When dancehall-reggae artiste Short Ghad was based in Sweden a few years ago, he experienced a stark betrayal at the hands of his close friends -- a stinging act of treachery that almost cost him his own life.
He chronicles that eye-opening betrayal in a song called Reason that has been making the rounds on mixtapes and on FM radio.
"When I was living in Sweden a few years ago, one of my so-called friends dem threatened my life. I was surprised because I wasn't expecting it and mi just write the song same time, singing 'one of my friend dem want mi gone', and the chorus just stuck inna mi head and ah just so the song come about," he said.
He released visuals with a touching narrative for Reason which have racked up over 101,000 views since its release.
The song is the title track of his soon-to-be-released EP. Other songs which will be included on the EP are Never Say Sorry and Feel Like.
"This EP will show off my overall artistic vision, these songs are gaining tremendous popularity on Tik Tok and on IG @shortgee__ with thousands of shares and videos from fans all over the world," the artiste, whose real name is Conrad Williams, said.
Short Ghad has emerged as a popular TikTok personality, amassing several thousand followers on the platform where he streams live and plays music from his catalogue and those of other artistes. He has been promoting his singles and performing at local events such as BoomBox Fridays and Weddy Weddy Wednesdays.
"I have been in the streets all of this week and the response has been phenomenal, mi shell Weddy Weddy the other day, many of the selectors dem at the weekly events ah give me a strength," he said.
Short Ghad hails from the parish of St Elizabeth and was originally known for being a DJ, making his rounds across Jamaica’s street dances and parties. He gained recognition in 2022 after releasing Feel Nice, the title song and lead single from his 2022 debut studio album.
Released on February 25, 2022, the 19-track album is a tribute to love, inspired by his personal experiences and surroundings. The album featured a mix of classical dancehall and reggae with popular songs like Sekkle, Right Type a Luv and Love Party.
The project generated significant buzz, particularly in Europe, eventually achieving the number one spot on the pre-order list on iTunes (Reggae) in Sweden and, since that time, has garnered significant streams on Spotify and Facebook. His music blends dancehall, Afrobeat and reggae, making him a notable emerging artiste in the European market.
Short Ghad has released a battery of new videos for projects such as Never Say Sorry, Reason and Clean Like over the last couple of months.
"I am making great strides in the music industry, 2025 has been a breakout year for me," he said.
