Markus Myrie charts new course with managing Kyodi

Markus Myrie, the son of reggae icon Buju Banton, has had his "fair share" of exposure and experience as a music producer and recording artiste for more than a decade, reaching bars set by his father and setting personal standards within the music industry.

One such personal accomplishment is his recent transition into artiste management, with his first test coming with controversial dancehall hitmaker Kyodi. Myrie said he was always "passionate" about dancehall, so coaching a dancehall artiste while preparing him for a "lyrical war" is a very comfortable space for him.

"My career is based more around dancehall and not reggae, even though I'm a son of a reggae icon. I have a passion for dancehall and I can't fight it, so from ever since, I've been working with hardcore dancehall artistes, because my first hit song was with Bounty Killer and I-Octane [ Badmind Dem a Pree]. I've produced clash songs before, the only difference now is that I am managing the artiste, [and] this is the first artiste I'm managing," Myrie told THE STAR.

As the founder of the recording label Markus Records, Myrie said his new career path is simply due to his need for a change.

"Then he (Kyodi) came about and I saw the opportunity for growth, both for me and for his career, because when I got introduced to him, he already had [the single] When Mi Nice. So he [was] an artiste with a hit song already. But I saw where I could help him to achieve what he needed to, and I saw where I could tap into that managerial aspect of the industry," Myrie stated.

Kyodi, who is part of a clash trio with Demarco and Fully Bad, expressed his readiness for his upcoming "lyrical war" at Sting, under his new management.

"Is just war time. It's dancehall culture and wi jus' a bring back di ting at Sting and show di youths dem seh wi can tek di ting pon a lyrical warfare without affi a fire shots," the Double Barrel artiste told THE STAR.

"Him supa bad, him full a melody and style, quick wid him brain and very witty; talented artiste. The most prepared opponent will come out victorious and we are fully prepared," Myrie said.

In attesting to the level of work and dedication he has been undertaking, Kyodi expressed gratitude towards Myrie.

"A jus' whole heap a work, man; mi and Markus dem live inna di studio. As mi wake suh, a studio. [Mi have] whole heap a song weh mi nuh drop yet, mi nuh affi voice next year. But wi just a wait pon di right time fi drop dem," Kyodi said. The official music video for one of his latest singles under Markus Records, Woiiee will be released next week.

As one of Jamaica's youngest producers, Myrie has worked with some of Jamaica's best and most popular artistes, including Beenie Man, Mavado, Agent Sasco, Spice and Tifa.

He was nominated for, and won, Producer of the Year at THE STAR's People's Choice Awards for Badmind Dem a Pree, which was his first hit single in 2012.