Aidonia

Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, Sheldon Lawrence works under the professional alias Aidonia, sometimes listed as Idonia, and delivers rapid, festive deejay flows rooted in eighties and nineties dancehall reggae. Lyric writing began for him after he witnessed the 1993 clash pitting Beenie Man against Bounty Killer. Early performances took place at school events, where he also assembled the crew J.A.G. 1—likewise known as Jah A Guide One, Jag One Productions, or J.O.P.—with close associates. Several years spent in New York City brought only peripheral contact with that city’s dancehall circles, yet supportive voices urged his return to Jamaica to treat music as a full-time pursuit. An introduction to Mr. G, earlier credited as Goofy, led to the 2003 debut single “Many a Dem.” Regular appearances at weekly events commenced in 2004, accompanied by singles issued through Orize'n Entertainment and Young Blood Records. Producer Skatta crossed his path the same year, and their collaboration yielded “Lolly,” Aidonia’s breakthrough hit. Countless additional singles and guest spots on VP Records and Greensleeves Records compilations followed. The full-length Then and Now arrived in 2007. Federation Sound issued the 2009 mixtape Bolt Action, which placed Aidonia’s rhymes over dozens of classic hip-hop and dancehall rhythms. In the early 2010s J.O.P.—whose roster includes MCs such as Deablo, Shokryme, and Tanso—stepped forward more prominently as a unit, scoring hits with “All 14” and “Run Road.” Aidonia’s album One Voice surfaced in 2013, followed by Project Sweat in 2015.