CEM Caribbean Music Chart Watch: Dancehall, Reggae & Soca

Shaneil Muir and Richie Stephens Take No. 1 as Malie Donn Maintains Digital Dominance

By Dante Jackson, Entertainment Editor | Caribbean EMagazine

The competition across Caribbean music is becoming increasingly interesting as October reaches its midpoint. Dancehall's digital leaders are facing stronger competition from records dominating Jamaica's traditional music scene, reggae has a new No. 1, and the approaching Carnival 2027 season is bringing a growing selection of soca releases.

For Caribbean EMagazine, the latest developments reinforce an important principle: a successful record is not necessarily the newest release or the song generating the most streams on a single platform.

CEM's monthly Dancehall, Reggae and Soca Top 10 charts reward both new momentum and sustained impact. Digital consumption, radio activity, DJ and sound-system rotation, nightclub support, cultural influence and longevity all contribute to the editorial assessment.

This week's review uses Jamaica's October 9–15 rotation charts, Apple Music Jamaica's October 14 rankings, verified music releases and the latest accessible YouTube Jamaica weekly figures. The newest YouTube weekly figures independently verified for this report cover the period ending October 1, so they are treated as historical evidence rather than current-week totals.

Dancehall Watch: Shaneil Muir Takes No. 1, but Malie Donn Still Rules Digital

The biggest dancehall development this week belongs to Shaneil Muir.

Her single “Man Fi Be Man” has climbed from No. 2 to No. 1 on Jamaica's Dancehall Top 25 for October 9–15, ending the three-week reign of Malie Donn's “Van Cleef.”

The achievement is particularly significant because “Man Fi Be Man” has now spent 10 weeks on the chart. Its rise reflects sustained growth rather than an immediate debut surge.

The chart, compiled by broadcaster Richard “Richie B” Burgess, incorporates activity from Jamaican sound systems, record shops, nightclubs and radio. That makes Muir's achievement an important indicator of support within Jamaica's traditional dancehall ecosystem.

“Man Fi Be Man” did not appear on CEM's September Top 10, but its latest achievement makes it one of the strongest candidates for an October debut.

Squash, Masicka and Aidonia Strengthen Their Positions

The traditional dancehall chart is also revealing considerable strength among established artists.

“16” by Squash and Masicka has climbed to No. 2 after 12 weeks on the chart.

Meanwhile, Aidonia continues building momentum with “Like How Yuh Feel,” which advances to No. 3.

Both records have demonstrated sustained rotation, making them important October contenders.

For CEM, the question is whether their traditional-chart strength is sufficient to challenge songs that are generating substantially greater digital consumption.

That is where the competition becomes especially interesting.

Malie Donn Holds Apple Music's No. 1 Position

Although Malie Donn has lost the top position on Jamaica's traditional dancehall chart, his digital performance remains extraordinary.

On October 14, “Vancleef Pt 2” remained No. 1 on Apple Music Jamaica.

The original “Van Cleef” occupied No. 4, giving the artist two songs inside the country's four most-played tracks on the platform.

The original recording also remains No. 5 on Jamaica's traditional Dancehall Top 25 after spending three weeks at No. 1.

This is a powerful example of longevity.

“Vancleef Pt 2” finished September at No. 1 on CEM's official dancehall ranking, while “Van Cleef” climbed to No. 4.

Neither song is showing the kind of broad decline that would justify removing it from October's leading contenders.

In fact, Malie Donn's continued performance suggests that he remains one of the strongest candidates for CEM's October Artist of the Month.

Skippa's “Money Walk” Becomes a Serious No. 1 Challenger

The biggest developing threat to Malie Donn's digital dominance may be Skippa.

“Money Walk,” his collaboration with DJ Mac and CrashDummy, has climbed to No. 2 on Apple Music Jamaica as of October 14.

That is an improvement from its No. 3 position earlier in the month.

The song also debuted at No. 3 on YouTube Jamaica during the week ending October 1, generating approximately 443,000 weekly streams.

Its continued Apple Music performance suggests that the initial breakout has developed into something more substantial.

