“Ba Ba Bad” has already captured global attention—can you walk us through how the track came to life and how Sean Paul and Busy Signal got involved?
The song started first with Busy Signal, he was in the studio with Crawba, they called me and asked for beats, the next morning I received the full vocal already, so I pieced it out and made a first demo. During one of my events in Amsterdam I just played the demo and the crowd reaction was insane, so the following day I uploaded the night footage and the track went immediately viral on both tt and ig. Then Leftside sent the track to Sean Paul and he loved it, so he dropped a verse and in literally a couple of days we released the track.
With the song initially going viral on social media, how did platforms like TikTok influence your decision to expand the track into this powerhouse collaboration?
It was just natural cause Leftside was trying to link me with Sean Paul for some months now, to do a collaboration between me and him, so I felt this was the right moment and the right song.
What was the most exciting or unexpected moment during the creation of “Ba Ba Bad,” especially working with legends like Sean Paul and Busy Signal?
I think the days I received both vocals, I felt the energy and it was special because both artists loved the project so much.
Dancehall has such a rich cultural history—how do you ensure your production stays authentic while bringing your own signature style to the genre?
I grew up listening to Reggae and Dancehall, I’ll always respect the originators and the Jamaican culture in general, that’s why I make sure in most of my tracks to feature Jamaican artists, and to collaborate with Jamaican producers too. My first song ever was with Leftside, who is one of my favourite Jamaican Dancehall artists and now also a good friend. I want to remark that my sound contains a lot of elements also from Shatta, which is a dancehall sub genre from Martinique, and Moombahton. The Basshall signature is a mix of all these sounds.
Your unique blend of Dancehall, Latin, and urban sounds has resonated globally. What inspires you to explore and merge such diverse influences in your music?
I think because I was first a DJ and then I started producing, and especially in my first days as a DJ I always loved to mix different genres and sounds, so my sets were definitely unique in that sense from the start. I basically translated my djing style into my record label sound signature and production style. I definitely have many inspirations from different genres and cultures, three of my fav artists/producers are Vybz Kartel, Manu Chao and Diplo, all of them versatile and unique in their own way.
Having already amassed over 100 million streams in your career, how do you approach creating music that connects so strongly with both core fans and new listeners worldwide?
I genuinely don’t know, I do not strategise a lot when it comes to my music creation, I just work on things that I like, then I hope my core fans as well as the new listeners will like it.
The Basshall Movement is a game-changer in the industry. How does being at the helm of a label, TV channel, and event brand impact your work as an artist and producer?
Well I like it but sometimes it is overwhelming, I’m not really good at delegating but I’m learning it and my team and management are helping.
What does it mean to you personally and professionally to have Sean Paul describe your production as ‘wicked’ and feel compelled to jump on the track?
Is like a dream come true, I grew up listening to his music so having my name next to his on a release it’s a huge achievement.
With appearances at festivals like Tomorrowland, how do you prepare to translate your studio sound into a live performance that captivates massive audiences?
I try to imagine myself in the crowd. So obviously a set I play in a club/boiler room type of set up will always be different than a big stage like Tomorrowland etc. I always stay true to my sound but I definitely shape my set differently when it comes to big stages.
What’s next for KYBBA? Are there any upcoming projects, collaborations, or surprises in the pipeline that you can share with your fans?
I’m working on my first EP, I have many collaborations I’m working on, one is with the legend Buju Banton. There are many other projects but I can’t share any details atm. I’ll also announce a world tour in the next few months!!