Yaksta is continuing to speak on what he describes as gatekeeping and industry politics within Jamaica’s reggae and dancehall landscape, claiming he believes efforts have been made behind the scenes to hinder his progress.
During a candid interview with Anthony Miller of ER, the “Ambition” singer alleged that he has experienced situations where opportunities were taken away from him due to what he believes was interference from people within the industry.
“I have been in situations where people call and cancel me off tour and cancel off playlist,” Yaksta said.
The latest reiteration comes over a week after Yaksta took to social media to profess his sexuality, his religion and other aspersions about gatekeeping.
The artist, formerly known for his farming-inspired brand of roots reggae, suggested that his refusal to conform has created tension with certain figures in the music business.
“Me rather be over the fence where me and me friend them a eat,” he stated.
Yaksta also referenced songs from his recent body of work, saying some of his music may have made people uncomfortable.
“I made ‘Roar’ from my album and I dropped ‘Return’ and it made a lot of people uncomfortable,” he said.
In his previous rant he did not mention any names but his ER interview became more pointed when Yaksta mentioned fellow reggae star Chronixx, whom he described as one of his favorite artists before criticizing what he called a “dutty heart and mind.”
“Me favorite artist a Chronixx… but him fi clean up him dutty heart and him mind,” Yaksta said.
When Miller questioned what Chronixx had to do with the broader conversation, Yaksta accused the interviewer of attempting to twist his words. He later expanded his criticism to include Lila Iké and Protoje, alleging that certain people within the reggae fraternity were “playing mind games.”
Protoje and Chronixx are widely associated with the reggae movement often referred to as the “Reggae Revival,” earning international recognition and Billboard-charting reggae projects over the years.
Without clarifying exactly how they were allegedly “playing mind games,” Yaksta argued that platforms within Jamaican music should be shared more equally and claimed that some artists are unfairly excluded from opportunities.
“Them fi talk bout the youth what them stop,” he said, while also adding, “People hide them hand.”
At another point in the interview, Yaksta insisted he was not angry despite the passionate tone of his remarks.
“Me a one rebel… when me did down, me never see them,” he said before later telling Miller, “Me happy.”
The artiste also made bold declarations about his own success, claiming he currently has “the No. 1 song in the world” and “the biggest album inna the whole world,” while alleging that dishonesty exists throughout the music industry.
Yaksta further pushed back against the importance often placed on international validation, particularly U.S. visas and overseas acceptance.
“Unuh can take visa, it nuh mean nuttn to me,” he said. “If local choose me, then me choose local. Me a Jamaica first.”
Yaksta closed the conversation by suggesting that pressure had been placed on him to conform to certain expectations within the industry.
“They said Yaksta fi fall in line,” he declared.
