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Here in the UK, we’ve given the world more than a couple of contenders for song of the summer—Dave and Central Cee’s “Sprinter” and J Hus and Drake’s “Who Told You” being the frontrunners—but arguably the biggest competition on the international stage comes from Byron Messia, born in Jamaica and raised in St. Kitts, with his genre-blending smash “Talibans”.
The original version proved an instant smash when it was released alongside Messia’s latest album, No Love. It zipped straight to number one in 13 countries on Apple Music and the video currently sits at 36 million plays on YouTube—and it seems to have only grown in popularity since.
Determined to seal the deal and secure the track’s status, Messia has called on Burna Boy for the remix. It’s a fitting collaboration, particularly given the “Afrobeats vs dancehall” debate that raged among purists at the time.
Putting any controversy firmly in the rearview mirror, the pair connect to bask in the sunshine as they hit the tennis courts and golf course at an exclusive resort.
Press play on the video for “Talibans II” above, and be sure to add the song to your playlists.
