Byron Messia thrilled as ‘Talibans’ certified platinum in UK

On the heels of earning his first Grammy win in February, international dancehall superstar Byron Messia is celebrating again by securing his first UK platinum certificate for his breakout single, Talibans.

It is the first trap-dancehall track to be certified a platinum record in the UK.

"When we first got the news, it was brought to my attention by an Instagram post, where they tagged me about it. I then called someone from my UK side, for the label to confirm the source was valid. After that, I felt overwhelmed. Me and my team were on our way to the hotel in Toulouse, France, to be exact. I then called my mom to give her the great news," Messia told THE STAR.

He added that the joy and pride from his support system is real, as they all are living in the moment, basking in being the first artiste from St Kitts and Nevis to achieve this win.

"My family is very proud because they saw the journey firsthand. Many see the glamour and the hype now, but they (his family) know how much it took to get here," he stated.

According to reports from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), Talibans has surpassed sales and streaming equivalent units of 400,000, as measured by the Official Charts Company. Messia and international reggae/dancehall stalwart Sean Paul were both confirmed certified by BPI last Friday, with Sean Paul being certified platinum for his hit single Get Busy, which marked his second UK platinum certification.

Messia said sharing such a win with a dancehall heavyweight such as Sean Paul is a great accomplishment, and adds to his musical value and input within dancehall on an international level.

"It is a honour to be among great company and as a yute that came from nothing, it feels very overwhelming, especially to be doing it big at a young age. I try not to let it get to my head and just focus on the musical side of things, but it's heart-warming," Messia told THE STAR. "My musical value is obviously growing, because I now have a Grammy and a platinum record, but as I said, my focus is on producing quality music and adding more value to the dancehall fraternity."

With the sub genre of trap-dancehall being frowned upon and harshly criticised as a "watered-down form of dancehall music", the artiste said he does not view this certification as a way to "shut up" the critics, but it proves that trap-dancehall is accepted and appreciated internationally.

"Music is a mission, not a competition, so I never looked at it from that angle. It's a good look for the culture overall," he stated.

Messia said that although he never expected Talibans to make such an impact, he was always confident that his music would reap huge success because it's flowing from a genuine place.

"I just do music from the heart and leave the rest to the fans. I don't think too deeply about whether or not the song is going to be big. I just give it my all in the studio," he revealed. As the artiste continues to shine his Caribbean light internationally, Messia implored his colleagues not to be discouraged or daunted by the critics, but to "believe in yourself, shut out the noise and work".

Talibans peaked at No. 12 on the official UK Charts, following its release on January 20, 2023. It became a global dancehall anthem, earning gold certification in Canada with sales of 40,000 units, while selling over 500,000 units in the US. The remix with Afrobeat star Burna Boy, titled Talibans 2, was released on July 20 and helped propel the track onto the US Hot 100. The song, which later became a viral sensation locally, amassed more than 92 million streams on YouTube, with the Burna Boy remix racking up more than 42 million views.

As for his future musical plans, Messia promised "more music, tours and more accomplishments".

"I also want to take the time out to tell my fans thanks for their support," he added. The artiste is currently on a European tour, which began on March 28 and is set to culminate on April 30.