St. Lucian artists Umpa and Shemmy J have been named among “10 Caribbean Artists to Watch in 2025” by Billboard.
The US music blog lauded Umpa for his remarkable streaming success and standout performances.
The publication noted Last year, Umpa collected over 2.63 million global streams on Spotify, an impressive number for a rising artist from a niche genre without a proper studio album.
Shemmy J’s inclusion on the list comes as no surprise, given his standout year in 2024. Billboard highlighted his nomination for Best New Soca Artist at the 2024 Caribbean Music Awards, which placed him alongside heavyweights like Yung Bredda.
One of Shemmy J’s career milestones was the release of his 2024 debut album, Dutty Papi. The album showcased his multifaceted artistry and featured “Ms Grippy,” a track that has become one of his signature hits. Notably, the album also included collaboration with Umpa on the track “Top,” solidifying their status as two of St. Lucia’s most influential artists.
