Rapper J-Yungg (left) with established reggae star Tarrus Riley. - Adrian Frater

Western Bureau:

After listening to the rapper who combined effortlessly with red-hot deejay Spice on her latest single, Official Girl, one would probably believe the smooth voice belonged to a foreign act as it has a distinct American flair to it.

However, the man in question, House of Leeds recording artiste J-Yungg, also called 'da Greensman', is very much a Jamaican. In fact, the Grange Hill, Westmoreland-born songwriter/rapper, whose given name is Ajay Edward Richard, has never travelled out of Jamaica.

Official Girl, was recorded at the House of Leeds Recording Studio, under the guidance of rising-star producer David 'D-Mo Da Wiz Kid' Morris. J-Yungg was introduced to House of Leeds and D-Mo Da Wiz Kid by top-flight guitarist Lincoln Thomas, of the SAME band, and is poised to become a local household. The smooth rapper is no rookie to the airwaves as he has been getting solid airplay, especially on IRIE FM and Mello FM, for songs such as, Bring Me Down and Evil People, which he did in combination with his stable-mate, singjay Iyahblazze.

However, it is on the Internet that J-Yungg has been kicking up the proverbial rumpus as songs such as, Official Girl, Bring Me Down and a mixed-tape compilation titled J-Yungg Mix-Tape, has been generating thousands of hits, giving him name recognition on the United States college circuit and as far away as Zimbabwe.

The former Grange Hill High School student started deejaying at age 10 but, "I decided to switch to rapping at about age 13 after hearing Biggie Small and Tupac Shakur. "I fell deeper in love when cable television came to my community and I became exposed to the music of Jay-Z and JadaKiss," said J-Yungg.

Having taken his music past the level where the adoration of the girls was his primary motivation, the ambitious J-Yungg has declared himself ready to take on the world.