分类： entertainment

Thirty-three years ago, a young Jamaican girl growing up between extended family in St James’ rural communities could scarcely have imagined that one day her work would grace the pages of *Vogue* and *The New York Times*, and that she would bring elite global brands’ boldest creative visions to life. Today, that girl — Traci Rhynie, a New York-based executive producer — has built a career shaping events and immersive experiences for household names spanning Netflix, Nike, Spotify, Estée Lauder, Tom Ford, and Victoria Beckham. But even as she climbs the ranks of the global creative industry, she has never strayed from the core values instilled in her during her island childhood.

Rhynie’s childhood unfolded against the quiet rhythm of rural Jamaica, while her parents worked overseas. Raised by a sprawling network of aunts, cousins, and extended family, she built deep, lasting bonds that anchored her early years. Looking back, she laughs that as a child, she bristled at the simple, farm-centered lifestyle that felt alien to what she had known. But as she grew, she came to recognize those years as the foundation of the resilience and gratitude that would carry her through every challenge ahead.

When Rhynie finally joined her parents in the United States, she stepped into a bittersweet new chapter. Like countless first-generation immigrant youth, she navigated the delicate balancing act of adapting to a new culture while holding fast to her Jamaican identity. That awkward, often challenging transition would ultimately forge the quiet confidence and unshakable determination that later propelled her career forward.

Ironically, event production — the field that would earn Rhynie international acclaim — was never part of her original plan. Enrolled at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology to study fashion merchandising, she stumbled unexpectedly on a deep passion for event production and experiential marketing. What began as a passing interest in fashion bloomed into a career centered on turning abstract creative concepts into unforgettable, immersive experiences for audiences around the world.

Over the last decade, Rhynie has led high-stakes projects for leading brands across fashion, beauty, and entertainment, with her work featured in top-tier publications from *Harper’s Bazaar* and *Essence* to *People Magazine* and *The New York Times*. Even now, she admits that her success feels surreal. “For a girl coming from Jamaica, this is absolutely insane,” she says.

Just as her career began to gain momentum, Rhynie faced the hardest fight of her life. At 25, a lump on her neck led to months of testing and biopsies, and ultimately a diagnosis of stage 2B Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “I remember when they told me I was like, ‘No way God is going to put me through this thing,’” she recalled, the memory still sharp.

What followed was a grueling gauntlet of surgery, chemotherapy, and endless uncertainty that forced the 25-year-old to confront questions no young person expects to face. But even in her darkest moments, her faith became an unbreakable anchor. “God had me, man. That’s all faith,” she said of the harrowing experience.

That battle rewrote Rhynie’s perspective on life and purpose. During treatment, she watched other patients — including young children — fight their own brutal battles with cancer, and realized her struggle was not hers alone. Instead of letting her diagnosis define her, she chose to find purpose in her pain, shifting her mindset from asking “why me” to wondering how her journey could lift up others facing similar hardship.

Years later, Rhynie is cancer-free, a victory she counts as one of the greatest blessings of her life. That blessing was soon followed by one of the proudest professional milestones of her career: not long after her recovery, she was tapped to executive produce Rodarte’s iconic New York Fashion Week show, an ambitious production that staged a runway presentation in a cemetery with backstage operations hosted at a historic church across the street.

The unconventional concept demanded months of meticulous coordination and problem-solving, and Rhynie embraced every challenge. On the day of the show, light rain began to fall mid-presentation. What could have derailed the entire production instead amplified its haunting, dramatic tone, creating an unforgettable moment of unexpected beauty that still resonates with attendees and the creative team today.

For Rhynie, the successful show was far more than a professional win — it was a deeply personal triumph. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to even come out of cancer, but to be able to do that after cancer…that meant the most to me,” she explained. The experience cemented a lesson she still carries with her: every obstacle can become a stepping stone to greater purpose.

Today, as an accomplished executive producer, director, and business development leader, Rhynie continues to craft immersive experiences for global audiences while advocating for better representation and more opportunities for immigrants and people of color in industries where they have long faced systemic barriers. Through every project and every achievement, she remains rooted in the lessons she learned growing up in Jamaica: treat everyone with respect, and cherish every opportunity that comes your way.

For Rhynie, success has never been just about climbing the career ladder. It is about lifting as you climb, opening doors for others who come after you, and staying true to the roots that made her. To young Jamaicans with big dreams of their own, her message is uncomplicated: “Go for your dreams, no matter what age you are. Don’t let anyone stop you from accomplishing those dreams.”

