ONES TO WATCH: TOPMANN

 

We're always on the lookout for who is next up! Get up to speed with ONES TO WATCH THIS WEEK: @topmann_music ⬇️

Topmann is from Jamaica's second city, Montego Bay, St. James in the community of Catherine Hall. He shared with our team that the name 'Topmann' came from a freestyle loved by many, the hook of the freestyle was “Every Gal want a Topman,” and it was from that point onward his friends as well as others started to call him by the name, 'Topman'. However, he further explained that to differentiate himself from Topman, the UK-based multinational men's fashion store chain, he added an extra 'n', hence the birth of 'Topmann'. The Donzlife moniker which can be seen on some of his earlier singles and currently on his Instagram page, in his words is, "just Family thing and me push that with the name so people know not to put me on nobody gang or crew or artist group .. we do we own thing and start from scratch."

This week Topmann, for the first time in his career has broken into the top 10 TRENDING FOR MUSIC in Jamaica with his single, 'Gyal Code' on the popular #Cryptoriddim composed by @topalone_3kings "Gyal Code a just facts, things weh me see and know .. every single line in the song is reality and some people might hate it mainly because them know say a facts and trying to deny it or in some case nuff females nuh too rate it because them feel offended or attacked by the lyrics … but it works either way .. the more them talk seh the hate it, tht still contribute to promotion … people who nuh rate it a just minor to di major”, the artiste expressed when asked about what inspired his trending single. "Mi very creative and mi will turn one little scenario into a whole lifetime movie if me want .. more time me just write based on me emotion or observations or knowledge of a incident or just thinking outside the box…

Like gyal code was done with the aim say it and @brysco_music song (Code) go automatically play back to back at any event because him song done gone road already … so mi decide to just go hard and done on the riddim with a whole new topic different from Code … As a entrepreneur mi jus a tek risk and it work in mi favour", the Montegonian shared when we quizzed him on what his creative process is like.

Before the start of 2022 Topmann was averaging around 8000 views on his releases on Youtube, currently that average sits at around 150k views, a whopping 18 times the amount it was at last year. "Family and friends a give some good feedback and proud a mi because dem know how much work mi put and sacrifice di team mek fi supmn like dis happen … Mi a get video from different countries and islands and see the crowd and gwaan some inna party fi di song…", the deejay said when asked about the reaction of his friends and family to his growing popularity.

The artiste told 24 that regarding plans for the rest of 2022, "This a just the start .. Me have a lot a projects coming up tht go shake up e place … just consistency, time management and versatility the team go use with God and determination and show them say me have mi space inna this music industry.. Just know mi have a lot a project a fawud." The artiste acknowledged that there are a lot of people out the there that he would work with but believes it is all in God's timing. "for now me have mi internal team a producers and artiste and we jus a do some work and make things a happen. Eventually some other Big producer and artist go see the work and the connection will be me easier to make when it’s time".

In November 2020 we here at 24 featured Topmann on our '4 Upcoming Artists You Should Know', now 19 months later he has the spotlight on our One To Watch feature, "The difference with Topmann 2020 and Topmann 2022 is that the team never too organize and to be honest mi never a be consistent with releasing tracks … nuff credit to mi road manager Ricardo Downer who make some serious sacrifices fi try mek e dream come to reality … Likewise couple of my day one friends who contribute to the movement in whatever ways them can ..

Differently situations change me and make me be a more conscious person and mi go write songs base pon everything or somethings wah mi know or guh tru …and Songs like 'In Too Deep' produced by Papidonmuziq and “FVCK Love” produced by @troublemekkamusic done give me a buzz momentum wah mi jus did fi grab and hol on pon and make the best of it while it last."