Ny-Robii comes into his own

For years, Dowayne J Morrison was comfortable allowing his music to take precedence over establishing his name. Long before he began seriously carving out his own space as Ny-Robii, the St Thomas-born artiste was already putting his pen to work behind the scenes, contributing to songs recorded by dancehall entertainer Pamputtae, including Good Good, Drive Mi Good, Stop It and Good Gold. Back then, he was known as Priceless.

Today, with a new name, a clearer sense of direction and an increasing confidence in his own artistry, Ny-Robii believes it is finally time for audiences to know the man behind the music. “I’m feeling superb and proud of myself,” he said, reflecting on his growth. “I know I mastered the art because I can DJ, singjay and sing on any riddim — trap, dancehall or reggae.” It is the kind of confidence that did not emerge overnight.

Now based on Long Island’s East End in the Hamptons, Ny-Robii’s journey has been one of reinvention, patience and learning to trust his own ability. Though songwriting gave him an entry point into the industry, his ambitions have always stretched beyond creating material for other artistes. He wanted his own voice to be heard.

That desire eventually gave birth to Ny-Robii, an identity under which he released Clowny in 2019 before following with the seven-track EP Welcome to Ny-Bration in October 2021. Since then, he has been steadily building his catalogue and refining what he describes as a sound rooted in reggae trap, dancehall, melody and storytelling. For Ny-Robii, versatility is one of his greatest strengths.

He describes himself as a lyricist with strong vocals and an ability to move comfortably between subjects, rhythms and styles without losing his identity. “My expectation as an artiste is to be unique — different — be professional, release quality music consistently and please my audience to the best of my ability,” he said. That commitment to individuality appears to be at the heart of the artiste he is trying to become.

Rather than simply chasing what is popular, Ny-Robii says he wants his music to reflect his own creative instincts. He refers to that space as his “Flow State” — a place where, creatively, he feels unrestricted and able to operate on what he describes as another plane. His catalogue has already begun attracting listeners.