Konshens

In the late ’90s, Jamaican dancehall star Konshens started out as one-half of Sojah, a duo with his brother Delus, who recorded their first demos at the studio of reggae legend Sugar Minott. ∙ Sojah’s 2005 single “Pon di Corner” went to No. 1 in Japan, making them stars there before they’d achieved any success in their homeland. ∙ In 2008, Konshens stepped out as a solo act with “Winner,” an uplifting mix of dancehall and hip-hop that became a huge hit in Jamaica. ∙ Mental Maintenance, his second album, topped Japan and Germany’s iTunes Reggae Albums charts in 2012 and reached the Top 10 in several other countries. ∙ The 2012 hit “Gal a Bubble” established Konshens’ reputation for “gyal tunes”—hard-grooving dancehall tracks designed to excite female audience members. ∙ In 2015, he collaborated with Dutch EDM singer Eva Simons on the club-banger “Policeman,” which became an international hit. ∙ “Bruk Off Yuh Back,” a major hit for Konshens in 2016, was remixed the following year with a guest vocal from Chris Brown.