Rising Jamaican producer Carterr Shas entered into a partnership with US-based music streaming platform SoundCloud for its first-ever Open Riddim Challenge. 

This global initiative will celebrate Caribbean music culture by fostering collaboration, community, and competition—hallmarks of the region’s dynamic soundscape.

Dancehall music is experiencing a fresh wave of engagement, fueled by a resurgence of prominent artists and a new generation of creatives blending dancehall with trending hip-hop influences. 

SoundCloud’s Open Riddim Challenge will serve as a launchpad for emerging talent, offering artists worldwide the opportunity to showcase their skills and connect with a growing community of like-minded creatives.

As the host producer, Carterr has released the ‘SCORPIO Riddim’, a beat he composed, drawing inspiration from the structured, dark, bold, yet creative and vulnerable traits of his zodiac sign.

The cover art features First Communion (1896), a painting by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso, who was also a Scorpio. Picasso created this piece at just 15 years old, marking his first widely recognised work—mirroring Carterr’s own journey, as he produced his first major beat, Speed Off by Valiant, at the same age.

The Open Riddim Challenge is open to all artists. SoundCloud will determine standout submissions based on platform engagement, musical creativity, and social support.

The most outstanding submissions will be spotlighted by SoundCloud and officially record and release a single with Carterr. This initiative underscores SoundCloud’s commitment to amplifying Caribbean talent and providing a space where artists can thrive through collaboration and exposure.