US-based dancehall artiste MoneyMarkHot believes that the '90s dancehall era had the most defining hits that endeared the art form to millions.

"Nothing no bad like '90s dancehall. Artistes like Lady Saw, Buju Banton, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer became household names as dancehall peaked in popularity alongside rap and R&B in mainstream black music," he said.

The combination of the '90s and the guitarist Carlos Santana inspired his new single, Get In The Groove, that infuses a smooth, liquid Latin groove with dancehall.

"This song reflects my lifestyle...wild and crazy, but sometimes relaxing," said the artiste, whose given name is Troy Allen, said. He is riding high these days, generating a major buzz with Get In the Groove, which has racked up close to two million views since its release four months ago. It has also been added to the rotation of several ethnic radio stations in the New York Tri-state area. The resulting buzz has landed him gigs at local clubs and events.

Born in Kingston, he migrated during his teens and grew up in New York City and Los Angeles. Always jovial and fun-loving, he showed an interest in the arts, especially music. He describes his music as borderless and versatile because of his eclectic tastes. However, his biggest role models in music, Bounty Killer, Buju Banton and Shabba Ranks, hail from the land of his birth. After leaving high school, he continued to hone his craft while setting up various entrepreneurial ventures. Five years ago, he decided to pursue music further.

Since that time, MoneyMarkHot has earned a reputation for his special brand of inspirational music with songs like Live Life Music, which racked up more than one million views. He said his biggest dream is to own his own music company so as to establish young, independent artistes like himself.

"My art is a reflection of everything I experience. Production-wise, I use elements of 1990s dancehall, which was a golden era for the genre, and mix that with my international influences, because I grew up between LA and New York. But I really want to unearth and break new talent, and help preserve the culture for future generations to discover," he said.