Sean Paul is the King of the Dancehall. There I said it. The
former private school student, swimming champ, and university educated uptown youth is the Dancehall?fs current undisputed KING! I said it again. OK...OK...OK...let me rephrase before death threats start raining down on me. ARGUABLY, Sean Paul is the current King of the Dancehall. Thinking about it deeply, he has been for quite sometime, though many would beg to differ. Differing opinions would definitely start with our two would be kings, Bounti Killa and Beenie Man, who have been going back and forth for the crown for countless years. There is no denying the already legendary status they both share in the Dancehall fraternity. There is no denying their prolific song writing and performing skills. What has been denied from them both however, is complete success outside of Jamaica. They both enjoy a degree of international recognition, but neither have come close to achieving the worldwide success of Sean Paul.

Sean Paul last album Dutty Rock sold upwards of six million records worldwide. A staggering achievement for any artist let alone a dancehall artist. A fluke? Shaggy's Hot Shot also sold 10 million records so why isn?ft he considered the king then. One reason is inconsistency, his follow up hasn?ft done nearly as well, and doesn?ft seem destined to do so. However Sean Paul's The Trinity debuted with the highest ever opening week sales of a dancehall artist, and is already enjoying platinum status. Buck ups? Not likely. The Trinity is already expected to surpass the numbers of Dutty Rock, which remains to be seen, but even if all sales of the Trinity were magically cut today, it by itself, in less than two months would still have sold more albums than any of the so-called kings in their entire careers. Also Sean Paul has never shunned local recognition for foreign praise. He always manages to have a few bubbling tracks on new rhythms while he is away to ensure his presence is felt at all times in the dancehall.

Another reason for Shaggy not being considered for the crown, not knocking his amazing achievements, but his method to achieve his success was to keep it pop. Every one of his interviews is a nauseating experience. His American accent, or rather accident is often so thick that my American friends would always challenge me saying he wasn?ft Jamaican. One interview in particular that aired on BET a few years ago stands out as a prime example. The interview was by Tavis Smiley and featured Shaggy, Damien Marley and Sean Paul. As usual Shaggy started the interview with his thick American accent, while Sean Paul and Marley refused to compromise their Jamaican accents. Damien Marley spoke well, but his smoky delivery was still difficult for non-Jamaicans to understand. Sean Paul on the other hand spoke with perfect clarity, while still maintaining his accent. By the end of the interview Shaggy had reverted to his Jamaican accent, as if embarrassed by the young Jamaicans. From that point on it was clear to me who was destined to be Jamaica?fs dancehall ambassador. So said, so done. This man has taken dancehall to unheard of heights. Not only has he expanded its audience, he has also spread he dancehall culture far and wide.

People didn't just all of a sudden decide to start wearing Jamaican colours and Jamaican branding. It all started with him. At every appearance he made, he would be wearing a Jamaica shirt, or Rasta colours, just something to rep for his country. Not only was he successful, but he became the King of Dancehall fashion and spawned an entire movement, making Jamaica cool again, and inspiring tremendous national pride among Jamaicans all over the world. One of the major criticisms that Sean Paul has faced however is the lack of support he has given to local dancehall artistes, in view of his current success. With The Trinity Sean Paul faces and addresses this criticisms, with stand out tracks featuring some of Jamaica's brightest upcoming stars. Tami Chynn and Wayne Marshall, both artistes with limitless potential will no doubt benefit, and perhaps use this exposure as a springboard to take their already successful careers to new heights. Not to mention Sean Paul?fs ?gDutty Cup?h Crewmates ?gLooga Man?h and ?gKid Kurup?h, who arguably outdo him on his own track. Sean Paul also shows love to up and coming Reggaeton acts ?gNina Sky?h and ?gDaddy Yankee?h, further opening up dancehall?fs already wide Latin fan base. That covers the artists, but what about t he producers. The Trinity was composed solely by Jamaican producers such as ?gBlack Chiney?h, ?gDon Corleone?h, ?gLeftside and Esco?h, ?gRenaissance Sound System?h and ?gCoppershot Sound System?h. In this manner, Sean Paul?fs deliberate aim was to give these producers the exposure they deserve and also launch or further their international careers. The King was just establishing himself before he used his own Kingly powers to make dancehall royalty into international royalty. Another of his criticisms is his lack of depth and variety of topic. In Dancehall music there are really three main categories which songs can fall under, girls, ganja or guns. Occasionally there is the dancehall artist that will do a conscious song, but consciousness is generally left to the Rastafarian artistes, as dancehall artistes know their biggest hits are going to be party tracks. Sean Paul has always been an artist geared towards the girls and party hype, however on ?gThe Trinity?h he pauses his party hype with his first foray into the conscious realm of dancehall on the one drop ?gSeasons?h rhythm. The track ?gNever Gonna be the Same?h, a tribute to his fallen friends and several other fallen Jamaican soldiers, demonstrates that not only is Sean Paul looking to expand his repertoire, but that he can easily do so with great success. He has said many times that he would like to do more conscious songs, but has been restrained by maintenance of his ?ggallis?h persona. His success has given him greater freedom however, so it is a certainty that from hear on out we will be seeing a much more rounded artiste and dancehall King.