Shawn Storm promises ‘itchy Christmas’

Dancehall artiste Shawn Storm says he would have stayed out of the ongoing lyrical war in dancehall if his name hadn't been called.

Known for his loyalty to the Gaza camp, the Loyalty deejay says his recent viral track, Holster (Itch Scratch), was sparked not by rivalry but by being drawn into the fray.

"Mi only enter dis when dem [Masicka] call mi name. If him neva call mi name, mi wudda gwaan watch him and Tommy Lee a duh dem thing, even though Leroy (Tommy Lee's given name) a mi bredda," Shawn Storm said.

The ongoing clash between Masicka and Tommy Lee Sparta has ignited a fiery exchange of diss tracks, commanding the attention of music lovers. Fans and younger artistes alike are drawn into the lyrical battle, making it one of the most talked-about rivalries in recent memory.

Shawn Storm was released from prison alongside Vybz Kartel last July after the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council overturned their murder conviction and life sentences. He told THE STAR that once his name was mentioned in the lyrical feud he decided that silence was not an option.

"A nuh like mi deh a jail again, weh yuh can call mi name and mi nuh defend miself," he said.

"Mi free now, and yuh call mi name, suh yuh a guh get a response," Shawn Storm said.

The lyrics that triggered his response came from Masicka's diss track Revelation, which targeted both Tommy Lee Sparta and Gaza Empire. In the song, Masicka says:

"Yuh a fight fi a room inna yuh boss house,

Yuh sweep di yawd and Shawn walk di dogs out..."

Despite the pointed lines, Shawn Storm said Holster (Itch Scratch) was just a freestyle vibe.

"A waah tell yuh seh, nuh lyrics neva write. Riddim jus a play and mi just deh deh a mess around," he shared.

"A nuh like mi seh 'Yow, mi a write dah song yah fi respond to dat [ Revelation] - no; because nutten weh him [Masicka] seh inna fi him song mi nuh address. Is jus a vibe wi a hol, a das why people a feel di song unda dah different vibe deh, because di song neva write inna a clash vibe," Shawn Storm added.

The playful single has gone viral, boosted by a TikTok dance challenge, and has been dubbed by some as the Christmas anthem of 2025. Dancehall stars such as Teejay, Stacious, and Ricky Platinum have shown support for the track.

Even with the song's viral status, Shawn Storm remains humble.

"Even people from the other side a seh 'Mi cyaah guh round it Sivva, a yuh tek di clash'. But mi a seh 'tek di clash?' Yuh cyaah call yuhself king, G.O.A.T and yuh cyaah claim win. Suh yuh see if di people dem seh me win, a dem mek it what it is, suh a weh dem seh," he stated.

He urged fans to simply enjoy the vibe and not to take the ongoing lyrical feud so seriously.

"Mi just waah di people dem fi hol a vibe [and] dance to any kinda dance to it and live," Shawn Storm said.

He reasoned that even the naysayers have found the song hard to resist.

"All di few people dem weh mi see a mek bad comments, a few moments later mi see dem a itch and scratch, and mi a seh 'look at dem hypocrite yah man,'" he added.

Meanwhile, Shawn Storm thinks clashes are essential to the dancehall culture.

"Dancehall begin inna clashing, enuh, and a bare [lyrical] badness from deejays who a face off on sound systems, and a dat mek dancehall. Suh it cyaah change," he said.

With Holster (Itch Scratch) already getting the attention of music lovers, Shawn Storm believes the track offers a therapeutic release.

"Mi a gwaan enjoy di moment, and mi feel good fi see seh people a use dah song yah as a form of therapy because dem done inna darkness already from hurricane [Melissa's impact]. Suh a mi a bring di light to Christmas and it's gonna be an itchy Christmas," he said.