Some riddims feel like a roll call. Bomboclxxt Now Riddim, the new production from SukuWard (Andre "Suku" Gray, one of the pillars of Ward 21) on his Misik Muzik Productions label, is exactly that: twenty-eight Jamaican voices —from Sean Paul to Wayne Wonder, through Spragga Benz, Mr. Lexx, Bling Dawg, Tony Matterhorn, Craigy T and Kiprich— riding a single instrumental with that thick bass and dry drums that smell of 2000s dancehall. And in the middle of that legendary line-up, one single voice sings in Spanish.
That voice is Tikaf.
The only Latin accent on a pure Kingston album
Tikaf was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and today lives in Puerto Viejo, Limón, on the Costa Rican Caribbean coast —which is why the press release itself describes him as "Argentine/Costa Rican." He has spent more than fifteen years inside Latin American dancehall: six solo albums, collaborations with Sizzla Kalonji and Fidel Nadal, production alongside names like Manudigital and DJ Vadim, and tours that have taken him through Chile, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Mexico and several festivals in Europe, including Rototom Sunsplash.
What is no coincidence is that he shares this riddim with Ward 21. Tikaf has already shared the stage with Ward 21 themselves, as well as with Serani and Cutty Ranks, in previous shows. Bomboclxxt Now Riddim is not a random crossover between Kingston and South America: it is the continuation of a bond that already existed live, now taken into the studio. Big up to that connection.
Nor is it the first time Tikaf has carried the Latin American flag alone on a one-riddim album: on "Rambo Riddim," a Spanish-language dancehall production with artists from Spain and Costa Rica, he was the only South American representative. The truth is this artist is already comfortable in the role of bridge.
"Tikaf is no longer the Latin exception in Jamaican dancehall — he is a recurring presence."
"Tengo el Poder": Spanish riding fully on the riddim
Tikaf's track on the album is called "Tengo el Poder," placed on the tracklist alongside cuts from Bling Dawg, Kiprich, Delly Ranx and Roy G, among others. Instead of imitating patois or forcing a Jamaican accent, Tikaf rides the riddim in his own language and his own cadence —the same move that has made him a reference whenever Spanish-language dancehall is discussed.
The riddim itself is not looking to overwhelm: it repeats a forceful pattern, designed so each artist can stamp their signature without fighting the base. That is where "Tengo el Poder" delivers: it comes in with the same force as Sean Paul or Wayne Wonder, but speaks the language of Latin American brotherhood.
What it means for the Latin scene
That a label with the weight of Ward 21 and Misik Muzik would choose a single Latin American artist for a project that is practically 100% Jamaican says something about the reach that Spanish-language dancehall still has. It is not just a guest voice: it is recognition of a career that Pull It Up Radio has followed closely, from "Corrupto$" with Javier Alerta to "Qué Dicha" with Costa Rebel.
Bless up Tikaf for continuing to open that lane between Jamaica and Latin America. Bomboclxxt Now Riddim is already available on all digital platforms — and "Tengo el Poder" is reason enough to hit play.
🎧 Listen to "Tengo el Poder" and the whole Bomboclxxt Now Riddim on your favorite platform.
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Frequently asked questions
Who is SukuWard?
He is Andre "Suku" Gray, member and producer of Ward 21, the Jamaican dancehall group founded in 1998 in Kingston. He released Bomboclxxt Now Riddim on his Misik Muzik Productions label.
What is the Bomboclxxt Now Riddim?
A 28-track one-riddim album produced by Misik Muzik, featuring Sean Paul, Wayne Wonder, Spragga Benz, Mr. Lexx, Bling Dawg, Craigy T and other names from Jamaican dancehall.
Who is Tikaf?
A dancehall artist born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, based in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. He is the only Latin American artist included on Bomboclxxt Now Riddim, with the track "Tengo el Poder."
Had Tikaf worked with Ward 21 before?
Yes, he has previously shared the stage with Ward 21, Serani and Cutty Ranks in live shows, before this studio collaboration.