DJ Mac produced the most-streamed song on YouTube in Jamaica to date: “Empty” by Trap Dancehall standout Chronic Law. Known for its haunting departure from traditional dance-inducing Jamaican dancehall, “Empty” is a piano-driven track with lyrics delving into the gritty realities of inner-city Jamaica. With the bassline intentionally understated, the song creates a stark, introspective atmosphere, setting it apart as a defining piece in the Trap Dancehall genre.
Several veteran producers, like Clevie from the pioneering duo Steely and Clevie and Notnice, have questioned the viability of Trap Dancehall music. However, DJ Mac argues the criticism is unfounded, pointing to successful artists he’s collaborated with as proof. “The numbers there fi show, the events are there fi show,” he said. “Skillibeng is a perfect example of this whole trap thing, likewise with Valiant; the numbers are there, so it haffi a work in a some way.”
Expressing slight frustration, the 24-year-old producer brushed off the critics and the ongoing debate about Trap Dancehall’s effectiveness. “Me feel like the whole conversation about this Trap thing played out; it’s a conversation we have over and over again… because the numbers are there fi show, you get me?” he remarked.
Mac, real name Jason McDowell is ready to put his confidence to the test in a high-stakes matchup against legendary 90s dancehall record label Mad House at the Red Bull Culture Clash on November 2 at the National Arena in Jamaica. He’s far from nervous, saying, “A sumn weh me did done prepare for Inna me mind from years now. When the first one did come, me never get fi go, dem time deh me a go a school. Me know say everybody a prepare, and me double and triple a prepare for this thing yah because the people them want to see the young fish face.”
Mad House Records, led by Dave Kelly, boasts a catalog of 90s dancehall hits with icons like Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Mad Cobra, Baby Cham, and more. Baby Cham, whose songs were once banned from Jamaican radio, leads the Mad House team alongside veteran DJ Collin Hinds. But Mac remains unfazed, ready to take on the challenge.
In our zoom interview, Mac shared two desires: one is to meet the elusive Dave Kelly, and the other is to move beyond being labeled solely as a “Trap Dancehall” producer. With a growing catalog of dancehall hits featuring rising stars, many of which have reached No. 1 on both Apple Music and YouTube Jamaica charts, Mac sees Valiant as the most promising artist of the new generation. “The closest me see out of the young generation of dancehall haffi be Valiant for me. The whole appeal of him overseas just different,” he said.
In November 2022, Valiant made history as the first artist to dominate the top 5 spots on YouTube in Jamaica with five songs simultaneously. His hits “Dunce Check,” “North Carolina,” and “Narcissistic” rank as the No. 5, 7, and 9 most-viewed songs on YouTube Jamaica of all time.
“Based on the level at which the music is going now and how the youth them have a chokehold on the people around the world, the young crowd, even the old crowd, I feel like the music them doing now aguh last,” Mac remarked. “From you find one, you just haffi continue doing wah you a do. Anuh just gimmicks song along him do; him (Valiant) have nuff other song weh do good as well.”
