Family can play a prominent role in an individual’s career choice, whether they influence them to join the same industry or pursue a passion they could not. For rising artist Damion Hype, he attributes his passion for music to his father, fulfilling a shared dream to make it as a musician.
Damion Hype’s passion for music stemmed from his father’s own. He would join him with his band, performing in hotels around Jamaica. As Damion watched his father and the band play, he developed a love and desire to become a musician. As he left Jamaica to study in the United States, Damion’s passion only grew more apparent. Attending Happy Grove High School in Portland, he recalls beating the desk and working on his verses with fellow artist, Popcaan.
Throughout his studies, Damion never abandoned his dream of becoming an international dancehall artist, hoping to follow the Marley family’s footsteps and their global impact. Once he finished school, Damion Hype would pursue his goal, citing he and Louie Culture were from the same parish as him. Finally, he would get his chance in 2016 when he recorded his first song in his home parish Portland called “Gone,” featuring Twain Henry. The collaboration quickly gained traction on YouTube.
Damion’s friends and family encouraged him to continue producing more music, prompting him to fly back to Jamaica. Upon arriving, the young artist worked on his second single in the same studio where he recorded “Gone.” Coincidentally, he would run into one of his inspirations, Louie Culture, who spoke with him and gave him the encouragement he needed to go even further in his career.
Damion recalls Culture telling him, “You have a unique voice. This is what the business needs. Take your career seriously, continue recording, and pursue your dreams.”
Since their brief meeting, Damion Hype has released six official singles titled “Bad Gal,” “Tonight, “Above Di Wata featuring Big Boogie x Wala Wala Goundee,” “Baby Boo,” “You Mi Want,” and “Identity.” The songs have been in rotation on iHeart Radio across the United States and local radios in Jamaica, Kenya, and the Caribbean. Just recently, Damion released his new single “Secret,” as production starts on the visuals so that he can showcase it to the world.
As an artist, Damion Hype strives to develop a crossover concept. “Even though I am from Jamaica and the slangs we use are not always easy to understand, some say it should be a language,” he shared, “I make most of my music with the intent that everyone can understand it. In some cases, I used other foreign languages in some of my songs. For example, my single ‘Tonight’ has some Spanish, ‘Baby Boo’ has some African languages, and so on. I have at least four songs with foreign languages.”
The rising artist’s work ethic and music passion set him apart from other artists in the industry. He describes his songwriting process as a spiritual experience. “I feel like I’m out of my body,” he describes. Damion also considers his style different, implementing crossover music to make his works relatable to everyone from all walks of life.
With his career on the rise, Damion Hype is enthusiastic about his journey. He foresees his future standing on a stage in front of thousands of people singing along, leaving a legacy for decades to come. In addition, he hopes to use his success to give back to his community in Portland, Jamaica, and Kingston Garden, taking NuWave Records to the highest level.You can find Damion Hype’s music on YouTube. For updates on his latest tracks, follow him on Instagram.
