While visiting South Florida just over two years ago, Boney Derrington was struck by its tropical climate and the region’s Caribbean-ness. Even before returning to his native New York, the singer/rapper made the decision that he would relocate to the Sunshine State.
Since making that permanent move in 2021, he has stepped up his career a notch, recording several songs including ‘Tomorrow’, ‘Isis’ and ‘Profile’. He feels at home in South Florida where there is a large reggae/dancehall community.
“The vibes are great and I’m working with good people. The reggae scene here is much bigger than in Jamaica, it’s also more Caribbean here than in New York,” said Derrington.
In January, he released ‘Tomorrow’, a five-song EP that contains the title track as well as ‘Isis’ and ‘Profile’. The mini set features collaborations with producers Solstarr, a Miami-based Jamaican, and XL Beatz from Ghana.
Derrington was born in Brooklyn to a Haitian father and Jamaican mother. Raised by his mother, he was exposed to Jamaican culture by her constantly playing reggae songs and making regular trips to Jamaica.
Being a child of New York, he also admired artists from the hip hop movement of the 1990s including Jamaican Heavy D, one of his biggest influences.
Early this year, he was in Jamaica pitching his songs, hoping to get a break in one of music’s most challenging markets.
“It’s necessary for Jamaicans to give you the OK. Jamaicans are the toughest crowd in the world,” he stated.
Written By Howard Campbell