Ahead of their upcoming Journey to Kingston performance in South Florida, dancehall legends Wayne Wonder and Spragga Benz sat down with Jamaicans.com and Brandy of The Brandy Forum for a conversation that became much more than concert promotion.
What started as a discussion about bringing Kingston vibes overseas evolved into a reflection on dancehall’s roots, the changing music industry, the importance of cultural preservation, and why both artists believe the genre has earned greater recognition on the global stage.
Bringing Kingston to South Florida
For Wayne Wonder and Spragga Benz, Journey to Kingston is intended to be more than another live show. The goal, they explained, is to recreate the atmosphere that defined Kingston’s dancehall culture.
That means more than performances on stage. It means food, sound systems, fashion, community energy and the details that made Jamaican events feel uniquely Jamaican.
Spragga described the concept as creating an experience that captures both the raw energy and sophistication of Kingston’s music scene—bringing elements of old-school street culture together with a more polished live presentation.
As Wayne put it simply: they are “bringing Kingston to South Florida.”
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Before the Hits: Street Dances, Sound Systems and the Pursuit of Music
Long before international tours, chart success and streaming platforms, both artists were students of Jamaica’s sound system culture.
Spragga reflected on spending his younger years moving between dances and absorbing music culture before eventually stepping into performance. Wayne remembered searching for the next party, spending time around studios and trying to break into the business.
Their stories highlighted how closely dancehall’s growth was tied to local communities and sound systems.
Names like King Tubby and legendary sound culture became part of their musical education long before recording careers became reality.
Both artists also reflected on dubplate culture—a demanding format that required artists to perform live in one take with no room for mistakes.
According to them, if you could perform on dubplate, you could survive almost anywhere.
From Dubplates to TikTok: How the Industry Has Changed
The conversation then shifted toward technology and the modern music business.
Wayne reflected on how releasing music once required significant investment, promotion and patience. Songs could take months to build momentum through radio, dances and word of mouth.
Today, artists can upload a clip and potentially reach millions overnight.
But neither artist framed this as easier.
Instead, they described social media as simply another tool—one that creates more opportunities but still requires talent, effort and consistency.
They also stressed that many gifted artists never break through because success depends on more than ability alone. Timing, support systems, community and persistence all play major roles.
Why Dancehall Deserves Its Own Grammy Category
One of the strongest moments of the interview came when the discussion turned to awards and recognition.
Both artists argued that dancehall has matured into a global genre deserving of its own category at the Grammy Awards.
They noted that reggae and dancehall are often grouped together despite serving different audiences and having distinct sounds and histories.
For them, creating a separate category would acknowledge the work of generations of dancehall artists and create more opportunities for recognition.
Still, both remained appreciative of how far Jamaican music has come globally and emphasised the importance of continuing to build support structures for the genre.
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Looking Ahead
The conversation closed with both artists sharing updates on new music.
Wayne spoke about leaning into more uplifting and purposeful records, while Spragga discussed continuing work around his recent projects and upcoming collaborations.
They also left younger artists with practical advice: protect your business, understand contracts and build the right team around you.
Because while talent may open doors, they reminded viewers that long-term success requires much more.
Watch the full interview on Jamaicans.com’s YouTube channel and hear more from both legends as they reflect on their journeys, the future of dancehall and the music that continues to connect generations.
And if you want to experience that energy live, grab your tickets for Journey to Kingston on May 30 at the Miramar Cultural Center, where Wayne Wonder, Spragga Benz and special guests will bring the sounds, culture and spirit of Kingston to South Florida
