If the songs Balance and Wah Yo Deh Pan by Ayetian are in heavy rotation on your playlists, or even Valentine by Kalonji, then you’re already familiar with the work of a Point Fortin producer who has consistently been creating dancehall hits. Akiel Riley, also known as BlacksTheMan, continues to blaze the trail.
Riley, 28, told Guardian Media he has always loved music—from his days at Point Fortin Anglican Primary School to Point Fortin West and Fyzabad Secondary Schools.
“I was into a lot of rap and hip-hop, artistes like Joey Bada$$, Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Tyler the Creator, Ab-Soul, Earl Sweatshirt,” he recalled.
He also played the drums at church. He added that even before he graduated, he knew he would explore the music industry.
“From Form Four, I knew I wanted to become a producer,” he said.
But he actually started off in the music world as a graphic designer after meeting some key people.
“I used to play this (online) game called IMVU and someone I met there actually taught me how to use Photoshop,” he recalled. “And then I got more curious so I continued to learn more.”
His first designs were for events being held at school, but it was after he met late Trinibad artiste Rebel Sixx in 2018 that he tried his hand at music cover art.
“We did an event in Point and a DJ I booked said he wanted to bring an artiste, which happened to be Rebel.”
He noted that this was at a time when Trinibad was just getting off the ground and “wasn’t even a thing” yet, referring to the name for the now-popular genre.
“After he put me on to that, I started to listen more because I liked it. He really made me start listening to dancehall generally too, like Squash and Rygin King.”
He has designed artwork for many songs, including Welcome 2 TriniBad by Medz Boss and Icee Dan, Real Mad Dawgs and Stacking by Prince Swanny, and COVID-19 by Zerimar.
But spending so much time around musicians, producers and artistes, he was able to combine his own research with skills he learnt from those connections. He finally began pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a producer.
“The first beat I made was on a programme called Reason (Studios), and it was a dancehall song for a friend, actually.”
He coined his producer name from a childhood nickname that he eventually embraced. He said he made it official around 2017.
While he tends to lean towards dancehall, he’s also able to produce R&B, hip-hop and soca.
Locally, he produced tracks like Valentine by Kalonji, Evil by Jahllano and Jashii, and Cyat Ting by Tokeii. He said people then began telling him he has a “distinct sound” and was “always mashing up the place”.
“And they always said, ‘Keep doing yuh thing.’” And he has been.
The 2024-2025 Down Riddim was easily his most successful work so far, topping various international charts and earning more than 150 million streams across digital music platforms.
It features dancehall stars like Ayetian with Balance, Miss Pretty by Bayka, My Type by Kraff, Down by Valiant, Black Rain by Skeng, and more.
It was a beat he actually began at home on his laptop and was not intended to be a riddim. The original file name was Pimento and he just made it for fun.
“There’s a producer called Extended Play Records from Jamaica and we send each other beats. So I sent some and DJ Mac was in the studio with him at that point in time or whenever… Then Mac reached out to me saying he liked my sound and I sent him some more.”
That same day, DJ Mac, who executive-produced the riddim with Nvtzz, sent back what would eventually become Valiant’s song.
The riddim dominated the region and the world, with millions of views on music videos and listens online.
“It meant a lot because it’s a big milestone and a lot of people have been reaching out to me. I’m glad for that,” Riley said.
Balance even earned two remixes courtesy of soca star Machel Montano, with the second including US R&B superstar Ne-Yo.
Montano mixed his track The Truth, written and produced by Full Blown Entertainment, with the dancehall hit to create Truth and Balance. With Ayetian’s iconic line, “One gyal every day,” the themes complemented each other.
“Balance was one of the biggest tunes at that point in time. So for Carnival season, Machel reached out to me.” On the addition of Ne-Yo, he chuckled, admitting he still isn’t sure how that happened. “I just got a call saying, ‘Boy, Ne-Yo on the riddim!’ I say, ‘What?!’”
That remix earned consideration for Best Global Music Performance at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
And he did not stop there. He co-produced the Trouble Bubble Riddim with fellow T&T producer USOJ, which features yet another hit by Ayetian featuring Govana—Wah Yo Deh Pan. The riddim also features Rajahwild and Iwaata.
Wah Yo Deh Pan has since been nominated for Dancehall Song of the Year and Dancehall Collaboration of the Year at the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards.
In an Instagram post, Riley reflected on the quiet nights and countless hours he spent on his craft. “(This) nomination is something I don’t take lightly… Grateful beyond words.”
He also recently co-produced One Bun for the Queen of Steam, Lady Lava, with USOJ.
Asked if young Akiel expected this level of success when he thought about trying music, he confidently said yes. “I had already manifested that and put it out in the universe so I knew it was coming,” he said. “It came kind of fast, but it’s here.”
But he never creates with hopes of being congratulated for his work — he just wants to make good music. And he sure is.
Asked which international artistes he hopes to someday work with, he listed Jamaican dancehall icons Vybz Kartel and Mavado, Tommy Lee, as well as Canadian rapper Drake.
But as much as he works with some of the biggest names in the game, he also truly enjoys working with underground acts. “Honestly, I’d work with anyone once it’s good vibes and good energy.”
He added that he is currently working on some soca tunes to be released for Carnival 2027.
