Problem Child is the performing name of Shertz James, a
Vincentian soca artist, songwriter, and performer known for his
high-energy style and sharp ear for carnival-ready hooks. Born in
St. Vincent and the Grenadines and later shaped by years in
Brooklyn, New York, he built a sound that draws from both island
soca and the hip-hop and dancehall culture he absorbed in the
United States. That mix has long given his music a distinct edge:
rooted in the rhythms of carnival, but flexible enough to move
between party anthems, road tunes, and melodic singers’ cuts.
He first broke through with “Party Animal” in 2007, a song that
helped establish him as one of the more recognizable voices in
Vincentian soca. He followed it with a steady run of releases that
kept him active on the circuit and on the road, including “Mad
House” and later “Neva Bow,” both of which strengthened his
reputation as a writer who understands what works in a crowded
fete. His songs tend to be direct and rhythmic, built for the stage
as much as the studio, and that live-wire energy has become a key
part of his identity.
Beyond his own recordings, Problem Child has also earned respect as
a songwriter for other artists. He has written material for Patrice
Roberts, including “A Little Wine,” along with other songs such as
“Old & Grey,” “Money Done,” “I Feeling Sexy,” and “I Like It Hot.”
He has also written for King Bubba and Shal Marshall, further
showing how widely his writing travels across the Caribbean soca
scene. That behind-the-scenes work has helped make him more than
just a performer; he is also one of the artists shaping the sound
of modern soca from the inside.
His standing has continued to grow in recent years. He was
appointed a Cultural Ambassador for St. Vincent and the Grenadines
in 2022, a sign of how closely his work is now tied to national
culture. More recently, his release “Go (Start Wine)” has kept his
name present in current soca conversations, alongside the kind of
crowd-moving tracks that have defined his career. Problem Child
remains an artist whose appeal comes from balance: local in
feeling, broad in reach, and always built for the energy of the
party.
