分类： entertainment

Jamaican reggae musician Ginjah is celebrating a landmark international career win, with his soulful single *Lay On My Pillow* holding the number one position on West Palm Beach’s Island Gold Radio Top 10 Reggae Chart for six straight weeks – a first in his professional journey.

Born Valentine Fraser, the artist known by his stage name Ginjah traces his performing identity to reggae legend Beres Hammond, who bestowed the moniker that has become synonymous with his emotionally rooted sound. Raised in Central Village after growing up in St James, Jamaica, Ginjah says his formative life experiences are the backbone of the raw, heartfelt quality that defines his music.

“My upbringing gave me an early understanding of resilience, humility, and what real emotion feels like,” he shared in an interview. “That’s why every track I create carries so much weight – every note comes from a place of lived experience, not fabricated storytelling.”

Released March 13 via independent label Juna Vill Records, *Lay On My Pillow* draws its origins from an intimate, unscripted conversation with his partner. “The song came from a totally genuine moment,” Ginjah explained. “We were talking, and the line ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if you come lay on my pillow’ just came out. Most of my work pulls from real conversations I have, and this track is specifically for the women – I want them to walk away knowing someone sees them and cares.”

This extended run at the top of the US-based chart marks the first time Ginjah has held the number one position for such a long stretch, a milestone he calls deeply special. “When I got the news the track hit number one, I was over the moon,” he said. “As an artist, you always hope your music connects with people far from home, but this is something else. Six weeks at the top and it’s still holding strong? I’ve never had anything like this in my career.”

Ginjah was quick to share credit for the single’s cross-border success, thanking the team and community that helped lift the track to new heights. “This is not a solo win,” he emphasized. “I have to give a huge thank you to Island Gold Radio, every listener that’s been spinning the track, and the whole team at Juna Vill Records. This is the result of everyone coming together.”

For the reggae artist, the international recognition serves as both validation of his artistic path and proof that authentic Jamaican storytelling resonates beyond regional borders. “This kind of overseas acclaim tells me I’m growing, and that I’m on the right track,” he said. “It proves reggae music from Jamaica doesn’t just stay in Jamaica – it crosses borders and touches hearts all over the world. It pushes me to keep creating from my truth, and to represent our culture the way it deserves to be represented. And trust me, this is just the start.”

As his breakout single continues to gain traction among reggae fans in the United States and beyond, Ginjah is also turning his attention to lifting up the next wave of Jamaican creative talent, sharing advice for emerging artists navigating the industry. “For any up-and-coming artist just starting out, my advice is this: put your faith first, treat your craft like the gift it is, and put in the work to get better every day – at your writing, your performance, how you carry yourself,” he said. “No matter what obstacles come your way, never stop believing in yourself. Trust the process, put in the consistent work, and the success you’re chasing will find you.”

For more than two decades, Sone G has built his life around Christian faith, and he has refused to be boxed in by conventional boundaries when sharing his beliefs with the world. Rather than sticking to traditional gospel arrangements, the Jamaican artist has reimagined spiritual messaging by pairing his lyrics with high-energy dancehall rhythms, bass-heavy trap beats, and soulful reggae instrumentations, creating a unique sound that bridges secular music culture and devotional art.

His latest offering, titled *Stronger*, leans into the warm, organic textures of classic roots-reggae. Released under the label Vi Records in early May, the track centers on a quiet, universal truth that resonates far beyond religious circles. In discussing the inspiration behind the single, Sone G explained that the song arrives at a moment when many people around the world grapple with exhaustion, uncertainty, and the feeling that they have no more resilience left to give. Its core message is simple but profound: true strength does not come from one’s own power alone.

Across every track he releases, regardless of the genre it inhabits, one foundational element remains unchanged. For Sone G, faith is always the central anchor of his work. “Without faith, we are simply lost. Faith is that rudder that helps to keep us on track,” he shared in explaining his artistic mission.

*Stronger* marks the latest entry in a string of successful releases for the artist. It follows his 2021 hit *Rescue Me*, which claimed the top spot on music charts across Canada. Before that, his track *Find A Way* earned a nomination for Top Trap/Fusion Dancehall Song at the 2023 Reggae North Music Awards, held in Brampton, Ontario.

Like a growing number of contemporary neo-gospel musicians, Sone G cut his teeth in the secular music industry before pivoting to faith-centered work. He was born and raised in Rocky Point, a small fishing village on Jamaica’s coast that has already produced one of dancehall’s most legendary figures: iconic star Cocoa Tea. Growing up, Sone G was surrounded by Rocky Point’s storied sound system culture, a cornerstone of Jamaican popular music, and he witnessed first-hand how the community’s vibrant musical heritage shaped local artistic identity.

With his new single and future projects, Sone G has made it clear he has no intention of limiting his audience to fellow believers. He sees reaching a broad cross-section of listeners as a core part of his identity as a Christian artist, saying he welcomes all people to engage with his music — even those who do not share his religious beliefs. For Sone G, the goal is not to preach exclusively to the choir, but to share his message of hope and anchored faith with anyone who might need it, regardless of their background or worldview.

