Charly Black thrills fans in Israel

Dancehall star Charly Black described his first international performance of the year as a "most memorable experience" after thrilling a jam-packed Forum Nightclub in Israel on January 9. The Rich This Year hitmaker delivered an electrifying performance, showcasing his vast catalogue of hit songs to an exuberant crowd.

It marked the fifth time since 2015 that the Trelawny-born deejay, born Desmond Mendiez, graced a stage in the war-torn country. However, he said this experience was among his most exhilarating.

"I can't tell you the capacity of the crowd, all I know was that the club was packed and the people there missed me. They kept dancing, and sang word for word all my hit songs. I would be lying if I tell you that it was not my most exciting experience there," he shared.

An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian military groups has been ongoing since October 2023, resulting in millions of casualties and widespread displacement. Despite this, Charly Black, a platinum- and diamond-selling Billboard artiste, said the situation didn't deter him.

"It is always interesting going to Israel, because the security at their airport is always 'mad'. It is like a war zone, but I never had any fear in terms of war or whatever, because I am a musician. So if it is Palestine, or Israel, I am going to go. Music is what really frees the people, I am not here to take no sides. I went there and gave a great performance," he said.

Charly Black emphasised the strong connection between Israeli audiences and dancehall music.

"Israel people love dancehall music, and I am one of the many artistes from Jamaica who can perform after any act in Israel because I have hit songs that I don't even perform in some places in the world, that they know word for word. It was a crazy and amazing performance and I ended up performing for, like, 50 minutes. When we went backstage, a lot of the fans were there waiting for me," he added.

Charly Black is currently in the United States promoting his latest single and music video, One Chance, produced by ZJ Liquid.