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British producer Ryder teams up with Jamaican R&B rising star J’Calm for a genre-blending dancehall fusion
Ryder is back with a brand-new single and this time, he is diving deep into addictive love and dancehall-infused heartbreak.
Released yesterday (May 28), Nicotine sees the Hull-born, London-based producer teaming up with Jamaican R&B rising star J’Calm for a smooth yet infectious track that blends soulful R&B textures with dancehall rhythms. The collaboration arrives as the latest single from Ryder’s upcoming EP Ryderhood 3, set for release in June 2026.
The project marks the final chapter in Ryder’s ambitious Ryderhood trilogy, which began in May 2025 and has since showcased the producer’s refusal to stay confined to a single sound or genre.
“Working with J’Calm has been amazing. Nicotine took a while to get to where it’s at now – it started with just a bassline and simple drums, but we built it up into a hit,” Ryder shared.
That evolution is immediately clear throughout the track. Driven by an eccentric bassline and layered with moody production, Nicotine balances emotional vulnerability with a groove-heavy dancehall swing that feels tailor-made for late-night playlists.
For J’Calm, whose real name is Jovane Nathaniel Gayle, the song explores the emotional intensity of longing and obsession.
“Nicotine is an honest confession about being addicted to someone. It blends the R&B soul essence with a little bit of my home Jamaica with that dancehall swing and bassline that feels eccentric before the vocals even hit,” he explained.
The collaboration also highlights J’Calm’s growing international profile. Influenced by icons such as Bob Marley, Chris Brown and Michael Jackson, the Jamaican singer-songwriter has steadily built a loyal following through his signature fusion of dancehall, R&B and pop sensibilities. With over 634,000 Instagram followers, he continues to establish himself as one of Jamaica’s most exciting emerging voices.
For Ryder, Nicotine represents another bold step forward sonically.
While previous single ICU featuring Dre Six leaned into mellow afro-house textures, Nicotine shifts gears entirely, embracing a darker and more rhythmic energy. The genre-hopping approach has become a defining characteristic of the Ryderhood series, which consistently places collaborators in musical spaces outside their comfort zones.
“The whole idea behind this trilogy is bringing artists into a different world than they’d usually reside in. I’ve wanted to focus more on music that makes you move – music that can be enjoyed communally,” Ryder explained.
Set to release in June 2026, Ryderhood 3 promises Ryder’s most diverse lineup yet, featuring collaborators including namesbliss, N4T, Ojerime, Rushy, Dre Six and J’Calm. The final instalment follows the critical success of Ryderhood and Ryderhood 2, both of which earned praise from publications such as NME, Complex, Clash and The Face, alongside radio support from BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and 1Xtra.
Despite still being only 21 years old, Ryder has quickly built a reputation as one of the UK’s most versatile young producers. Drawing inspiration from artists such as J Dilla, Labi Siffre, Moby and Kanye West, he continues to create genre-bending sounds that blend experimentation with emotional soulfulness.
From teaching himself music production on a pirated software programme at age 11 in Hull to collaborating with some of the UK and Jamaica’s most exciting emerging artistes, Ryder’s rise has been anything but conventional.
But if Nicotine proves anything, it is that Ryder’s unpredictability may be exactly what makes him so exciting to watch.
“#Ryderhood, we’re back,” Ryder declared.
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