Dancehall titan Aidonia was moved on Saturday night as a sea of screaming fans flooded the UBS Arena in New York, delivering a thunderous wave of love that shattered even his boldest dreams. The explosive concert – a headline event marking the Bruki hitmaker’s 20-year reign in music – was nothing short of historic.
The artiste, born Sheldon Lawrence, stood in awe as diehard supporters packed every inch of the arena, creating a charged atmosphere that left him emotional and speechless.
“It was bigger — way bigger than mi ever imagine. It brought tears to mi eyes fi see how di people dem turn out strong,” a grateful Aidonia said. “It was an incredible feeling and a major win for brand Aidonia.”
“It was bigger, it was definitely bigger, and dat brought tears to my eyes fi know seh di people dem definitely came out, and it was a great feeling and great look for brand Aidonia,” he told THE STAR.
The anniversary concert boasted a powerhouse line-up of dancehall and reggae giants, including Shenseea, Mavado, Baby Cham, Govana, Jada Kingdom, Sizzla, and of course, Aidonia himself. The arena pulsed with excitement as each artiste delivered electrifying performances.
Aidonia expressed how meaningful it was to share the moment with his musical peers and loyal fans.
“It was definitely great – the fans made it everything, New York definitely turned out and dat show di love and respect di people dem have fi Aidonia and just dancehall music,” he said.
Equally meaningful to Aidonia was the fact that some of his close friends and fellow entertainers were part of the moment. “It was definitely a great vibe, it was definitely perfect,” he said. “Fi get di support from other artistes in the dancehall, it definitely was a great feeling.” Aidonia shared.
His brother and manager, Lalo Lawrence, has helped him weather industry storms, personal battles, and fierce competition.
“It’s an overwhelming feeling watching him grow into the man/entertainer he has become. And then to see it reach 20 years, I always tell him not to take it for granted because a lot of artistes came before him and even after him and they aren’t around anymore. So just take it as a blessing,” Lalo said.
A talented lyricist, Aidonia shot to fame in the early 2000s with hits such as ‘Lolly’ and ‘Chicken Head’ and quickly built and maintained a reputation as a hitmaker. He told THE STAR that remaining consistent over the two decades has not been easy and credited his longevity to hard and smart work. He said that there are times when he felt like unplugging the mic.
[“I’ve been there] a few times because, you know music on a whole is competitive and to be creating hits over 20 years, it nuh easy. It takes a lot from you mentally, physically, emotionally,” he revealed.
Yet, his passion for music and faith have kept him going.
“I’m a lover of music, I don’t see this as a job; and mi put God first inna everything mi do. Him guide me pon some a di roughest obstacles dem and fight some addi roughest battles dem over di years,” he said.
He credits not only hard and smart work for his longevity, but also a careful formula for his staying power.
“It’s the melody and formula and saying the right things in the song,” he explained, adding that legends like Bounty Killer, Shabba Ranks, Buju Banton and Bob Marley heavily influenced his sound and approach to music.
Looking ahead, Aidonia is preparing to release what he describes as a “solid Grammy-type album” to further elevate his career. The Jamaican leg of his 20th anniversary concert is set for May 10, 2025, at Sabina Park in Kingston. It will feature an all-star line-up that includes Bounty Killer, Skeng, Ding Dong and Capleton.
