uk soul artist omar invokes dancehall vibes in new swaying single “i want it to be”

Caribbean influence in popular music has been surging since early in 2016 and it looks like those vibes are taking 2017 by storm as well. From Rihanna’s “Work” to Drake’s “Controlla,” dancehall took its rightful place in hip hop and pop to create some of the biggest songs of the year. UK soul artist Omar infused his latest single “I Want It To Be” with a slightly more mellow influence from the West Indies, but the song is no less stunning than the rest. It reminds me of sandy beaches and pineapples, an escape from the monotony of 808s and autotune (although who doesn’t love Bad and Boujee?). Omar’s voice floats over swaying and rhythmic production and the single is from his forthcoming album “Love In Beats,” due on January 27th. Stream the tune below and get your sway on to “I Want It To Be.”

By T. McLendon, AFROPUNK Contributor