1Clauze trades horse racing for views - Reuben Hussey ditches family legacy to become star influencer

Reuben Hussey, the 'Uptown Ambassador', has carved out a space for himself in the influencer world, and it's clearly working. So much so that he left his job at the horse racing track - a family tradition spanning generations -- to go solo under the moniker 'Ganja Clauze', which he later changed to 1Clauze "to be more corporate friendly".

Hussey told THE WEEKEND STAR that his entry into the world of influence five years ago wasn't planned.

"I started making videos, a friend told me that I was really funny, made a page for me, and a couple of hundred million views later, [I] have a radio show," he said.

His breakthrough came last year with a mock election against another influencer -- and a spectacular loss.

"After the 2025 general election, Bad Sekki had an initiative to do a mock election. I started as the opposition and he won. They just didn't vote for me. I got one vote ... big up uptown for the one seat," he said.

1Clauze has blamed the platform on which the poll was conducted, claiming that people turned up to vote for him but the technology stood in their way.

"People click on my name, the vote never go through, so true dem want to interact dem just click pon him name," he reasoned.

Within just three hours, their site racked up a quarter-million views, forcing it to shut down.

"I lost badly, but it was one of the main initiatives that blew me up," he said.

On the bright side, it earned them an invitation to the inauguration of Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness.

Prior to that, his biggest moment as an influencer was when he shaved his beard. Nobody had anything nice to say.

"It was a mistake, because I shaved too much off one side and decided to do everything. I went on live right after. I had 50,000 people and there were no positive comments. Four million views after two days, and 500,000 comments, and maybe one of them was nice," he said.

Hussey's content covers everything from the age of consent, which he believes should be raised, to the public Sex Offender's Registry, body-worn cameras, INDECOM, and even the national football team. He recently went viral for critiquing a player -- and got into a bit of an argument with him.

Asked if his success comes from being "an uptown yute", Hussey laughed a definite no.

"If that was the case, then all of them would be doing it. I am so upset that nepotism didn't get me further," he said jovially. "I checked all my uncles and aunties, and nothing. I didn't buy my views .. I had to get them the hard way. I've done work with Gleaner, THE STAR and other entities, and it all comes from being consistent. I wish it was Daddy's money... it would have been so much easier," he said, laughing.

Hussey, whose father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncles, and grandmother have all been in horse racing, admits his family didn't expect him to be an influencer -- a path that "does have a stigma attached to it".

"I am not ashamed to be an influencer or work within that space. Yes, with my education, yes, my family and friends perhaps expected a little at Caymanas Park, " he said.

At the racetrack, he worked under trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunez, his first real mentor in the racing world. Horses have always been a big part of his life.

"My first real viral video was of me talking to one of my horses ... and then I had a horse that died tragically, and from that I took a step back because, emotionally, I couldn't handle it," he said.

He thanked God for being able to turn it into something profitable, and credited the audience's support and encouragement for helping him stay the course.

"A lot of the times I wake up in the mornings and cannot believe that I am not at the racetrack shovelling doo-doo, and I am so grateful," he said.

"I really enjoy entertaining people and educating people; and most of all, I am myself, and that's my greatest privilege," he added.