Since first hearing “Boogie Woogie,” both my ears and eyes have been on Yaksta (Kemaul Martin), the Bush Lawd from St. Mary, Jamaica. A songwriter who clearly follows his own path, moving by his own rules and style, building his empire from the beautiful St. May parish. Not limited by genre, he moves easily between dancehall, ska, trap, soca, and, fortunately, reggae.

With a strong commanding voice that at times recalls Peter Tosh, Yaksta, for me, seems to find his strongest moments on tracks like “Splinters in My Heart,” “Jah Man,”, “Ambition,” “Pon di Island,” and now his latest release, the nyahbinghi-driven “Roar.” A track with piercing lyrics and an always unfiltered delivery, Yaksta speaks on the fading of realness, not only in the music industry, but in everyday life, from mindset to consumption to how people carry themselves.

Since the release of his album 22 in 2023, his momentum has only grown. Now, three years and more than 50 songs later, his creative flow shows no signs of slowing down. With his raw, uncut street roots and truth-telling lyrics, it feels like only a matter of time before the major festivals finally pick him up and bring his artistry to a global stage. Roar could be one of those standout tracks for 2026!

Danny Creatah