Dancehall artiste Craig Thompson, more popularly known as Craigy-T from internationally renowned group TOK, has charted for the first time as a solo artiste with his latest body of work titled Unload.

A collaborative effort between himself and DJ Frodo from Poland, the album was released on Friday, November 29 and rose to the top of the US iTunes Reggae Albums Chart in the week following.

Debuting at number 3 on Sunday, December 8 was more than what Craigy-T anticipated. 

“I can’t stop smiling,” he said. “This is my first presentation to the world and to see that it was accepted and appreciated is a joy.”

The 7-track album also had all 6 songs—the 7th track is an outro—chart on the US iTunes Reggae Singles Chart. Onion peaked at number 12, followed by No Echo, Man A Baller featuring his fellow TOK band mate Bay-C, Pretty Gyal Wine and Ay Ay Ay at numbers 13 to 16 respectively. The title track, Unload, entered the chart at number 25. 

Irrespective of where they placed in the end, Craigy-T is surprised by the album’s success on the charts and intends on riding this momentum for as long as possible during his solo run.

“Nowadays at this point in my career, I don’t put too much expectation on my work. Mi do mi work, mi put it out there and mi pay attention to see if people receive it in the way I had intended. It’s really a joy to see that is really so it a go. Everyone who has listened to the project so far, once they don’t mind a little explicit material, the reaction from everyone has been positive,” Craigy-T continued.

He also expressed his gratitude towards DJ Frodo for creating Unload in such a masterful way. He said the chemistry between them during the process was outstanding. Though DJ Frodo isn’t the talkative type, Craigy-T grew to understand him more and knew DJ Frodo is just as ecstatic about the album’s performance as he is.

“We have a really good chemistry working together. Frodo doesn’t talk much so he only sent an explosion emoji and that is it but knowing him, I know he’s very happy with the placement as well,” Craighy T said.

At the writing of this piece, the album slipped a place, settling at number 4 by day’s end. The songs had also dropped, placing at numbers 30 to 34 in the same order and Unload at number 43.