Richie Stephens Says Rihanna’s “Work” Showcases the Depth of His Musical Legacy
- Kaboom Editors
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
The Jamaican veteran singer, who created and co-produced the “Sail Away” riddim sampled on the global hit, is set to receive five Grammy Certificates and three BPI-certified discs
Veteran Jamaican musician Richie Stephens
Veteran Jamaican singer, songwriter, musician and producer Richie Stephens is set to receive five Grammy Certificates and three British Phonographic Industry (BPI)-certified discs at the Excellence in Music Ceremony 2026, scheduled for September 15 at The Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston.
Presented by Back 2 Da Future Music Limited in collaboration with The Royalty Network Inc., the ceremony will recognise artistes, producers, songwriters, musicians, engineers and other contributors whose work has helped shape reggae, dancehall and global music.
“For my legacy, and I guess for each and every one of us, we all want to be recognised for what we’ve done in music and for the work that we’ve put in. To be recognised at this level, and for people to gain a greater understanding of the work we’ve done, is such a wonderful thing,” Stephens said.
“People may not understand that I’m also a producer and a musician.”
With a career spanning more than three decades, Stephens has made his mark across reggae, dancehall, R&B, gospel and ska, while also building an extensive body of work behind the scenes as a songwriter, musician and producer. “What particularly excites me is that people will get a chance to see that I’m not only a singer, as many may have thought, because they don’t usually get to see the behind-the-scenes work. People may not understand that I’m also a producer and a musician,” he explained
One of the most significant international connections within Stephens’ catalogue is the influence of the Sail Away riddim on Rihanna’s global hit “Work,” featuring Drake. Stephens created and co-produced the riddim and also contributed to its musicianship. “Rihanna’s song Work sampled my song, a rhythm I created years ago called Sail Away. It is a rhythm that I played on myself, in terms of the musicianship, and also produced,” Stephens said. “This gives people a chance to understand the depth of Richie Stephens and the musicality that I’ve brought to the industry, not only as a singer, but also as a songwriter, musician and producer. All these wonderful things make this recognition especially meaningful.”
“Work,” which appeared on the Bajan superstar’s eighth studio album, Anti, in 2016, has amassed more than 1.5 billion views on YouTube to date. The Drake-assisted hit has also been certified 11× Platinum in the United States by the RIAA and 4× Platinum in the UK by the BPI.
Stephens attended Back 2 Da Future Music Limited’s 2025 ceremony as a guest and was impressed by the organisation’s efforts to recognise the creatives behind internationally successful recordings.
“I was particularly impressed with what I saw last year. It’s good to know that I’m involved this year, and I’m looking forward to receiving this honour for the work that I’ve put into this business,” he said.
“This gives people a chance to understand the depth of Richie Stephens and the musicality that I’ve brought to the industry, not only as a singer, but also as a songwriter, musician and producer. All these wonderful things make this recognition especially meaningful.”
The September staging will be the sixth ceremony produced by Back 2 Da Future Music Limited and the organisation’s third in Kingston.
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