Stylo G has just dropped ‘Outta Space’ featuring Busta Rhymes, the artist’s first release of the year. Produced by The Fanatix, a multi-award-winning music production trio from London, the single is a high-octane collision of dancehall and hip-hop.
Whilst it flirts with dancehall rhythms, ‘Outta Space’ is not a conventional dancehall track by any means. The song’s dramatic orchestral opening and use of choral vocal samples are just two examples of the interesting musical choices made by Stylo G and the Fanatix. According to the artists, the production was inspired by Busta Rhymes’ legendary double time flow. They stated that the famed flow “will always remind us of something not human and from outta space”.
Raised in Spanish Town until he was fifteen before moving to South London, Stylo G has certainly held onto his Jamaican roots in his music. In his biography on the Universal Music website, the 35-year-old is described as “an artist determined to make dancehall a credible contemporary genre again”. Indeed, he has never attempted to pander to current musical trends, even though it would have been very easy for him – as many other British artists have done – to jump on the UK afrobeats wave. In turn, the cinematic production of ‘Outta Space’ should be read as a defiant attempt to push the dancehall genre forward.
Stylo G’s infectious energy is undoubtedly matched by Busta Rhymes on this latest track. Incorporating patois into the first section of his fiery, fast-paced verse, the legendary American MC once again proves his versatility when it comes to rapping (if there was ever any doubt).
Despite his unwavering commitment to the dancehall genre, Stylo G has a diverse range of songs in his musical catalogue. With over 25 million plays, his most played track on Spotify is his collaboration with DIVINE on ‘Mrichi’, which also has over 200 million views on YouTube. Injecting his distinctive patois-inflected style into this Indian hip-hop track, Stylo G validates himself as an international poster boy for dancehall.
With a musical career spanning over ten years, you would expect that the British-Jamaican star would have an array of projects under his belt; however, he has only one solo EP to his name. Fans will certainly be hoping that ‘Outta Space’ is an indicator of something more substantial dropping later in the year.
Listen to Stylo G and Busta Rhymes’ new collaborative track below:
