Skippa’s Take on Trap-Dancehall Has Made Him a Star — and His Ambition Doesn’t Stop There: ‘I Want to Leave a Legacy’
The Kingstonian — Billboard 's 2026 Caribbean Rising Star — is resonating with legends and millions of new listeners.
Skippa, a 25-year-old Jamaican artist from Kingston, has become a star by blending trap rhythms with traditional dancehall music. Born Tahjay Clarke, Skippa's unique sound has made him a rising star in the R&B and hip-hop scene. In December 2023, Skippa's song "Self Belief" gained popularity after Latin Grammy-nominated producer Rvssian restricted access to his hit "Dutty Money" riddim.
The somber ballad, which addressed personal struggles, resonated with fans and helped Skippa gain a large following. Just ten days before Christmas, Skippa released "WYFL," a track that became a viral crossover hit in 2026, garnering over 5.8 million U.S. streams. The song, featuring producers DJ MAC and CrashDummy, helped Skippa earn three nominations at the Caribbean Music Awards, including dancehall song of the year for "WYFL".
Despite not yet breaking onto the Billboard charts, Skippa has amassed an impressive 29.3 million U.S. on-demand streams through the end of 2026. His EP, "#Skippaholic", has also been well-received, amassing over 6.1 million streams. Skippa's rise to fame was aided by his participation in the Rising Star competition at the age of ten, where he placed third and gained recognition from the Jamaican music community.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
