Destin Conrad Drops “Chi Chi”
Grammy-nominated multi-hyphenate DESTIN CONRAD brings the bashment to the screen with the official music video for “CHI CHI,” a highlight from his dancehall and reggae-inspired project, ROADRUNNER. Reimagining the sample of T.O.K.’s controversial 2000 dancehall classic “Chi Chi Man,” DESTIN makes the familiar refrain his own, transforming it into an anthemic celebration of self-expression, identity, and belonging. Directed by Zev York and shot over one evening, the video brings the bashment to life with fans hand-selected to join DESTIN in the celebration, capturing the party’s style, movement, and sense of community. In a fiery final punchline, DESTIN wields a flamethrower as the lyrics ring out, “Blaze di fire, mek we bun dem.”
On “CHI CHI,” DESTIN brings a fresh perspective to a song with a complicated legacy in dancehall. The Guardian included the track on its playlist of the week’s best new music, while DancehallMag praised the track as “funny, provocative and proudly unruly,” while underscoring the cultural significance of his approach: “The rhythm remains familiar. The power has changed hands.” Through “CHI CHI,” DESTIN engages with the music and cultural history that shaped him, making the material distinctly his own.
Earlier this month, DESTIN released the video for “DADAMAN” featuring breakout artist kwn, ROADRUNNER’s sultry focus track built on a heavy riddim and driving bassline. The Zev York– directed visual puts DESTIN in the role of Mr. E, the boss with the money, confidence, and charisma to run the room alongside some of the finest whines in the office, with a special appearance by Justine Skye.
Released via ABOVE GROUND/EMPIRE, ROADRUNNER is an ode to DESTIN’s Jamaican heritage, bringing reggae and dancehall into his contemporary R&B. Drawing from the sounds and culture that shaped him, the project explores identity, desire, and discovery while reflecting the freedom DESTIN has always given himself to follow his instincts. Featuring kwn, Amanda Reifer, and Stalk Ashley, ROADRUNNER debuted at No. 1 on Apple Music’s Reggae chart. The FADER spoke with DESTIN about making the album and clearing legendary dancehall samples, while Forbes described the project as “both like a homecoming and a new beginning.” Billboard named DESTIN its 2026 R&B Rising Star, praising him for approaching “R&B as merely a starting point” and possessing his “own inimitable star quality.”
Across ROADRUNNER, DESTIN moves between airy R&B melodies and reggae-inflected rhythms, with “FAVORITE LOVER” giving a lighter touch through its syncopated bassline and Jamaica-shot visual, which moves through intimate vignettes and coastal landscapes. “I LOVE YOUR BODY” brings a flirtatious charge, while “NERVOUS,” produced by longtime collaborator Louie Lastic, leans into a syncopated groove sampling the viral “Midu Mountain Song.”
ROADRUNNER follows a strong run for DESTIN, including the critically acclaimed wHIMSY!, which debuted at No. 1 on Apple Music’s Jazz chart and No. 3 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, and LOVE ON DIGITAL, which earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album, was named Billboard’s No. 1 R&B Album of the year, and surpassed 60 million global streams.
DESTIN will perform at RNB X Live in Dallas on Sunday, November 1, 2026, Spotify’s first standalone R&B concert event, following recent appearances at Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Live at Brooklyn Steel, Broccoli City, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, and Japan’s Summer Sonic. Earlier this summer, he sold out Sony Hall for the Blue Note Jazz Festival and performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival, following the sold-out wHIMSY! tour, which included multiple nights in Los Angeles and New York City.
From a global headlining tour to standout performances on NPR Tiny Desk, COLORS, and BETX Fan Fest, DESTIN has continued to move between music, fashion, and culture on his own terms. He joined Young Miko on “no debo 🙁,” earning a Latin GRAMMY nomination for his songwriting work on Young Miko’s Do Not Disturb: Late Checkout, collaborated with kwn on “all fours” and on Ambré’s “Destin’s Interlude,” teamed up with Kehlani on “BAD BITCHES,” and appeared in PinkPantheress’ “Romeo” music video. The recognition continued at the 2026 BET Awards, where DESTIN earned a Best New Artist nomination and received a co-sign from Janet Jackson, following his recognition as BET Amplified’s Artist of the Month in June. Declared “a key voice in contemporary R&B” by NME, DESTIN has also partnered with Dr. Martens, Who Decides War, D’USSE, and NYX Cosmetics, and was included in GQ’s September Music Portfolio. He has also been featured across Billboard, Essence, V Magazine, MTV, GENIUS, Los Angeles Times, Wonderland, Rolling Stone/VIBE, ABC News Live, Gay Times, NOTION, Numéro Netherlands, and YAMS Magazine.
For DESTIN CONRAD, R&B, jazz, reggae, and dancehall are all part of the same conversation, with each project revealing another side of an artist who trusts his own instincts.
PC: Ryder