In the fall of 2025, as the world’s streaming charts fill with predictable trap beats and grime revivals, a new sound from the Caribbean is cutting through the noise. A group of Bahamian artists known as Wave Runnahs has dropped their explosive debut compilation, Wave Runnahs Vol. 1—and it’s not just another album. It’s a movement.
Blending hip-hop bars, Afrobeat grooves, dancehall heat, and smooth R&B melodies, Vol. 1 doesn’t just experiment with genres—it forges a new dialect. Each artist, from Rello Ranzano to Phili, BigNino, and Pulla Slim, brings their own flavor, yet the heartbeat remains one. The sound may have been born in Nassau, but it’s ready for Lagos, London, Atlanta, and Miami.
Tracks like “BRWN SKNS” carry the soulful eccentricity of Outkast’s André 3000, while “Tell Me What You Want” featuring Rello and Phili blends emotion and swagger effortlessly. The dancehall smash “Ting So Fat” with Pulla Slim and Phili delivers infectious island energy, while “9-5” with BigNino reminds listeners what street storytelling is supposed to feel like. And then there’s “We Dem Runnahs”—the project’s defining anthem, a statement of intent from a crew determined not to ride waves, but to become the wave.
For decades, the Bahamas has been overshadowed by Jamaica’s dancehall and Trinidad’s soca scenes, rarely recognized as a global music powerhouse. Wave Runnahs is rewriting that narrative. Their sound isn’t borrowed—it’s built from the ground up, rooted in authenticity and ambition.
Their rise isn’t limited to the studio either. Phili’s electrifying performance on MICHECK turned heads across the industry. Backed by labelmates Rello Ranzano and BigNino, Phili didn’t just perform—he declared arrival. As Grammy Weekly noted, “He wasn’t cutting through the noise; he was creating his own frequency.”
With Wave Runnahs Vol. 1, the group has made it clear: the Caribbean’s next export isn’t just rhythm—it’s revolution.
Follow the movement:
Rello Ranzano – @relloranzano
Phili – @90knowles
BigNino – @theonlybignino
Pulla Slim – @pullaslim
Wave Runnah Records – @waverunnahrecords
