Charly Black

Dancehall selector and singjay Charly Black, alternately known as Charly Blacks, started his ascent at singing competitions as a five-year-old. Black has been part of the Warlord International (Montego Bay) and Bass Odyssey (St. Ann) sound systems. As Tony Mentol, he made his recorded debut in 2004 with the single “Woman It’s You.” He eventually switched aliases to Charly Black and recorded a string of cuts for labels like Coppershot, M Bass, and VP, the last of which issued “Buddy Buddy.” The 2014 track “Gyal You a Party Animal,” based on Kurt Riley’s Jambe-An riddim, gradually spread outside Jamaica to win over audiences across South America. It was licensed for the U.S. by Casablanca in early 2016. Black kicked of 2017 with the collaborative Sexy Ting Riddim EP, which featured Ishwana and Shaq Royal. A flood of new material followed throughout the year, including singles like “Hoist & Wine,” “Independent,” “Associate,” and “Never Grudge.” ~ Andy Kellman