Jahvillani Releases New Single “Pro-Gress!” from the Album Dirt To Bentley
June 29, 2021 | Natasha Von Castle |
On the heels of a career-defining 2019, Jahvillani is preparing to release his VP Records-distributed album, Dirt to Bentley. The 13-track project, exclusively produced by longtime collaborator Tevin “YGF” Richards (for YGF Records), Adrian “Mastermind” Martin Lawrence, Ridwaan Razak and Jahvillani, explores life, relationships with women, among a plethora of other topics.
The lead single, “Pro-Gress” was released June 25th, 2021. The follow-up lead single for which the project is named, is “Dirt to Bentley” which features the smooth vocals of New York-based Dancehall star Kranium. The two tell the story about their rise from humble beginnings (‘dirt’) to their successes (‘Bentley’).
Dirt to Bentley was recorded Jamaica in and takes listeners on a sonic journey through Jahvillani’s ascension to his newfound life. The braggadocious sounds of celebration and retrospection are pushed to the fore. The atmospheric “1Gov’t Bad.Ness” sees the artist spitfire lyrics atop the grime-influenced bass-booming production. We see the convergence of Trinibad’s finest with Prince Swaany on “First Class Flight.”
The Skillibeng-assisted “Smooth” lives up to its name as it becomes a catalyst for an energetic lyrical exchange between the two artists. Both artists deliver slick lyrics for the ladies of the millennium who are his paramours; he dotes over the myriad of beauties who vie for his attention. Songs like “Love At First Sight,” “Powerful (Brand New),” “Dat Way” and “Broken” speak to his charisma.
Incisive and sharp, Jahvillani includes Trance1 GOV for “Scheme,” a boastfully canorous explanation describing the attention their presence demands. Over a repeated string chord “Pro-Gress” aptly illustrates the strides the artist has taken throughout his life followed by the triumphant Afrobeat-inspired “GOD.ly”.
As the project comes to an end, Jahvillani delivers an introspective and plea-ful “Journey” before wrapping with “Jahvi 3:16,” the artist’s creative interpolation of John 3:16 that acts as an outro as he speaks more candidly about the lessons he has learned from life’s ups and downs.
Though his career is in its infancy, its clear Jahvillani has carved out his own space within Jamaica’s musical landscape and his ‘Dirt to Bentley’ is just the beginning.
When asked about the industry, Jahvillani shares “The change I would make to the music industry is to create more room for young upcoming artistes, and for the music industry not to be viewed with a ‘crab in a barrel’ mentality, but as a platform for creatives. Wileside represents one government, but it’s not a one man’s world. It’s a group of young men bringing a next generation of music to life.” Through Dirt to Bentley, Jahvillani is steadily working towards fulfilling this goal and using his distinct sound to solidify his place in dancehall.
Source VP Records
