance EP if mi neva duh a song fi mi madda," he shared.
"Memba a mi madda dat, and shi understand the business because she has been there before," he reasoned. "Suh wid di love of a mother [who's also] a friend and an advisor who do dis before me, she impact di ting a lot," Nhance added.