Fresh from his maiden performances in Colombia, fusion artist XKhraig is looking to break into the South American market, which has become fairly lucrative for Jamaican acts.
In June, the singer did five shows in Bogota, the capital, and Soacha, a municipality on the outskirts of that city. His main gig was Rototom Colombia, which was held in Bogota, and featured mainly Spanish artists.
XKhraig, who lives in Philadelphia, said the response to his music “exceeded expectations.” He added that, “The passion for reggae and dancehall in Spanish-speaking markets is undeniable. Breaking into that space is a clear goal for me.”
Reggaeton, a reggae/Latin hybrid, is arguably the biggest sound in Latin America. Fans in that region also gravitate to the music of Jamaican producer Rvssian whose songs regularly make the Billboard Latin chart.
Most of XKhraig’s songs, including ‘My Love’ and ‘Yaadi Girl’, are a mix of dancehall and hip hop, sounds he listened to while living in Jamaica and after he migrated to the United States.
XKhraig points to dancehall heavyweights Beenie Man and Anthony B as major influences. So too neo-soul group Boyz II Men, who are from Philadelphia.
His objective is to make music that transcends genres.
“I create from experience first, not to target a market. But I pay attention to where the music resonates. West Africa — particularly Gambia and Nigeria — has shown strong support,” said XKhraig. “I’m also receiving airplay in England, Australia, Panama, and Colombia. The message is crossing borders, and that feedback informs how I approach future work.”