“Money Walk” remains CEM's strongest early candidate for October's Highest New Entry, although its final position should depend on the full month's performance.

Skippa's existing catalogue is also holding up.

“Detox” remains No. 7 on Apple Music Jamaica, while “Glocks and Chips” occupies No. 9.

Both records appeared on CEM's September chart, demonstrating that Skippa's current momentum extends beyond one new release.

“Yes Sah” Emerges as Another Digital Contender

Another important development is the rise of “Yes Sah” by DJ Mac, CrashDummy and Adofo.

The collaboration climbed to No. 3 on Apple Music Jamaica on October 14, placing it ahead of several established dancehall hits.

Its appearance among the country's most-played songs makes it an important addition to CEM's October watch list.

Valiant's “Time Capsule” also remains competitive at No. 6 on Apple Music Jamaica.

The song has additionally entered Jamaica's traditional Dancehall Top 25 at No. 22, providing early evidence of support beyond digital platforms.

That combination strengthens its prospects for October's CEM Top 10.

Dancehall's Potential Fallers

Not every established record is moving upward.

“Psychic” by Squash, which finished September at No. 5 on CEM's ranking, has slipped to No. 11 on Jamaica's traditional dancehall chart.

“Rich MF” by Merkz and Feloni19 has fallen from No. 8 to No. 12, while 450's “World On Fire” has slipped to No. 17.

These movements do not necessarily mean the records have lost their audiences.

However, they suggest that newer competitors are gaining ground within the Jamaican rotation market.

Meanwhile, Chronic Law's “Fi the Streets” has moved from No. 23 to No. 20 on the traditional chart.

The song previously demonstrated exceptional YouTube strength, making its gradual rotation improvement worth monitoring.

Reggae Watch: Richie Stephens Takes No. 1 With “Wet Sugar”

Reggae has produced one of the week's clearest changes at the top.

Richie Stephens has reached No. 1 on Jamaica's Reggae Top 25 with “Wet Sugar.” The song climbs from No. 2 after spending 14 weeks on the chart.

Its achievement is particularly noteworthy because the record has developed its position over several months rather than arriving at No. 1 immediately.

For CEM, “Wet Sugar” is now a serious October Top 10 contender. It also represents the kind of gradual success that an independent reggae ranking should recognize.

“Give Thanks” Remains a Powerful Contender

Future Fambo and Sheenwrks have slipped from No. 1 to No. 2 with “Give Thanks.”

However, the record has already accumulated 13 weeks on Jamaica's reggae chart, including two weeks at the summit.

That sustained performance remains highly significant.

“Give Thanks” finished September at No. 3 on CEM's reggae ranking, making it one of the strongest candidates to climb in October.

Although Richie Stephens has taken the latest weekly No. 1, “Give Thanks” should not automatically lose its position as a leading contender for CEM's monthly crown.

The full October performance will determine which record has the stronger overall case.

Masicka and Damian Marley Make Reggae's Biggest Top-Five Move

One of the most impressive reggae developments belongs to “1 Psalm,” the collaboration between Masicka and Damian Marley.

The song has climbed three places, from No. 6 to No. 3, on Jamaica's Reggae Top 25. It also occupied No. 8 on Apple Music Jamaica on October 14.

That combination of traditional rotation and digital consumption makes “1 Psalm” one of the most compelling candidates for a higher position on CEM's October reggae chart.

The record finished September at No. 7, leaving considerable room for improvement.

Its cross-genre appeal is another advantage, allowing it to connect with reggae listeners while retaining the contemporary energy associated with Masicka's dancehall catalogue.

Christopher Martin and Agent Sasco Remain Competitive

“Easy” by Christopher Martin and Agent Sasco remains among reggae's leading records.

The collaboration currently occupies No. 4 on Jamaica's traditional reggae chart after spending 12 weeks in circulation.

Although it has slipped one position, its continued Top 5 presence suggests that audience support remains strong.

“Treat Mama Good” by Singer Dee and Richie Spice holds No. 5, while Busy Signal's “Why Love” occupies No. 6.

