Kartel’s sons want to chart with début album

Likkle Vybz and Likkle Addi, collectively known as UTG (Uptown Gaza/Greatness), believe their debut album will help to stamp their name in dancehall music.

The 13-track set, titled Team Different, is slated for release on May 6 as the first project off their Uptown Gaza Records label.

"With this album, we really a try chart because it's a lot of songs on the album that have the potential to reach on an international level and that was the plan anyway," Likkle Addi told THE WEEKEND STAR during a virtual album-listening session on Thursday.

Euphoric Love, the lead single from the album, premieres today with visuals and shows their versatility with its Latin flavour. The track is one of several love songs on the album, courtesy of Likkle Addi.

"It's my favourite song off the album because the lyrics are so real, it comes from the heart," Likkle Addi said. "I was trying to go for an international vibe and we execute it."

Latin sounds pervade on other tracks like World Renowned, inspired by Likkle Vybz's new journey as a father.

"That song was dedicated to my girlfriend and I just recently had my son, he's seven months old, so when you listen that song, you can hear all the lyrics and put it together," he said.

The multigenre album also bears trap-dancehall vibes on songs like Superb and the title track. There is a hip hop influence on songs like Hype.

One can argue that the album title is justified alone by the young acts being sons of dancehall heavyweight Adidja 'Vybz Kartel' Palmer. Yet, the project remains feature-free, though Likkle Vybz noted they could have got "101 songs" from their father. Their decision was influenced by their aim to make their own mark and see how well the album fares without features.

As for what makes them so different, Likkle Addi said: "We nuh use the beats dem weh yuh see other artistes a use these days. We try to keep it authentic...we stick to original dancehall beats and we just different lyrically. A nuh nursey rhymes we a give to them. Real hardcore bars and everything. Different flow, different melody."

But the pressure still exists for them to excel musically because of their surname.

"We always think about that but we don't let it get to us that much," Likkle Vybz said. "We just always try to put out the best body of work all the time."

They are looking forward to touring to promote the album, and even organising an acoustic set.

"UTG really waan go down legendary inna the game," Likkle Vybz said, before Likkle Addi added: "Like Bob Marley, like mi father."

Likkle Vybz continued: "And then set it same way for other people, we children, family members, so it's really a whole powerful impact we waan left pon the whole Earth sed way, not just Jamaica."

UTG released their 10-track debut EP Skinny Jeans in 2020, titled after their 2019 hit song. The brothers made their musical debut as PG-13 in 2014.