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On Friday, May 15, global hip-hop superstar Drake sent shockwaves through the music industry when he unexpectedly dropped three full-length studio albums at once — *Iceman*, *Maid of Honour*, and *Habibti*. Among the long list of creative contributors tapped for the historic release was Montego Bay-based beatmaker, producer, and rapper Mvssivh, who earned production credits on not one, but two high-profile tracks across the collection.

Mvssivh’s first credit comes on the cut *New Bestie*, featured on the *Maid of Honour* project. The track makes a lyrical shoutout to iconic Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel, a nod that carries particular weight for the Jamaican creative. His second credit is for *Ran to Atlanta*, a cross-genre banger from *Iceman* that sees Drake joined by guest features from rap heavyweights Future and Molly Santana.

For the rising Jamaican talent, landing a spot on one of the biggest international rap releases of the year is far from his first brush with global success. Back in 2019, when he was just 18 years old, Mvssivh produced two tracks — *Cinderella* and *Waterfall* — that were included on Russian trap star Kizaru’s triple-platinum certified album *Karmageddon*. He also notched another credit on Kizaru’s *Carousel*, a track that appeared on the artist’s double-platinum selling extended play *Say No Mo*.

In an exclusive interview with *Jamaica Observer* on the day of Drake’s album release, Mvssivh — born Justin Junagadala — opened up about the winding path that led him to the OVO Sound camp. “I actually was working with people very close to him. I flew out to Canada for the Vybz Kartel show and I met with a couple people. I then went to Miami and worked with my other boys who work with the Drake’s OVO label very closely and we got to this point,” he explained.

Reflecting on the years-long process of seeing the collaboration come to fruition, Mvssivh expressed gratitude for the opportunity. “I feel blessed to be a part of this. I’ve been working on this project for the last few years, and I was shocked to see it turn into three albums,” he said.

When asked what the career milestone says about his range as a creative, Mvssivh highlighted that the credit proves he can excel beyond the dancehall space that many fans already associate him with. “It shows my versatility. The fact that I was able to show my talent in trap music and not solely dancehall in which people know me from,” he noted.

Mvssivh’s love for music began long before his first industry credit, starting in his early childhood growing up in the West Gate community of St James, Jamaica. He attended both Heinz Simonitch and Hillel Academy, and recalled that music was a constant companion from his youngest years. “I always had love for music from I was a kid. I couldn’t sleep without listening to music and I was playing piano as a little kid. I started listening to trap music and EDM (electronic dance music) and found a liking for the beats more, and the rest is history,” he shared.

A self-described introvert in his youth, Mvssivh said his quiet nature pushed him to lean into music creation as an outlet. “I was an antisocial kid, that’s why I ended up doing music. I didn’t have that many friends and I was always listening to music and making beats,” he explained. He credits his mother for nurturing his early connection to sound: his mother played drums in marching bands and encouraged him to start piano lessons when he was just six years old, laying the foundation for his future career.

Unlike many producers who rely on outside teams for post-production, Mvssivh handles all mixing and mastering for his own work, and he says a commitment to originality sets him apart from other creatives in the industry. “My sound is different from everybody else when it comes to the beats and the actual songs. I feel you have to be original and not follow anybody else. If you want to make it you have to be willing to try whatever. Zone out and go into a whole other world. Creativity is what matters now,” he said.

Prior to his Drake collab, Mvssivh had already built an impressive resume working with A-list talent across the global hip-hop and Jamaican music scenes. His list of international collaborators includes rap stars Chief Keef, Trippie Redd, Famous Dex, Smoke Purp, and Lil Poppa. Closer to home, he has partnered with the 6ix collective, Jamaican rappers Rude Jerms and Bakersteez, and top dancehall acts including I-Waata, Intence, Maestro Don, and Jada Kingdom.

The Drake credit has already unlocked new opportunities for his career, he confirmed. “A lot of doors have opened, and it has become easier for me to contact artistes. It makes it easier for them to take me serious about what I do,” he shared.

Beyond his work as an in-demand producer, Mvssivh also pursues a career as a solo rapper under the stage name Bvsed Justin. Looking ahead, he has a stacked slate of upcoming projects ready to roll out. “Man, I got my official producer album on the way with all the top artistes locally and a few internationally as well as my first official album as an artiste myself. Also got a few big projects I’m working on right now, stay tuned, the show isn’t over,” he teased.

The Jamaican music community is mourning the loss of iconic reggae vocalist Roland Burrell, who passed away suddenly on May 14 in Montego Bay. The news of his death was first confirmed by his cousin, veteran music producer Earl Messam, who shared the details with local outlet the Jamaica Observer, though no official cause of death has been released to the public.

Born in the quiet Pennants district of Clarendon, Jamaica, Burrell spent much of his childhood and formative years growing up in Trench Town, the culturally rich Kingston neighborhood that spawned dozens of reggae’s most legendary names. He launched his professional recording career in the early 1970s, but waited more than a decade for his big breakthrough: in summer 1982, he cut the track Johnny Dollar at Kingston’s iconic Channel One studio for producer Alton “Tanka” Hill.

Backed by the genre-defining rhythm section Sly and Robbie — already the most in-demand and celebrated musicians in global reggae at the time — Johnny Dollar became a worldwide sensation. The track climbed to the number one position on reggae charts across Jamaica, the United States, and the United Kingdom, cementing Burrell’s place in reggae history. The 1982 release was paired with a cover of American soul singer Garnet Mimms’ 1964 hit A Quiet Place.

Following the runaway success of his debut hit, Burrell quickly followed up with Stormy Night, another production from Alton Hill. Originally recorded by the group Creation Steppers in 1975, Burrell’s version of the track also earned strong commercial traction in both Jamaica and the UK.

Burrell never stepped away from the industry he loved: two years before his passing, he recorded an updated reimagining of Johnny Dollar for Philadelphia-based label Wildfire Records, which is owned by his cousin Earl Messam. Messam also produced many of Burrell’s later original works, including fan-favorite tracks My Conversation, You Have Caught Me, and a reggae reworking of the Temptations classic Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.

Burrell is survived by four children and multiple grandchildren, leaving behind a decades-long legacy that shaped reggae music across the globe.