Charly Black to build on Gold Cup performance

In 2016, dancehall artiste Charly Black became the first local artiste to achieve diamond certification in Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Belize, and Guatemala through his megahit, Gyal You A Party Animal.

Fast-forward five years and the entertainer has become the first Jamaican artiste to perform on the Concacaf Gold Cup stage. In a performance in Las Vegas, Nevada, on August 1, the dancehall artiste appeared alongside Colombian Latin pop music duo Cali Y El Dandee, where they performed the Gold Cup theme song, Juega. Having prided himself on "working in silence", the entertainer says the accomplishment is proof that artistes do not have to be a part of the 'hype' to be on top.

"Charly Black pass that level of getting the first hit song from 2007. Me on another level, so me affi focus on the level I am at now. We can't be trying to compete with others who a try run the place. Run di place is not important because we affi remember a hot artiste is different from a big artiste," he said. "You may be hot right now, but dat nuh mean say you big and mi learn that over the years. Experience teaches wisdom."

The entertainer told THE WEEKEND STAR that he has consistently created history on the international scene and does not concern himself with the competition.

"I hear that I am the first dancehall artiste to perform at the Gold Cup, so it's a big deal for me, and I also believe it's a big deal for the culture as well. Mi nuh deh yah fi compete wid nobody or try inna no hype wid nobody. I am the hype," he said. "Many of my colleagues in dancehall like Bounty Killer, Busy Signal, Baby Cham, Spice and a few other send mi dem personal big-up on the achievement. Mi just a continue fi do weh mi a do the best way I know how. That has always been Charly Black focus because mi learn say when me get success, mi nuffi make it control me, me control it."

Charly Black said he is looking forward to releasing new music, including his album, following his appearance in Las Vegas.

"We have a brand new song a forward out the last Friday of August, and we also have so many visuals to release to the fans out deh. We're also waiting on Universal (Records) for the date to release my album because it ready. They are sorting through that, and so Charly just a gwaan put in the work same way," he said.