Rising Caribbean recording artist Espappi, born Christopher Escoffery, is quickly building a global buzz around his latest dancehall release, *Wiggle N Tickle*, which dropped from production collective Ragz to Richez on March 6.
Blending decades of experience in Caribbean performance with a modern creative vision, Espappi drew inspiration for the upbeat track from nostalgic, playful classic dancehall rhythms, with the explicit goal of updating vintage Caribbean sounds for a 21st century audience. Early feedback from listeners has already exceeded the artist’s expectations, with fans and critics alike praising the track as a fresh, infectious, and mood-boosting addition to contemporary global pop and dancehall rotations.
For the Jamaica-born artist, the single is more than just a new release—it is a stepping stone to connecting with music lovers across every continent. “My ultimate hope is that this song breaks internationally, connecting with audiences worldwide,” Espappi shared in a recent statement about the track’s outlook.
Espappi’s journey to this breakout moment began in Kingston, Jamaica, where he was born, before his family relocated to Clarendon, where he spent most of his childhood. As a young adult, he moved to the United States to pursue his performance career, cutting his teeth in competitive dance long before launching his full-time recording work. His competitive dance resume boasts an impressive array of titles: he took home third place at the 2014 International Dancehall Dance Competition, followed by a first-place win at the same event the next year. He also claimed first place at the prestigious Dancing Dynamite competition in 2015, and continues to compete in elite dance events today. Beyond competition, he has built a reputation as an in-demand opening act, sharing stages with global music icons including Brian Jenner, Lil Bibby, Alkaline, and Sean Paul, honing his live performance craft along the way.
Looking ahead to the remaining three quarters of the year, Espappi has laid out a series of ambitious goals to expand his reach and solidify his place in the global music industry. Alongside building momentum for *Wiggle N Tickle*, he is currently wrapping up work on his debut extended play (EP), plans to return to the Caribbean to perform for local audiences, and is experimenting with cross-genre collaborations and recordings to showcase his artistic versatility and attract a broader cross-section of global listeners.