Valiant unveils ‘4:14’ mixtape

When Valiant hit the stage inside the Marketplace Entertainment Centre for the Arts on Tuesday night, for the official launch of his 4:14 mixtape, he was overcome with emotions.

He explained that it represents the date April 14 on the annual calendar -- the date on which he received two of the greatest achievements in his life. These, he said, are the birth of his son and the viral slang 'Kotch 'eh Hat', which led to his career breakthrough and subsequent success.

When he took the microphone to address his supporters, the usually jovial, articulate, dramatic and outspoken 24-year-old started out by saying, "It's been a long journey... and mi kinda nervous.

" 4:14 has to do with timing. It really mek a stamp in we life, 4:14. We have a lot of artistes featured on it that came out to support me... A far mi a forward from. You know far, far, far. Where we get rejected. If we go [to] a studio, dem a run we out because a sing we a sing so dem nuh waa hear no singer, so mi affi fight fi it a different type a way. Mi nuh waa sing certain things but mi affi sing it, [but] mi really waa show unu seh mi love unu and appreciate this. Mi a go continue doing the good," Valiant said.

"The mixtape a really fi show them seh it's not just trap dancehall alone we can do, [but also] the original dancehall weh we did start off with ... . The mixtape is really fi set a pace, fi show dem seh we versatile; reggae, dancehall, gospel, Afro, Spanish and French," the entertaner added.

Valiant, whose given name is Raheem Bowes, has dropped hits such as Dunce Cheque, Motorcade, Expensive, Barbies, St Mary and Corruption. He has also had collabs with Skillibeng and Kraff for Real Estate; Stalk Ashley on Narcissistic and Armanii for Innocent.