Mwata Modala enjoying buzz with ‘Eh Gal’

Dancehall-reggae artiste Mwata Modala has been gaining traction with the single Eh Gal on the 'Shake It to the Max' rhythm.

"The response to Eh Gal has been phenomenal, it just proves to me seh you never know what song ago change yuh life, cah mi neva expect it fi tek off so big, considering it was just a freestyle I did for fun. Big up, mi bredda Lando, the dancehall mechanic, a him buss it over TikTok," the artiste said.

The single, which is accompanied by a music video, has racked up almost 30,000 views on YouTube and is gaining views on Tik Tok. During this summer, Mwata Modala has continued to crank up the promotion on the project, even as the original Shake It To the Max remix climbs up Billboard and international charts.

"It's amazing to see everyone gravitate to the Eh Gal song. Right now, mi just a gwan stay focused and put in the work to show the world seh mi deserve a place inna music," he said.

The artiste recently performed in Ansonia, Connecticut on July 26, and he has several upcoming gigs.

"Yeah, I have a few upcoming US dates coming up, but I'm really excited about my first performance in Jamaica. Mi ago rough up da stage deh," he said.

Born in 1985 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mwata Modala gravitated to music while he travelled to recording studios with his father, who encouraged him to perform lyrics into the microphone. At age 14, he began to sneak into dancehall parties with his friends and soon voiced his first dubplate. He started doing hip hop and earned a reputation as one of the toughest battle rappers in the city, performing under the name 'Bonez', one of his childhood nicknames.

After doing a dubplate for a deeply personal song in memory of a New York selector who had passed away, Mwata Modala gained notoriety in Bridgepor, and among Jamaicans on the US east coast. Then, for personal reasons, he took an extended break from the business.

Now that he has returned, Mwata Modala is gunning for dancehall's top spot. In July, he dropped a new freestyle, Forever, recorded on Rvssian's popular 'Story Book' rhythm.

"I am just putting in the work," said Mwata Modala.