Kehlani’s 2024 single After Hours, which samples Cordell “Skatta” Burrell’s iconic Coolie Dance Riddim, has been certified Platinum in Canada for sales and streams exceeding 80,000 units, according to Music Canada.
Released on April 4, 2024, via Atlantic Records as the lead single from Kehlani’s fourth studio album Crash, the track reimagines the infectious dancehall rhythm made famous by Nina Sky’s 2004 hit Move Ya Body. The R&B star’s version blends the riddim’s unmistakable bounce with a “radio-friendly, club-inclined” groove, earning praise for its lighthearted energy and Kehlani’s smooth vocal delivery.
Produced by Khris Riddick-Tynes and Alex Goldblatt, After Hours not only resonated on streaming platforms—peaking at No. 4 on the U.S. Rhythmic chart—but also garnered a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song at the 67th Grammy Awards.
The single’s global impact extended beyond Canada, with Platinum certification in New Zealand and Gold status in the United States. Its success is a feather in the hat of Skatta’s 2000s dancehall blueprint, which continues to shape contemporary pop and R&B hits two decades later.
In 2023, Beyoncé incorporated Move Ya Body into her Renaissance tour performances, a moment Skatta celebrated, recalling he made the riddim on an MPC2000 during a New York trip. Kehlani has since named Move Ya Body one of her all-time favorite songs, citing its instantly recognizable drums and feel-good energy as the inspiration for her 2024 hit After Hours.
The Coolie Dance riddim, created by Cordell “Skatta” Burrell in 2002 and released in 2003, has been sampled over 60 times, starting with 20 original tracks by artists like Elephant Man (Genie Dance), Vybz Kartel (Please), Bounty Killer (Yuh Gawn), and Sizzla (Mama Africa).
Its first international hit came in 2004 when Mr. Vegas and Wayne Anthony’s Pull Up reached No. 98 on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year, Nina Sky and Jabba’s Move Ya Body peaked at No. 4 in the U.S. and No. 6 in the UK, both earning Gold and certifications in that country try. Elephant Man’s Jook Gal (Wine Wine) with Twista, Youngbloodz, and Kiprich also charted for 16 weeks peaking at No. 52 on the Hot 100, as did Pitbull’s debut single Culo with Lil Jon (32).
