Stalk Ashley & BEAM

How it happened

BEAM — Tyshane Thompson, Kingston-born son of dancehall-turned-gospel legend Papa San — is one of the most quietly decorated Jamaicans in modern music. Brought in by Skrillex to write for Justin Bieber, he ended up featured on “Love You Different” from Justice (2021) and co-wrote and featured on “Freedom”, the title track of Bieber’s gospel EP that hit No. 2 on US iTunes. His résumé runs from a 2017 debut EP, 95, on Epic Records to production for 2 Chainz, Yo Gotti and Lecrae, and a feature on Popcaan & Preme’s “Link Up” EP.

“Pretty Ugly” (2021): the EP’s only guest

That’s the artist Stalk Ashley chose as the sole feature on her EP Excuses, Pt. I (December 3, 2021) — a six-track, seventeen-minute audio-visual project with visuals directed by Matthew Ezra and production from Krs., Darren “Jaxx” Jack, KingBNJMN, William Repko, Eugene Tsai and Dylan Graham. She described the EP to Clash as “walking listeners through my life as an adolescent blossoming into a young woman”. 13thStreetPromotions’ verdict on the guest spot: BEAM “makes his presence felt”. Two church-raised Jamaican artists who crossed into global R&B — on record together.

The timeline

2017 — BEAM’s debut EP 95 on Epic · Apr 2021 — the Bieber Justice/”Freedom” moment · Dec 3, 2021 — “Pretty Ugly” lands on Excuses, Pt. I as the EP’s only feature.