For Leyton 'Chippi' Flemings, musical success is the objective.

The young entertainer who hails from the community of Grants Pen, St Andrew, but currently resides in New York, believes that with constant hard work and determination he can take dancehall music to higher heights.

another level

"My dream for dancehall is to take it to another level. Just as how hip hop used to be considered an underground form and now it's mainstream in America, Europe and other parts of the world," he said, "dancehall is well received, but in North America its presence is not felt to a great extent. Like for example, you have a dancehall artiste with a one hit on the radio station and then shortly after they disappear from the radio. I want to help build the music so we are in constant rotation on the radio and cross over with a strong impact on the USA market."

He spoke of his close musical ties with dancehall star Mavado, saying, "Me and Singa got close through the love of music. We was like the biggest thing in class, so we would hang out on a regular and deejay in class, pen song and beat on desk. He would take me to Cassava Piece, which is down the road from the school, and I would introduce him to Grants Pen."

He would later hone his craft with Mavado as well as other friends Flexx and Savage.

Travelling to Jamaica regularly, he has recorded songs such as Money Inna Pocket, which has been generating some amount of attention around his career.

Armed with deadly rhythms and lyrics for the street, Chippi says it is his time to represent.

"I got a story to tell about my life and the lane I'm from in Grants Pen and the areas of New York," he said.