It didn’t take us long to realize that Jaicko, the latest musician to join Rihanna in music’s Bajan takeover, was a talent beyond his years. Growing up surrounded by the sounds of the Caribbean, his father’s band, and popular American music, it’s very refreshing to see a 17-year-old artist with a sound as genuine as Jaicko’s.

His first single, the genre-blending hit “Oh Yeah”, was seen on BET’s 106 & Park in early September and with an album set to debut at the close of this year there are no limits for this new pop sensation.

Take a look at what Jaicko had to say about his music, his heritage and life as an up-and-coming artist:

DrJays.com: Where’d your passion for music come from?

Jaicko: When I was younger, about five years old, I was greatly inspired by my dad. He had a band back in Barbados, and he would play out of a lot of local nightclubs. When I saw him play, I knew I wanted to be a performer.

Jaicko’s debut single, “Oh Yeah”

DJP: How does your Caribbean heritage fit into you sound?

Jaicko: It sets me apart. I’m a lot different from from the rest of the young R&B scene. I would call my sound: Caribbean-infused pop. I take from the Caribbean what is mine, and bring in it you with an American style of music. I sing, and my accent and culture comes through in my melodies and it creates a different sound. My sound is definitely closer to Pop, but it’s packed with my experiences growing up in Barbados.

DJP: When does your album, “Can I?” drop, and what should fans expect ?

Jaicko: The album comes out in early December, and it’s just a true representation of me as a musician—life through the eyes if Jaicko. I have songs that touch on relationships, girls etc. I have tracks that talk about the world around me. It’s Just a true representation of my style of music.

DJP: Are there any notable collaborations on this album?

Jaicko: My first single, “Oh Yeah,” features Snoop Dog, so that’s pretty cool.

DJP: How do you plan to stand out from the pool of young artists in the game?

Jaicko: Being from the Caribbean makes me different, and showcasing my heritage in my music makes me stand out. I also write and produce a lot of my own music, so there’s less outside influence on my tracks. The sound is more me that anything, or anyone else.

DJP: Who are you musical inspirations?

Jaicko: Growing up, I was exposed to a lot of different kinds of music. When I was younger I was constantly listening to Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Vertical Horizon. I was always surrounded by music. Right now, I’m really feeling Taylor Swift. I can appreciate almost everything, especially Jay Z, his new album is constantly being blasted when I’m traveling.

DJP: How would you describe your style?

Jaicko: It’s kind of hard to describe my style. I always keep it young and fresh, but I never limit myself. I like to infuse a lot of different styles, like I do with my music. I mean, how I’m dressing plays a big role in what I produce.

DJP: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Jaicko: Definitely one of my goals in being an artist is to have longevity. So in 10 years I see myself still pretty relevant, still producing music. I see myself continuing to make top-10 hits, and my greatest hits album selling out.

DJP: If you could leave our customers with some style advice, what would it be?

Jaicko: Don’t be afraid to try new things and step out of your comfort zone. Go so far out of the box to make a statement that defines you.

DJP: Where can your fans find out more about you?

Jaicko: I’m on Myspace at www.myspace.com/jaicko , and you can follow me on Twitter for constant updates at twitter.com/JAICKO

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