From a small girl with big dreams in rural Jamaica to a leader shaping global creative experiences, Rhynie’s story is a powerful testament to what talent, resilience, faith, and determination can make possible. When asked how she hopes to be remembered, her answer has nothing to do with awards or career milestones. “As someone that is very kind, very strong, and thankful, by the grace of God,” she says. It is a legacy she builds one day, one project, one act of faith at a time.

From the gritty inner-city streets of Waterhouse, Jamaica, a rising dancehall talent is poised to share Jamaica’s iconic cultural movement with the world. Known professionally by his stage name Lookalike, the artist born Dexroy Sheldon Myrie has built a formidable reputation on local stages over the past decade, and is now stepping onto the international circuit with clear goals and a contagious passion for his craft.

Lookalike’s journey to dance stardom was not a linear one. In his youth, he was a dedicated football player who went by the nickname “Skillachi”, never imagining that movement and rhythm would become his life’s work. It was only after a chance introduction to the Jamaican dance scene that he fell head over heels for dancehall, abandoning the football pitch to pursue his newfound calling. His talent was spotted early by popular local dancer Colo Colo, who took Lookalike under his wing. The pair spent countless afternoons at Half-Way-Tree Skateland before Lookalike began performing at weekly showcases for local patrons, honing his signature style one set at a time.

Over the years, Lookalike has worked his way up to the biggest stages in Jamaican entertainment, turning in electrifying performances at iconic events including Montego Bay’s Reggae Sumfest and Negril’s Dream Weekend. He has also entertained audiences at school fetes, private parties and local competitions, where his slick, dynamic moves helped him claim victory in most of the contests he entered—solidifying his decision to turn dancing into a full-time career.

Like generations of Jamaican dancehall innovators before him, Lookalike cites the late legendary dancer Bogle (also known as Mr Wacky) as his core influence, inspired by Bogle’s one-of-a-kind, boundary-pushing approach to movement. Today, he holds a spot as a member of the renowned local collective GetThereSquad, and has already collaborated with a who’s who of the dancehall industry: from stars Beenie Man, Popcaan, Elephant Man and Sean Paul hopeful Skeng, to established artist-dancers Chi Ching Ching and Harry Toddler. Beyond performing the work of other choreographers, he has also created his own original dance move, dubbed “Look Out”, which is growing in popularity among local dance fans.

Now, Lookalike is setting his sights far beyond Jamaica’s borders. His first ever international performance is already locked in: he will take the stage at Starlife Evening Brunch in Canada on July 5, 2026, kicking off what he hopes will be a years-long global tour. His core mission extends far beyond performing: he aims to travel the world teaching dancehall culture and its signature moves to new audiences, spreading the positive energy that defines the art form to communities across the globe.

For the rising star, dancing is also a platform to mentor the next generation of creative talent. He encourages young people to pour their full effort into the passions they hold dear, to trust in both their own abilities and their faith, and to never let outside obstacles or criticism derail their pursuit of their dreams.

For decades, games of chance have woven themselves into the cultural fabric of Jamaican daily life, and few have captured the public imagination quite like Cash Pot. Loved by working-class communities across the island, the wildly popular lottery now serves as the creative centerpiece for a new single from veteran Portmore-based dancehall artist Vibes Matrixxx.

Released in March 2024 under the production of Jamaica’s Signature Records, the track leans into the deep cultural role Cash Pot plays in grassroots Jamaican society, honoring the game’s enduring popularity among everyday people. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Vibes Matrixxx opened up about what inspired the project, explaining that the song grew from his observations of street communities that rely on regular Cash Pot purchases as a core part of their daily hustling.

“I did the song about Cash Pot because I was inspired by the people in the streets that buy it for a living. For most of them, it’s a hustle that they live off, so I thought of a song because of them,” the artist explained. Though not a consistent player himself, Vibes Matrixxx acknowledged he still takes an occasional punt on the game, sticking to the popular player mantra: “When you buy big, you win big.”

To understand the context for the track’s focus, it is important to look back at Cash Pot’s 23-year history in Jamaica. Launched in 2001 by gaming operator Supreme Ventures Limited, the lottery quickly grew to become one of the company’s most profitable core ventures, alongside the iconic Caymanas Park horse racing operation. The game’s accessible structure has been key to its mass appeal: players pick one number from a pool of 36, with a minimum entry wager of just 10 Jamaican dollars, and six draws held every single day to keep players engaged.

Vibes Matrixxx is no newcomer to Jamaica’s dancehall scene, bringing more than 15 years of performance and recording experience to his latest project. The artist built his local following over the years with earlier well-released tracks including *Rude Bwoy Keith* and *Hype Phone*, and his new single marks another entry in his discography centered on the lived experiences of Jamaican working-class communities.