Rytikal single trends as trial scheduled to start today

Dancehall artiste Rytikal, who is scheduled to face the courts today on gun charges, is seeing success with his latest single, Smoke my Troubles Away.

The song is an ode to marijuana and was released on April 20 or 4/20, the day that pays tribute to the plant. The single gained close to 250,000 views in the first six days.

"Rytikal is very unique. He is very intellectual in his songwriting and he has helped a prominent entertainer a lot. He has so many songs. All his songs are big. Everything him do trending," Rytikal's manager, Shay Newman, told THE STAR. A previous single, Living, also did well, reaching number five on YouTube's trending chart after just one day. That single and video were dropped in celebration of him being granted bail on March 24.

Rytikal, given name Ryan McFarlane, hails from the hills of St Thomas and is now on $1 million bail, which was offered when he appeared in the Gun Court to answer to charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. As part of his bail conditions, Rytikal was ordered to report to the Bull Bay Police Station on Wednesdays and Saturdays and to abide by a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew order. Newman assured that Rytikal has been reporting promptly. "By the help of God, we are hoping for the best outcome for him," he said.

Newman said Rytikal remains "very upbeat, having the time of his life, looking to a newer, bigger and higher horizon". He said the artiste is reportedly busy in studio, churning out new singles.

"Rytikal is on a new path musically. He is not somebody who talks a lot, but he smokes weed. I suppose that's his brain food, so yes, I guess you could say he is smoking his troubles away," he stated. The police report that on January 28, lawmen were on patrol in Eight Miles, Bull Bay, St Andrew, when Rytikal was seen acting suspiciously. He was questioned and following a search of his car, a Taurus .380 pistol with 12 rounds of ammunition were found. Rytikal, who reportedly told the police that the weapon was a prop for a music video, was taken into custody and later charged.