He’s a hit maker in every sense of the term. Problem Child has conquered the industry in a very intentional way. His rise to being a top-tier Caribbean entertainer didn’t happen overnight but he’s maintained a sort of understated appeal in the business that’s comparable to no one else. This year, when the curtains fell on Vincy Mas, Problem was once again the champion of the Road – securing not just the Road March title but also the competition’s second place.

Two songs, ‘Fraid Horn’ and ‘Pong Pong’ delivered an ease and relatability that all of SVG and those visiting for Vincy Mas, embraced and enjoyed. “Winning the Road March title is definitely a blessing. It’s definitely based on a lot of hard work,” he told Ebuzztt in the aftermath of the win, announced on Wednesday. “A lot of ground work and thinking, sometimes over-thinking, strategizing, went into it, especially after winning last year,” he explained. “First and second place… I think that came about because I saw people commenting that Problem Child was competing with himself for Vincy Mas, but that’s generally really my theory on how life should go,” said the entertainer.

For Problem Child, success is personal, and growth over time is influenced by how he challenges himself at each opportunity. “I don’t look at what anyone else is really doing and try to do better than them. I just try to do better than I did yesterday – try to make the tomorrow me, better than the today me and the today me better than the yesterday me, whether it’s music or life in general.”

KICK THE EGO AND LEARN TO LEARN.

A music industry that’s now a Caribbean-wide space, fueled by a significant number of global carnivals, Problem understands oh to well, the trials faced by artistes on the rise. Many have lamented the lack of opportunity, as new voices, to be given a chance in the space. “All the new artistes entering the soca space, or the music space – I think one of the most important things, if not the most important thing I can advise is, always be willing to learn,” he said. Highlighting the importance of observing and absorbing, Problem, whose real name is Shertz James, said new artistes must be willing to listen to and take advice from the right people. “Even in taking advice, you have to know who to take advice from because some people won’t always have advice that’s coming from a great place.”

Deeper thought given to the question, Problem urged up and comers to learn how to learn. “Wanting to learn is one thing but you have to understand that ego sometimes gets in the way of learning because you might not always want to listen to somebody because you feel you may know but you have to understand that no one is going to know everything so you have to start learning how to decipher – ok maybe I should listen to this guy because x,y,z reason,” he rationalized.

For creatives like the Vincy Bad Boy, time and experience have taught tremendous lessons. “Learning is such a great thing – the willingness to learn. It’s a challenge because you have to also understand that you can learn from anybody – not just someone with a degree in something, but figuring out who, what, when, how is the hardest part of learning, even when you’re willing to learn,” he said.

Standing humble and successful, the artiste who has written for himself and many others in the industry, continues to look forward, eager to learn more and rise to his full potential as an artiste. “Once you’re willing to learn and you’re willing to accept and learn how to learn you can only advance and get better at what you do. A big part of that is not having any ego. Once you couple a willingness to learn, a strong drive and a never -give -up, attitude, you’re only gonna get better. That’s the only advice that I can offer and I dare to say that it will work.”