Alkaline

Country: Jamaica

Earlan Bartley, professionally known as Alkaline, is a Jamaican dancehall and reggae artist born on 19 December 1993 in Kingston, Jamaica. Raised in Kingston, he attended Ardenne High School and later studied Media and Communication at the University of the West Indies. His passion for music developed during his high school years, where—with encouragement from friends—he began visiting recording studios and shaping his artistic identity. Alkaline is known for his carefully crafted persona, using his stage name to symbolize the contrast between perceived darkness and his true personality, while maintaining a sound deeply rooted in dancehall with a distinctive creative edge. Alkaline began recording professionally as a teenager and gained early recognition between 2011 and 2014 with songs reflecting youthful experiences. His rise accelerated through collaborations with major Jamaican producers and strong live performances, including Reggae Sumfest. His international breakthrough came with the release of his debut album New Level Unlocked in 2016, which topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart for 18 weeks, making history for a dancehall artist. The album and its hit singles solidified his status as one of dancehall’s leading figures, earning critical acclaim, award nominations, and a fiercely loyal fanbase known as Vendetta. From 2017 onward, Alkaline expanded his influence globally through the creation of his flagship concert series, New Rules Festival, staged successfully across Jamaica, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and beyond. His second album Top Prize (2021) further confirmed his international appeal, charting across multiple Billboard categories. Beyond music, Alkaline crossed into fashion and pop culture, becoming the face of Givenchy’s global menswear campaigns and having his music featured in major platforms like Grand Theft Auto V. By 2025, with sold-out arena shows, cultural honors, and continued New Rules festivals worldwide, Alkaline had firmly established himself as one of dancehall’s most influential…

Alkaline began recording professionally as a teenager and gained early recognition between 2011 and 2014 with songs reflecting youthful experiences. His rise accelerated through collaborations with major Jamaican producers and strong live performances, including Reggae Sumfest. His international breakthrough came with the release of his debut album New Level Unlocked in 2016, which topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart for 18 weeks, making history for a dancehall artist. The album and its hit singles solidified his status as one of dancehall’s leading figures, earning critical acclaim, award nominations, and a fiercely loyal fanbase known as Vendetta.

From 2017 onward, Alkaline expanded his influence globally through the creation of his flagship concert series, New Rules Festival, staged successfully across Jamaica, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and beyond. His second album Top Prize (2021) further confirmed his international appeal, charting across multiple Billboard categories. Beyond music, Alkaline crossed into fashion and pop culture, becoming the face of Givenchy’s global menswear campaigns and having his music featured in major platforms like Grand Theft Auto V. By 2025, with sold-out arena shows, cultural honors, and continued New Rules festivals worldwide, Alkaline had firmly established himself as one of dancehall’s most influential modern artists.