Share
Rolling Stone released its list of the 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century, and as usual, Jamaica had to represent!
Notably, Rolling Stone included three major dancehall hits: Get Busy by Sean Paul, which landed at number 92, while Hold You by Gyptian was placed at number 125, and Toast by Koffee is at number 203.
Released in 2003 on the Diwali Riddim produced by Steven “Lenky” Marsden, "Get Busy" remains a dancefloor favourite even two decades later. The track outranked hits from Taylor Swift, Destiny’s Child, and Burna Boy.
Gyptian’s 2010 classic "Hold You" was described by Rolling Stone as “equal parts sweet and sensual.” The song became an international success, especially after rapper Nicki Minaj jumped on the remix. Impressively, it ranked higher than hits from Megan Thee Stallion, Jay-Z, and even Beyoncé.
Meanwhile, Toast, released in 2019, was the breakout single that helped Koffee make history as the youngest solo act to win a Grammy for her debut project, Rapture, in 2020.
Congrats, Sean Paul, Gyptian and Koffee!
Meanwhile, the number one spot went to Missy Elliot for her timeless hit "Get Ur Freak On".
Rolling Stone said that "Get Ur Freak On" is “more than just the latest mind-bending Missy smash”
The song was produced by Timbaland in 2001 and became a defining moment in Hip-hop and pop.