Intence drops debut album VOYAGE, debuts at No. 1 on US iTunes Reggae chart

Jamaican dancehall artist Intence has kicked off the new year with a major milestone, releasing his debut album VOYAGE on January 1 via VP Records and landing at No. 1 on the U.S. iTunes Reggae Albums chart.

The 16-track project continues a New Year’s Day release tradition Intence began in 2018, when he started dropping new music at the start of each year for his growing fan base. This time, the annual release marks a full-length debut that pulls deeply from his personal story and the realities of his upbringing in Tavern, Papine — a tough inner-city community on the eastern edge of Kingston.

Those experiences shape VOYAGE’s central themes of survival, ambition and the lingering effects of trauma. The album blends introspective moments with street-level realism, pairing Intence’s sharp delivery with collaborations from Bad Boy Timz, Tarrus Riley, Jah Cure, Tabeta Cshae and Countree Hype.

Among the standout tracks is “POVERTY,” his collaboration with Tarrus Riley, which debuted on Spotify’s New Music Friday US playlist. Previously released singles “LESSON,” “B.P.P.E.” and “LIKE U” are also featured on the album.

VOYAGE premiered alongside a short film and music video directed by AKA.RUPPI / NOWorNEVER, adding a visual layer to the album’s narrative. The release follows Intence’s 2025 EP Sólo Chicas, as well as earlier projects including the Public Enemy No. 1 mixtape and the Wounded EP.

Over the past few years, Intence has steadily gained international attention. REVOLT has highlighted him as part of a new wave shaping the sound of modern dancehall, while Billboard has repeatedly featured his music in its monthly roundup of rising reggae and dancehall releases. In 2021, The New York Times critic Jody Rosen described Intence’s breakout single “Yahoo Boyz” as “the biggest dancehall smash of 2021.”

VOYAGE is now available across all major digital streaming platforms.

Tracklist – VOYAGE