Sean Paul collabs with Tyla on ‘Push 2 Start’ remix

Sean Paul has spent two decades proving that dancehall isn't confined by borders, but rather a rhythm that moves the world.

With a career that has seen him linking up with heavyweights like Beyonce and Dua Lipa, the Grammy-winning hitmaker continues to push the boundaries, this time collaborating with South African pop sensation Tyla for the remix of her hit single, Push 2 Start.

"I think Tyla's an awesome artiste. She's authentic, she's singing in her own accent, and you can see her vibe on Instagram. She's just a dope artiste," Sean Paul said. "So, when they asked me to do the remix, I was definitely happy."

The remix marks yet another moment where dancehall and Afrobeats seamlessly fuse, a trend that has been dominating global charts in recent years. But, as Sean Paul explains, this blending of sounds isn't a new phenomenon -- it's a natural evolution of dancehall's indisputable influence. As Afrobeats continues to dominate international airwaves, its deep ties to dancehall are impossible to miss.

"You have to salute the root. Dancehall evolved from reggae, and it helped to influence other genres like reggaeton and Afrobeats," said Sean Paul.

Observing this cross-pollination unfold is both a moment of pride and an affirmation of dancehall's power for the Gimme the Light artiste.

"It's a definite pleasure to see that kind of thing happening and to know that our versatility as artistes and our genre itself has been a dominant force within pop culture. Dancehall has been permeating the airwaves internationally for decades, and it's still here."

While Afrobeats continues to surge, Sean Paul noted a specific sub-genre that speaks more directly to dancehall's core energy: Amapiano.

"Tyla identifies herself as an Amapiano artiste, that's a version of Afrobeats that, to me, is way more clubby," he explained. "The first time I heard it, I felt that I could deejay on it easily. It's more infused with what dancehall is. When I heard Afrobeats, it's dope, but Amapiano has more of that raw vibe that we carry in dancehall."

Sean Paul's approach to music has always been rooted in versatility, a quality he sees as essential to being a true dancehall artiste.

"You have to be able to flow on any riddim with different topics," he said, crediting legends including Papa San, Lt Stitchie, Shabba Ranks, and Super Cat for setting the standard.

"These artistes had different types of songs that could fit many different beats. If you remember Shabba Ranks with Johnny Gill or Housecall with Maxi Priest, those tracks had an R&B/hip-hop flavour. Same with Super Cat and Dolly My Baby. That was hip-hop, but they were doing the dancehall vibes. Then Super Cat went on to do a track with Sugar Ray, which is a pop-rock group," Sean Paul shared.