Christopher Ellis's “My Sound” remains at No. 7, demonstrating continued consistency.

These songs deserve careful consideration because they are developing through sustained rotation rather than relying exclusively on initial release publicity.

Is Ginjah Losing His October Advantage?

Ginjah entered October as CEM's reigning reggae No. 1.

His single “Wata” topped September's CEM ranking after reaching No. 1 on Jamaica's traditional reggae chart for two consecutive weeks.

However, its position has continued to weaken.

“Wata” now occupies No. 9 on Jamaica's October 9–15 Reggae Top 25, slipping from No. 8 the previous week.

That is a significant change from its September dominance.

The song has spent 15 weeks on the chart, so its longevity remains valuable. Nevertheless, the recent decline creates an opening for Richie Stephens, Future Fambo and Sheenwrks, and Masicka and Damian Marley.

At this stage, “Wata” appears more likely to experience a downward adjustment than retain CEM's No. 1 position, unless its performance strengthens later in October.

Reggae's Longevity Leaders

Stephen Marley's “Hills of St. Ann” remains one of reggae's most consistent records.

The song has spent 22 weeks on Jamaica's traditional reggae chart and currently occupies No. 11. Buju Banton's “Butterflies” has accumulated an even longer run, spending 23 weeks on the chart.

Meanwhile, Vernal Sage's “Good Over Evil” remains active after 24 weeks.

These records are important to CEM's methodology because their continued presence demonstrates sustained audience and industry support.

However, longevity alone cannot guarantee a Top 10 position indefinitely.

CEM must continue weighing their established impact against the stronger recent momentum of emerging competitors.

Koffee's “Ova So” is also showing gradual improvement, climbing from No. 23 to No. 20 on Jamaica's reggae chart.

The movement is modest, but it provides evidence that the song is still developing within traditional rotation.

Soca Watch: Carnival 2027 Releases Accelerate

The biggest soca development this week is not a verified change at the top of a national chart.

Instead, it is the growing number of artists releasing new material ahead of Carnival 2027.

CEM's September chart was led by “Trouble” from Patrice Roberts and MadLypso, followed by “Suga Dumplin” from Tano and Coutain.

Those records remain important benchmarks.

However, the latest release cycle is introducing several potential challengers.

Unlike the Jamaican dancehall and reggae charts, comparable publicly verifiable October soca radio and DJ rotation rankings were not available for this assessment. The following records are therefore new-release candidates rather than confirmed chart climbers.

Nailah Blackman Releases “Watch Me Work”

Nailah Blackman has entered the Carnival 2027 conversation with “Watch Me Work (W.M.W.).”

Released October 9, the single was produced by Anson Productions and accompanied by a music video directed by Obiora Color.

The track emphasizes confidence, movement and self-expression, supported by a polished visual presentation.

The release has already attracted coverage from Caribbean music outlets, making it one of the more visible new soca entries of the week.

However, CEM should wait for measurable listener and DJ response before considering it a confirmed October Top 10 contender.

Bunji Garlin, Nadia Batson and Preedy Enter the Conversation

The new soca releases extend beyond Nailah Blackman.

Bunji Garlin has introduced “A Few Of Us,” with the release receiving coverage on October 10.

Nadia Batson has followed her earlier October release “Single” with another track, “B.Y.O.B,” highlighted on October 11.

Preedy has also entered the Carnival 2027 release cycle with “Good Good,” while Patrice Roberts has added “Drunk in Love” to her catalogue.

These releases demonstrate that the competition for the next Carnival season is beginning to intensify.

For CEM, the challenge will be identifying which records move beyond their initial promotional period and develop meaningful audience demand.

Patrice Roberts Remains Soca's Artist to Beat

Patrice Roberts entered October with considerable momentum.

Her collaboration with MadLypso, “Trouble,” climbed from No. 6 in August to No. 1 on CEM's September chart.

The achievement earned Roberts CEM's September Soca Artist of the Month distinction.

