3. Tanya Stephens
Tanya Stephens emerged in the late 90s, following the path of Lady Saw, and a host of other female deejays at the time with sexually-charged singles like “Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet” and “Goggle.” Eventually she would distinguish herself from the pack in the mid-2000s, opting to sing more melodic bluesy singles that broke with convention and were more socially aware and personal. Her largely acoustic 2006 album Rebelution featured the single “Do You Still Care” which touched on homophobia, a taboo topic in dancehall. Sexism, racism, addiction, and politics were also central themes in this groundbreaking album. Tanya continues to push the envelope with her latest album Guilty, which features the song “Unapologetic” which pretty much sums up her approach to music.—Raine Martin