DJ Khaled’s track record with Jamaican talent is more than a musical coincidence — it’s a pattern, a strategy, and at this point, a signature move. Across 13 studio albums, the Miami-based producer has leaned heavily into Jamaica’s rich cultural influence. And now, with his upcoming 14th studio effort Aalam of God, that formula remains intact — only this time, the cast is even deeper.
A Monumental New Track
You Remind Me, the album’s lead single, debuts at #33 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Top 40 — a position that signals more than just commercial traction. It brings together a generational mix of reggae and dancehall’s most potent names: Buju Banton, Vybz Kartel, Bounty Killer, Mavado, and RoryStoneLove, alongside Kaylan Arnold, a Belizean newcomer now based in Miami.
For Buju Banton, it’s a first appearance on this particular Billboard chart — a curious fact considering his international acclaim. Meanwhile, Vybz Kartel, Mavado, and Bounty Killer all earn repeat appearances, further cementing their relevance not only in Kingston’s soundscape but in the mainstream playlists of America.
The Unbroken Chain
For over a decade and a half, DJ Khaled has tapped into Jamaica’s deep bench of talent — not as a gimmick, but as an artistic throughline. From We Global to God Did, there’s hardly an album without a Jamaican footprint.
Some highlights:
- 2008’s We Global included Bullet with Baby Cham and She’s Fine featuring Sean Paul.
- 2010’s Victory brought together Buju Banton and Bounty Killer on Killing Me.
- 2013’s Suffering From Success hosted Give It All to Me with Mavado and Nicki Minaj.
- 2016’s Major Key featured Mavado’s emotional Progress, a standout produced by Mineral Boss Records.
- 2019’s Father of Asahd included Holy Mountain, a spiritual anthem with Buju, Sizzla, and Mavado.
- 2022’s God Did united Skillibeng, Capleton, Bounty Killer, and Sizzla on These Streets Know My Name.
Now, with You Remind Me, the torch is passed to a new generation — even as the veterans remain central.
Jamaicans All Over the Charts
Elsewhere on Billboard’s ecosystem, Jamaican and Caribbean artists are making calculated strikes:
- Sean Paul’s Ginger slips to #22 on Rhythmic Airplay after a strong 13-week run.
- Vybz Kartel appears again, this time on PBT with Travis Scott and Tyla — climbing to #13.
- Shenseea, featured on Mariah Carey’s Sugar Sweet, remains at #18 on Mainstream R&B, though the song slides on other charts.
Over on the US Afrobeats Songs chart, the Caribbean–Afrobeats fusion is dominating:
- Shake it to the Max (Fly Remix) by Skillibeng, Shenseea, Moliy, and Silent Addy continues its 23-week reign at #1.
- Getting Paid with Skillibeng, Wizkid, Sarz, and Asake holds strong in the top 10.
Reggae Albums: Legends and Survivors
On the Reggae Albums chart, the king remains unchanged:
- Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Legend hits an astonishing 300 weeks at #1.
- Shaggy’s Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection holds the #2 spot.
- Sean Paul resurges with The Trinity now at #3, while his classic Dutty Rock sits at #6.
- Damian Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock rounds out the top 10.
The Bottom Line
Jamaica isn’t just in the room — it is the room. Whether it’s dancehall’s elder statesmen or a new wave of cross-genre collaborators, the island’s presence on international charts is no longer an occasional surprise — it’s a core part of the global sound architecture.
DJ Khaled knows this. The numbers know it. And soon, Aalam of God will likely confirm it — again.