The Breakout Class of 2025: Skippa, Ayetian, Armanii Among Dancehall’s Fresh Leaders

Skippa ruled the charts and the streets, while Ayetian and Armanii added their own unique tone. SamDam couldn’t be overlooked, and Tielo Lanez and KKrytical stayed locked in. Meet the artistes reshaping the future

Dancehall in 2025 has shown just how rapidly the genre continues to evolve. This year, several artistes burst onto the scene and stayed consistent with back-to-back hits, dominating charts and stages across the Caribbean and beyond. Others displayed major growth, sharpening their craft and showing clear improvement from their debut years to now.

From standout releases to viral moments that connected deeply with fans, these artistes helped shape the sound and energy of the streets. Their chart success, consistency, and cultural impact set the tone for what’s next in dancehall.

SKIPPA

Skippa enjoyed a massive breakout year, one good enough to place him among the contenders for Artist of the Year. Known for his wavy flow and reputation as a traphall standout, he proved he’s here to stay through consistent chart activity, recently securing over five entries in Apple Music Kingston’s Top 25. His hits “Evil,” “Go,” “Currency,” “10 Past 2,” and “WYFL”, which just surpassed 3 million views in three weeks,have kept his momentum unstoppable.

“WYFL,” produced by DJ Mac, has taken over the Jamaican party scene with its infectious beat, further highlighting Skippa’s versatility beyond traphall. The track showcases his ability to shine on more upbeat rhythms built for the dance. The deejay also dropped a four-track EP, 4-Pac, a sharp display of traphall at its best and a release well-received by his core audience. With steady output, a growing listener base, and an expanding sonic range, Skippa firmly established himself as a lasting force in dancehall for 2025.

AYETIAN

Ayetian cemented himself as one of dancehall’s most exciting new voices in 2025, thanks to his unique tone, signature dance moves, and instantly recognizable image. A true breath of fresh air, he has already built a loyal fanbase across the Caribbean and internationally.

His single“Balance” earned a high-profile soca remix from legend Machel Montano alongside Ne-Yo, a collaboration that helped secure his debut at the Barclays Center and opened doors to the Trinidadian market. Ayetian continued to climb with his EP Trini Pack, while his breakout single “Tip” later received a major lift from two star-powered remixes, one with Shenseea and another with Skillibeng, both going viral and boosting his visibility on international stages.

He kept the momentum flowing with the smash hit “Wah Yo Deh Pan” featuring Govana, which dominated charts across the Caribbean and became a party anthem, amassing 10 million YouTube views. Coupled with standout performances in Canada and New York, these milestones have solidified Ayetian’s status as a breakout artiste whose influence is rapidly growing both at home and abroad.

ARMANII

Armanii first stepped onto the dancehall scene in 2022, but 2025 marked his true breakout moment. Tracks like “Link Up,” “B.B.B. (Snapchat),” and “Jump” consistently held spots on YouTube Jamaica’s trending charts and appeared across major streaming playlists. A defining highlight of his year was signing with UnitedMasters—, a major career milestone that positioned him as a rising force not just locally, but on the global stage.

He also made key international appearances, performing at Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Live 2025 Showcase in New York City and at City Splash in London. His nomination for Best New Artiste at the Caribbean Music Awards further solidified his status as one of the region’s most exciting new dancehall voices.

With the release of his album Impact, Armanii is doing more than dropping hits, he’s stamping his authority on the genre and leaving a lasting imprint on dancehall in 2025.

SAMDAN

Straight out of Grenada, SamDam entered the dancehall space with “Blaze Up,” a record that quickly captivated the streets, becoming a staple at local street dances and accumulating over 5.8 million views on YouTube. The track also gained traction on TikTok, with the sound used in more than 19.9K videos.

He followed up with “Troublesome,” song directly aimed at the ladies, highlighting his versatility. Performance clips from Grenada that have circulated online show SamDam confidently engaging his audience, translating the energy of his online support to support in real life. In a genre rooted in local validation, SamDam’s 2025 rise from Grenada into Jamaica’s dancehall space signals a breakout moment that can’t be overlooked.

TIELO LANEZ

Tielo Lanez entered the dancehall scene through a viral TikTok freestyle titled “Muk Truck,” which quickly captured the attention of DJ Mac and earned him a spot on the Gwaan Suh riddim. Since then, he has maintained steady momentum, releasing back-to-back tracks that showcase his growing artistry, including “Selah” and “Shootah Dem.” Most recently, he landed on the WYFL riddim with “Thickiana,” adding another strong entry to his expanding catalog.

His rise reflects how digital visibility, when matched with consistency and talent, can translate into real industry recognition. With a fast-growing fanbase and a clear upward trajectory, Tielo Lanez stands out as one of dancehall’s notable breakout acts for 2025.

KKRYTICAL

New York–based dancehall artiste Kkrytical earned his place in the genre with the success of his 2024 single “Loyalty.” The track’s impact carried into 2025, becoming a crowd favourite at local street dances and surpassing one million views on YouTube. This year, he expanded his reach even further through a standout collaboration with Konshens on “Survivor,” and performed on nearly every major stage available to him in the U.S., signaling his growing recognition within the space.

He also showcased his freestyle ability with an appearance on On The Radar, featured on Rvssian’s Storybook riddim with “P Power,” and recently added another strong entry with his contribution to DJ Mac’s WYFL riddim. Kkrytical’s steady progression from 2024 to 2025 reflects clear artistic and career growth, earning him recognition as one of dancehall’s true breakout artists of the year.

As the genre continues to sprout new talent from Jamaica’s ever-fertile creative soil, these artistes are the ones who stood out in exceptional fashion this year, carving a promising path for their future.