In 2010, the global impact of "Hold You" launched Gyptian to international fame, transforming him from a modestly followed artist into a reggae sensation. By that point, the Jamaican artist had already built up steady momentum with tracks like "Serious Times," showcasing his smooth voice and poignant messages. Now, two decades into his career, Gyptian continues to innovate, blending classic roots reggae and dancehall with fresh sounds, as evidenced by his newest project, Guarded EP via VPAL Music.
Born Windel Beneto Edwards in King Weston District, Jamaica, Gyptian's musical journey began early. Mentored by talent scout Ravin Wong and legendary guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith, he honed his craft, emerging as a promising roots reggae voice with hits like "Is There a Place" and "Serious Times."
His 2010 single "Hold You" became a global blockbuster, peaking at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending nine weeks at No. 1 on the Reggae Digital Songs chart, while also being remixed by artists like Nicki Minaj, Major Lazer, Shy FX, and Toddla T.
According to Billboard Magazine, “not since Wayne Wonder’s ‘No Letting Go,’ has an underground reggae artist garnered as much attention in the United States as Jamaica’s own Gyptian.”
Gyptian has since continued to evolve his reggae fusion style, amassing hundreds of millions of streams with hits like "Wine Slow" and "Non Stop," and remains a dynamic force in reggae. Now, with Guarded EP, Gyptian has once again joined forces with longtime producer Junior ‘Chambah’ Stevens to push his sound even further.
Across seven tracks, Gyptian puts his range on full display. Songs like the urgent, stripped-down “Together We Are Stronger,” the sincere and streetwise “Let Me Down,” and the candid, Afrobeats-influenced title track show the singer at his best. “I’m proud of this project,” says Chambah. “It’s a great body of work.”
Guarded EP follows in the footsteps of Gyptian and Chambah’s debut collaborative project, The Difference, released in 2020, which found a hit in the song “Come Over,” featuring Tommy Lee Sparta. Their latest project, Chambah says, is meant to build on that success, placing the authentic reggae singer over forward-thinking production, with something for all of Gyptian’s fans.
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