Four years after declaring that she had never aspired to become Queen of Dancehall and had given herself just five years to focus on the genre before pursuing her childhood dream of becoming an international pop star, Jamaican singer Shenseea is now staking her claim to the coveted crown currently held by Spice.

The apparent change of heart came during a recent appearance at LUME with radio personality Papa Keith of The Beat 103 FM, who suggested that the Queen of Dancehall title should not necessarily be held by one artiste for a lifetime.

“A queen is not a lifelong thing,” Papa Keith said, acknowledging Spice’s contribution to the genre while suggesting that her reign should not be considered permanent.

“She did her thing, for sure, like, give her her props on that. I’m not taking anything away from Spice,” he continued.

“But I just believe that you were what we needed at that time. You understand what I’m saying? And when you had the singing anthem, like, it was unquestionable.”

Shenseea, who has expanded her career internationally since emerging on the Jamaican music scene, responded by acknowledging Spice’s achievements before putting herself forward for the title.

“I respect Spice a lot. I mean, I respect all the people who are performing in the business,” she said.

“I do agree that, you know, she’s done her thing and she’s still doing her thing. But based on statistics and what I’m doing now, I do think I am the new Queen of Dancehall,” Shenseea declared.

Her remarks were met with enthusiastic reactions from those present, who encouraged her to speak her mind.

However, the declaration marks a significant departure from the position Shenseea publicly maintained in January 2022, when she insisted that becoming Queen of Dancehall had never been among her career ambitions.

During an Instagram Live that year, the Blessed singer told followers that she had fulfilled a five-year commitment to dancehall and was ready to pursue the international pop career she had envisioned since childhood.

“I told myself I’m gonna do Dancehall for five years. I have given myself to Dancehall; I have given y’all hits upon hits, upon hits, upon hits, upon hits, for five years bro,” she said at the time.

She was quick to clarify that her decision to expand into other genres did not mean she intended to abandon dancehall entirely.

“And I am not leaving Dancehall because I could never. What you f-kin thought? I did not say that,” she added, laughing.

Shenseea explained that her ambitions extended beyond the genre that had established her career.

“But I have such a bigger dream for myself ever since I was a child; I am going to achieve it, because at the end of the day it is my life and it is what I want and it is what I’ve always dreamt of. And I’m gonna get that for myself,” she declared.

At the time, the singer was responding to criticism surrounding her musical direction, including comments from dancehall selector Foota Hype following the release of Lick, her collaboration with American rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

Addressing suggestions that she should return her focus to dancehall and position herself as the genre’s next queen, Shenseea rejected the idea outright.

“I have never aspired to be a Dancehall queen in my life. Neverrrr. I have never aspired to be a Dancehall queen. Because I am not going to be doing only Dancehall. I can do a lot of other different genres. I am not gonna put myself in no box to please nobody,” she said.

She further explained that her initial commitment to the genre had been deliberate.

“I have been doing it for five years, because I told myself I am going to give myself to my Caribbean people strictly and my country, for five years, just to show that I can do it. I have done that! That’s off my list.”

Her comments were consistent with statements she had made throughout her career about wanting to become a mainstream pop star.

In a 2018 interview with World Music Views’ Donovan Watkis, she also outlined her long-term ambitions.

“In five years, I will be an international artist and in seven years I want to pursue a career in acting,” she stated.

By July 2021, ahead of the release of Run Run, the first single from her debut album Alpha, Shenseea again reiterated her desire to become an international pop artiste.

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to become an international pop artiste. When I achieve mainstream success in the United States, is when I would have achieved my first goal,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Despite her previous reluctance to pursue the Queen of Dancehall title, Shenseea has consistently acknowledged Spice’s influence and accomplishments.

In the interview with World Music Views, when asked whether any female artistes in the industry inspired her, Shenseea singled out Spice for her commanding stage presence.

“Well as far as performance I watch Spice a lot and she has the stage locked. She brings the flag for the females onstage. She held her own and I respect her for that,” Shenseea said.

She also revealed that Vybz Kartel was among the artistes whose lyrical abilities she studied.

“Where lyrics are concerned I listen a lot of Vybz Kartel and challenge myself against him.”