Coming off an encouraging 2022, singjay 1 Suga Dhon is hoping to get that breakthrough hit song this year. She believes ‘Ghetto Product’, her latest single, has the goods to climb the charts.

Produced by Crown International Records, it was released late last year. It addresses the challenges of inner-city life, even in rural areas like Portland where the 18 year-old artiste is from.

“I hope it can give me that big breakthrough because it speaks volumes. A lotta people can relate to this song,” she said.

‘Ghetto Product’ closed a busy year for 1 Suga Dhon, a student at Buff Bay High School who began recording in 2020. Between hitting the books, she released songs such as ‘40’ and ‘Sorry’.

‘40’ is from the Green Concrete Riddim compilation album which has songs by elite acts such as Sizzla, Norris Man and Turbulence. It also looked at societal pitfalls through the eyes of Jamaica’s youth.

A major plus for 1 Suga Dhon (real name Jelisa Coke) last year was meeting Koffee, the first woman to win a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album which she accomplished in 2020 with Rapture. She performed at Buff Bay High School as part of an educational tour.

“That was an amazing experience, meeting her. It was the first time seeing her perform and she delivered,” said 1 Suga Dhon, who is in her final year of high school.

Howard Campbell