In the entertainment ecosystem, the name Heavy D is one that resounds in a powerful way. He refers to himself as God-blessed, and, after more than 40 years in the business as promoter, artiste manager, tour manager and booking agent, Heavy D has experienced the best of times and the worst of times.
His reputation precedes him, and he has been known to defend it tooth and nail against allegations of unprofessional business practices.
Junior Fraser, as he was christened, has managed acts like Tommy Lee Sparta, Etana, Squash, and the 6ix camp.
He is constantly being called on for his advice from promoters, managers, artistes – both veterans and emerging acts – who want to get involved in the music industry in a meaningful way.
To start our 5 Questions With … for 2026, we sought out Heavy D for his views on where the music is going and his hopes and dreams for the industry.
1. Share with us your New Year’s resolution.
My resolution is to stay with God. Me just talk di truth all the time … and nobody cyaan tell me fi rub up wid this or rub up wid that fi get what me want. A God alone me seh, cause me come from the tribe of Job.
2. What’s your hope for dancehall music for 2026 and beyond?
Dancehall music a our music. Yuh see dem a fight fi it go inna Grammy now? A long time me a tell the government and the system seh we have two [types of] music: reggae and dancehall. As a matter of fact, we have many genres of music … cause mi go some place and ska is still big. But our two main ones a reggae and dancehall … and me tell dem seh [they] operate [in] two different way[s].
Reggae and dancehall can keep inna the same venue inna Europe, [on] the same night because the reggae show a go finish 12 o’clock and the dancehall ting a go start after. The music haffi continue inna the right way, but we have to give the youth dem a chance with the new music.
3. Is the music still breaking new ground?
Right now, our music a reach places like India and China … and, even inna the Middle East, people a ask mi fi show. Mi go right ‘cross England with dancehall artistes [like] Byron Messia one of the time and him sold out many places across England. So dancehall is strong. And reggae a big up back to. Cause Chronixx dem nah go way … dem still deh deh. And the legendary ones dem like Capleton and Sizzla … dem a continue fi sing and dem great. Beres [Hammond]and Buju [Banton], dem cyaan touch dem.
4. Has dancehall music benefited from Vybz Kartel being out of prison?
Yes! Yuh neva hear dem did a seh ‘Dancehall deh a jail’? [Laughs] Mi nah go seh it is that way, but Kartel really and truly change the game. Him remove a wall, not a zinc fence.
And when it come to dancehall, Sean Paul is the man; a just true Jamaica nah give him the flowers… Kartel connect different with the people from Sean Paul, but Sean Paul ah our greatest artiste … people will fight it but a so it go. Sean Paul have the most number one dancehall song in the world. And Kartel knows too, seh Sean Paul great.
5. Should there be a Dancehall Month just like how February is officially Reggae Month?
Well … yeah. But one question though: why it keep on name Reggae Month? Why it can’t name Reggae and Dancehall Month, and a reggae and dancehall oonu a promote? Stop call it Reggae Month alone and name the thing the right way. A long time me a tell dem.
BRAWTA:
How do you feel about the music fraternity’s response after Hurricane Melissa hit?
Bwoy, mi lift off mi hat to di music fraternity and to di artiste dem … both reggae and dancehall. And the Government suppose to give dem a little honour to, because the artiste dem really come out and help more than almost anybody else. Dem nuh just talk … from Spice to Masicka, to Govana, Aidonia, Kartel and Sean Paul … dem go hard. Mi know some man who no have it and dem seh ‘Mi have two bag a flour’. And me know seh dem nuh have it, so dem a give the widow’s mite, as the Bible seh. Mi feel proud of that. Melissa is a bad thing to happen to we, but we shall rise.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source jamaica-gleaner.com ’
