Stefflon Don’s ‘Island 54,’ blends global music influences with her signature dancehall flair. Born Stephanie Allen, this British-accented, multicultural hitmaker, has taken a full decade to craft this independent 20-track project, following her two mixtapes Da Real Ting (2016) the the UK Charting ‘Secure’ (2018).
It’s clear, despite all her siblings being artists, Stefflon Don is the standout talent of her family and she brings the same main girl energy into the dancehall scene.
With over 2 billion catalog streams under her belt, Stefflon Don is best known for her R&B and Latin collaborations, including the hit ‘Hurtin’ Me’ featuring French Montana. She’s also made waves with pop hits like ‘Instruction’ with Demi Lovato and the Latin banger ‘Bum Bum Tam Tam,’ featuring Mc Fioti, Future, J Balvin, and Juan Magan. But don’t expect any of these big names on ‘Island 54’—this album is all about Stefflon Don’s solo prowess.
‘Island 54’ takes cues from 90s dancehall culture with Afrobeats, Hip Hop, R&B, and even some gospel influences. The opening track, ‘Toppa Top,’ features BEAM, son of dancehall legend Papa San, who also shows up on track three. Buju Banton brings his authentic touch to the second track, ‘Sweet/ Come Outside.’
Sonically, the album is expertly crafted, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of artists, from underground dancehall talent Dovey Magnum to icons like Beyoncé, Adele and Vybz Kartel.
The promotional singles highlight Stefflon Don’s versatility. ‘What’s Poppin,’ featuring Nigerian singer BNXN, serves up a smooth R&B groove, while ‘Intergalactic’ hits pure dancehall notes. ‘Intergalactic’ may have been better received by the public, had she not got into a local spat with rising Jamaican artist Jada Kingdom. ‘Dilemma,’ featuring Punjabi artist Sidhu Moose Wala, became the album’s promotional lifeline, breaking the record for the fastest dancehall song by a female artist to hit 5 million views on YouTube, just four days before the album’s drop.
Stefflon Don’s artistic and lyrical brilliance shines on ‘We Build,’ a social commentary rap tackling global politics and the music industry. She raises the stakes on ‘Brother’s POV,’ a deeply empathetic track dedicated to her estranged brother rapper Dutchavelli, addressing mental health issues with profound sensitivity.
‘Problems in Paradise,’ featuring James Gillespie, is another standout, seamlessly fitting into the UK music scene alongside any Elton John ballad. The Afrobeats melodies on ‘Different Sides,’ featuring Adekunle Gold, revive the album after it took a musical dip with ‘Dem Evil’ and ‘Mada Mouiselle’ featuring D-Block Europe.
Embracing her role as the Beyoncé of her family, ‘Control’ feels like an Afrobeats dance spin on Beyoncé’s ‘Break My Soul,’ yet Stefflon Don makes it uniquely hers, ensuring it doesn’t come off as a knockoff. Her influences are evident; she has studied the greats and aims to surpass them.
‘Island 54’ is a brilliant debut effort, positioning Stefflon Don as a leader in the dancehall music arena. While she still has a journey ahead to conquer the globe, this album is a significant leap towards perfecting her sound.
‘Island 54’ is released by 54 London LTD under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC.
