Skeng EP launch fails to meet expectations
Published:Saturday | November 5, 2022 | 12:10 AMStephanie Lyew/Gleaner Writer
Fast-rising dancehall entertainer Skeng has relished one of the most memorable breakout years as a newcomer, and his Beast of the Era launch held at Di Lot on Constant Spring Road was expected to be the “event of the season”, but this was not to be.
An anxious audience comprised of fans, members of the media and personalities from the dancehall fraternity waited some five hours for the guest of honour to arrive, with the expectation that he would give a roaring performance to mark the release of his debut compilation. But not only was he fashionably late, but he was also said to be ill and unable to deliver. Skeng spent less than five minutes on the stage. Thankfully, those present early were treated to performances by Munga Honorable, Kraff, Rajah Wild, Valiant, and Pretti Pretti before Skeng’s arrival.
Following his arrival, internationally acclaimed producer Rvssian, who worked on two tracks on the EP – Thug Life and It’s True featuring Shenseea, presented Skeng with an extravagant gift of a Rolex watch to mark his accomplishments to date. On stage, Skeng only gave a two-liner performance of Eediattt ‘Idiot’, the fifth track on the EP which also features productions from Droptop Records, DiTruth Records and John Coop Records.
Further, the six-track EP, which the artiste executively produced, was released at the stroke of midnight, but the launch was expected to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Skeng has, over the past year, had mixed fortunes, having joined a list of entertainers who have had run-ins with the law, but he managed to make the show go on. According to co-manager and booking agent Cara Wilson-Wheatle, the deejay wants to exercise his right to narrate his story and does not want “anybody to run with a comment or a song and cast judgements on him.”
She explained that this was the reason Skeng had opted out of doing any interviews.
Known for songs such as Gvnman Shift, Street Cred, Protocol, Heaven Passport and Likkle Miss, Skeng continues to find himself at the forefront of Jamaica’s new generation of dancehall artistes.