Junior Toots salutes women on latest single

Immensely proud of the musical legacy left by his father, the late Toots Hibbert, singer Junior Toots says he feels the need to build on that foundation.

As the youngest son of the reggae legend, Junior Toots is determined to not only further his family's solid musical history, but also chart his own course in the industry. He recently delved into the world of Afrobeats and concocted his latest single, Over Hills and Valleys. The track, which was released earlier this month, has the love messages often entrenched in reggae music, but the track is infused with the rhythmic stylings of Afrobeats.

"This single is special because it's my first Afrobeats song and personally I love the genre. I got connected with the producers of the track and they wanted me to do a song on this riddim. It's a dance song with the positive inclinations we push through reggae music. It's an ode to women geared at empowering them, and it's just, overall, a feel-good type of song," he said.

"The inspiration came from The Most High and my love and respect for women. There are solid women in my life who I value and respect and would defend any time, anywhere. So I just wanted to show women love, especially in these times when there's violence and disrespect everywhere. I want women to feel loved while having fun to a song they can dance to."

Junior Toots said that based on the song's message, he knew it would be well received. But the track has surpassed his expectations.

"When it took off in Africa and radio DJs and club DJs started blasting it, we knew it was next-level. It's been fantastic," he said. "I want to be an inspiration for humanity with my positive music, and this song can do that for me."

The singer, who said he's also promoting a cover of his father's Pressure Drop single, said he's looking forward to doing even more with Over Hills and Valleys.

"The lyric video to the song is out, but I am in the process of putting together a treatment for an official music video. I am working closely with the producers of the track, Caskeys and Shwaniyah, to come up with something the lovers of the song will appreciate," he said.