One of Jamaica’s most buzzed-about contemporary reggae talents has landed a potentially career-changing opportunity, as rising UK independent music powerhouse Lizzy Records announced its first signing from the Caribbean island nation. The deal comes as the Black-owned London label accelerates its push into international markets, placing a big bet on D’Yani to become reggae’s next global breakout star.
The partnership follows a string of early wins for the reggae vocalist, whose hit tracks *Live a Little* and *Little Things* cemented his reputation as a fresh, compelling voice in modern reggae and earned him a growing fanbase across North America and Europe. His latest drop, the single *Journey*, has already racked up strong early engagement ahead of his hotly anticipated full-length album scheduled for release this summer. In just days, the track’s official music video crossed the 100,000 view mark, while it has accumulated thousands of streams across major digital streaming platforms – clear proof of D’Yani’s expanding international pull.
Kareem “Remus” Burrell, the producer at the helm of D’Yani’s upcoming album project, attributes the artist’s early success to his unwavering authenticity. “D’Yani’s authenticity as an artiste has enabled him to connect and speak to fans around the world — and if you combine that with his work ethic, then you get the level of results we’ve seen so far with *Journey*,” Burrell explained.
Executives at Lizzy Records echoed that enthusiasm for the new signing. Demonie “Squidell” Wilson, the label’s head of A&R, called D’Yani an ideal fit for the growing roster. “He’s shown the talent and discipline it takes to get there, which is why he is the perfect addition. Through our partnership, we believe we can elevate his career to the next level,” Wilson said.
Founded and led by veteran music executive Dion “Sincere” Hamilton (also known as Sincere Lizzy), Lizzy Records has quickly emerged as one of the most respected independent forces in the British music industry over the past half-decade. Built on a core mission of nurturing culturally resonant artists while retaining full independent ownership, the label has partnered with ADA (Alternative Distribution Alliance) for global distribution and marketing, giving it access to worldwide infrastructure without sacrificing its creative and operational independence.
That balanced strategy has already delivered standout results for the label. One of its flagship artists, EsDeeKid, has amassed more than one billion global streams across his catalog, establishing him as one of the most successful acts to break out of the UK’s underground rap scene. Its roster also boasts a stacked lineup of critically acclaimed and commercially successful artists, including Fimiguerrero, Rico Ace, Len, Knucks, Scorcher, SINN6R, PayperboyCity, Zaylevelten, yaemulli and Ohmien.
The label’s impact on British independent music was cemented in 2020s with *Conglomerate*, a collaborative album from Fimiguerrero, Len and Cityboymoe that became the first UK underground rap project to break into the Official UK Albums Chart Top 40, falling just short of the Top 20. Industry analysts widely hailed the achievement as a watershed moment for independent Black British music, proving that artists could maintain full artistic authenticity while achieving mainstream commercial success. Beyond the charts, Knucks has sold out headline tours across Europe and North America, expanding the label’s global footprint, while pioneering grime artist Scorcher has solidified its standing as a leader in the UK’s rap and grime movements.
In recent years, Lizzy Records has turned its focus to strategic international expansion beyond the UK’s borders, starting with investments in emerging African talent – Nigerian rising star Zaylevelten has become one of the label’s fastest-growing acts. The signing of D’Yani marks a deliberate next step: building a meaningful presence in the Caribbean, the global home of reggae.
For Hamilton, the D’Yani deal is far more than a single signing; it is a key milestone in the label’s broader vision to evolve from a UK rap imprint to a truly global music company that unites exceptional artists from Britain, Africa and the Caribbean under one independent umbrella. As streaming continues to break down long-standing geographic barriers in the music industry, creating new pathways for international artists to find global audiences, both D’Yani and Lizzy Records stand to gain from the partnership.
The Jamaican artist gains access to the label’s established global marketing network and distribution infrastructure, resources that can help him cut through the crowded competitive landscape, where Caribbean artists must compete for listener attention alongside A-list American pop and hip-hop stars. For Lizzy Records, the signing delivers an authentic foothold in reggae, one of the most culturally influential and commercially enduring music genres in the world.
While the global music market remains fiercely competitive, industry watchers note that the partnership aligns D’Yani’s proven talent and growing fanbase with a label that has a track record of turning emerging talent into global success – making this one of the most exciting signings of 2024 for reggae music.