Five years after her ExPerience EP made her one of the earliest breakthrough reggae acts of the 2020s, Jamaican singer-songwriter Lila Iké has officially announced her debut studio album.
Titled Treasure Self Love, Iké’s long-awaited debut album arrives August 22 via Wurl Ike Records & In.DiggNation Collective, under exclusive license to Ineffable Records. To launch her campaign for the 11-track set, Iké has also released her new single, a smoky collaboration with new-gen dancehall star Masicka titled “Romantic.”
“This album became my teacher,” Iké exclusively tells Billboard. “What started in 2021 as just music turned into a journey of growth, healing, and real self-love. I thought I was writing songs, but they ended up being conversations with self. I went through joy, heartbreak, burnout, [and] clarity and came out softer, stronger, and more myself than ever. Treasure Self Love isn’t just the name of my album, it’s the lessons. There was a time I never thought I would be able to share it, so it’s all surreal to me right now. [I] cannot wait for everyone to hear it!”
Debuting just in time for summer, “Romantic” nods to Jamaican dancehall icon Patra’s 1994 classic “Romantic Call.” 31 years ago, that Yo-Yo-assisted track reached No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100, and now, Patra herself opens and closes Iké’s spin on her timeless hit. “Romantic” is the latest in a string of thrilling collaborations Iké has released in the lead-up to her long-awaited debut LP, including “He Loves Us Both” (with H.E.R.) and “Fry Plantain” (with Joey Bada$$). Iké’s Masicka collab, which was produced by Dunw3ll and Juls, also arrives alongside a Shane Creative-helmed visual that trades on ’90s aesthetics.
In addition to Masicka, Joey Bada$$ and H.E.R., Treasure Self Love is also set to feature collaborations with Irish artist Maverick Sabre and two-time Grammy-nominated reggae superstar Protoje.
Later this month (July 19), Iké will make her Reggae Sumfest debut in Jamaica, marking her first time performing at her home island’s largest annual music festival. On Aug. 28, she will vie for her third consecutive triumph in the female reggae artist of the year category at the Caribbean Music Awards. She boasts three other nods this year, including reggae song of the year (“Fry Plantain”) and reggae collaboration of the year (“Fry Plantain” and “Brusies,” with Mortimer and Kabaka Pyramid).
Watch the “Romantic” video below:
