Jakal eyes the lucrative Spanish market with ‘Sicarios’, a song released on May 1. The Jamaican rapper recently filmed its video in Medellin, Colombia, a huge market for reggaeton, considered the Latin version of dancehall music.
The visual was directed by Jason Williams, an American who is also behind ‘Squatta’, a movie currently being filmed in the United States and Jamaica.
‘Sicarios’ is based on ‘Carolina Panther’, a song by American rapper Sauce Walka.
“When I found out I was going to Medellin, I was listening to that song, and it inspired me. So, I downloaded it, ripped the beat and did my version,” said Jakal.
‘Sicarios’ is the lead single from ‘CP Vol. 4 The Pilgrimage to Medellin’, a five-song project dedicated to the people of Latin America, which has longstanding ties to the Caribbean through commerce and culture.
“It felt surreal while filming in Medellin, it was a dream come true to say the least. Prior to going to Colombia, the only thing I knew about Medellin was that that’s where Pablo Escobar was from,” Jackal noted. “After visiting Medellin, I know it’s now my second home. The love they have for black people, for Jamaica, Jamaicans and our culture is unexplainable.”
Strongly influenced by Jay Z and Vybz Kartel, the Montego Bay-born artist is banking on ‘Sicarios’ to introduce him to reggaeton fans. That sound has a huge market throughout Latin America, especially Puerto Rico and Panama where leading acts like Daddy Yankee, Bad Bunny and Flex are from.