Her latest release, “Drunk in Love,” creates another opportunity to extend that momentum into the Carnival 2027 season.

However, the new recording should be evaluated separately from the success of “Trouble.”

CEM should avoid automatically awarding a high position to a new release simply because its artist already leads the monthly chart.

The same principle applies to Nadia Batson, whose September entry “Panorama Luv” finished at No. 8.

Her new releases deserve attention, but chart placement must follow demonstrated momentum. CaribbeanEMagazine

CEM's Early October Chart Contenders

The following assessments are provisional and do not represent changes to CEM's official monthly rankings.

Category	Leading candidate	October assessment
Dancehall digital leader	Vancleef Pt 2 — Malie Donn	No. 1 on Apple Music Jamaica, October 14
Dancehall rotation leader	Man Fi Be Man — Shaneil Muir	New No. 1 on Jamaica's Dancehall Top 25
Dancehall breakout contender	Money Walk — DJ Mac, Skippa & CrashDummy	Climbed to No. 2 on Apple Music Jamaica
Dancehall potential climber	16 — Squash & Masicka	No. 2 on traditional rotation chart
Dancehall new-entry watch	Yes Sah — DJ Mac, CrashDummy & Adofo	No. 3 on Apple Music Jamaica
Dancehall potential faller	Psychic — Squash	Slipped to No. 11 on rotation chart
Reggae rotation leader	Wet Sugar — Richie Stephens	New No. 1 on Jamaica's Reggae Top 25
Reggae No. 1 challenger	Give Thanks — Future Fambo & Sheenwrks	No. 2 after two weeks at No. 1
Reggae biggest Top 5 climber	1 Psalm — Masicka & Damian Marley	Climbed three positions to No. 3
Reggae potential faller	Wata — Ginjah	Slipped to No. 9
Reggae longevity leader	Butterflies — Buju Banton	23 weeks on traditional reggae chart
Soca established leader	Trouble — Patrice Roberts & MadLypso	Reigning CEM September No. 1
Soca breakout release watch	Watch Me Work — Nailah Blackman	New October 9 release
Soca new-release watch	A Few Of Us — Bunji Garlin	October release receiving early coverage
Soca new-release watch	B.Y.O.B — Nadia Batson	Additional Carnival 2027 release

CEM Chart Watch: This Week's Biggest Takeaways

Dancehall's biggest story: Shaneil Muir has reached No. 1 on Jamaica's traditional dancehall chart, while Malie Donn continues dominating digital consumption.

Dancehall's strongest breakout contender: “Money Walk” by DJ Mac, Skippa and CrashDummy is building a compelling case for October's Highest New Entry.

Reggae's biggest development: Richie Stephens has taken No. 1 with “Wet Sugar,” while Masicka and Damian Marley's “1 Psalm” has made one of the strongest upward moves.

Reggae's biggest concern: Ginjah's “Wata” continues losing traditional-chart positions after its successful September run.

Soca's most important development: The Carnival 2027 release cycle is accelerating, with fresh material from Nailah Blackman, Bunji Garlin, Nadia Batson, Preedy and Patrice Roberts.

What Happens Next?

The second half of October will be particularly important for CEM's three official monthly charts.

In dancehall, the competition between Malie Donn, Skippa, Chronic Law and Shaneil Muir will test the relative importance of digital consumption and traditional rotation.

In reggae, Richie Stephens, Future Fambo and Sheenwrks, and Masicka and Damian Marley are developing increasingly strong cases for higher positions.

In soca, the next challenge is separating promising new releases from songs that are genuinely gaining traction with DJs, radio stations, Carnival audiences and digital listeners.

CEM will continue monitoring these developments before finalizing October's official Top 10 rankings.

Readers can revisit the publication's September charts: CEM Top 10 Dancehall Singles, CEM Top 10 Reggae Songs and CEM Top 10 Soca Singles.

Editorial note: CEM Caribbean Music Chart Watch is an independent weekly assessment. Rankings and movements cited from external charts are attributed to their respective tracking periods. This article does not establish new official CEM monthly chart positions.