For emerging reggae performer Captain Love, covering one of the genre’s most iconic socially conscious tracks is far more than a creative experiment—it is a full-circle tribute to a song that pulled him through his darkest days. The artist has released a fresh take on Bob Marley and The Wailers’ legendary 1970s anthem *Concrete Jungle*, a track that has resonated with audiences facing systemic inequality and hardship for half a century, and the new version draws directly from Captain Love’s own lived experience growing up in Jamaica.

Raised by his single mother in Spanish Town, one of Jamaica’s most socio-economically strained urban centers, Captain Love endured years of financial instability and limited opportunity in his youth. It was during those challenging years that he first encountered Marley’s original track, and it quickly became a source of much-needed hope. “I needed hope, and this song brought me inspiration and satisfaction,” he explained in a recent interview. That intimate connection to the track’s core message made adapting it for a modern audience feel intuitive, rather than forced. Having walked the same path of struggle that *Concrete Jungle* describes, Captain Love had no trouble honoring the original’s intent while infusing it with his own artistic voice. “I had already lived through similar challenges, so preserving the message wasn’t difficult. My appreciation for the original — combined with my passion — allowed me to bring my own identity to it,” he said.

Rather than overhauling the beloved classic to chase trendy new sounds, Captain Love and his four-person production team—composed of Merrick Dyer, Highfield Joseph, Steve Major, and the artist himself—prioritized balance. The remake retains the raw, authentic soul and core emotional weight of Marley’s original, while layering in cleaner production, sharper instrumentation, and a subtle contemporary energy that makes it accessible to younger listeners. So far, the approach has paid off: early feedback from audiences and industry insiders has been overwhelmingly positive. Captain Love shared that one prominent radio DJ has already called the remake his favorite release from the artist’s entire discography to date.

For Captain Love, the relevance of *Concrete Jungle*’s themes has not faded in the decades since it was first written. He argues that the track’s exploration of urban poverty, limited opportunity, and the fight for survival remains just as urgent today, particularly for young people across the globe navigating rising economic inequality and systemic hardship. This commitment to using reggae as a platform for social change extends far beyond the *Concrete Jungle* remake. Captain Love is also currently promoting his solo single *Save Mother Earth*, a track centered on climate action that confronts the growing crises of global pollution, rising temperatures, and the destruction of marine ecosystems. “Earth is hotter than before. Music is a powerful way to raise awareness,” he noted, urging fans to adopt more sustainable daily habits to protect the planet.

Looking forward, the artist has ambitious plans to bring his music and message to a global audience. He is currently lining up live performance dates across his home country of Jamaica, with plans to expand to touring across Africa and Europe in the coming months, while continuing to write and record new material in the studio. For Captain Love, every track he releases ties back to a larger, overarching mission: “These songs are part of a bigger mission — promoting peace, equal rights, justice, love and harmony for humanity,” he said.

Kingston’s AC Hotel Kingston ballroom transformed into a celebration of motherhood and iconic Jamaican music this past Sunday, as the ‘To Mom With Love’ tribute event rolled out the red carpet for mothers across the region. Curated as a two-part Mother’s Day concert series, the event delivered an unforgettable evening of reggae and soul, headlined by legendary performers Third World and Marcia Griffiths, whose dynamic sets had the packed venue singing and dancing from start to finish.

While the afternoon opening show failed to draw the crowd organizers had projected, the evening performance turned out to be a sold-out success. The stacked lineup featured rising and established acts including Robert Minott, Nestor, Glenn Jones, Kumar Bent (who shared the stage with Third World), and The Super Band under the direction of Grub Cooper, each bringing their own unique energy to the tribute.

Marcia Griffiths, the undisputed queen of reggae, delivered a career-spanning set that left the audience cheering. Over 45 minutes, she ran through her decades of chart-topping hits, from early fan favorites like *Feel Like Jumping* to timeless originals including *Dreamland*, *I Shall Sing*, *Fire Burning*, and *Land of Love*. She also paid homage to other iconic artists with soulful covers of Cilla Black’s *Conversation*, Dionne Warwick’s *Don’t Make Me Over*, and Nina Simone’s *Young, Gifted And Black* — the 1970 classic she first recorded alongside Bob Andy. The performance built to a rousing climax with her signature hit *Electric Boogie*, which had the whole venue on their feet; multiple audience members were even invited on stage to join the iconic dance alongside Griffiths. At the conclusion of her set, event organizers presented Griffiths with a special lifetime achievement award, honoring her extraordinary 60-plus-year career that began in the early 1960s.

Following a solid, crowd-pleasing set from R&B singer Glenn Jones, who performed his best-known tracks including *We’ve Only Just Begun* and *Show Me*, reggae pioneers Third World took the stage to close out the night. Their hour-long set drew from the band’s extensive catalog of classic hits, including *Now That We Found Love*, *Reggae Ambassador*, *Sense of Purpose*, and *96 Degrees in The Shade*. For the track *Always Around*, lead singer AJ Brown welcomed his wife Tamara on stage for a heartfelt duet, before wowing the crowd with a solo rendition of the Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman opera standard *Time to Say Goodbye*. His powerful, soaring vocals earned a spontaneous standing ovation from the audience, and smoothly transitioned into the final numbers: *Try Jah Love* and a cover of Jimmy Cliff’s *We All Are One*, wrapping up a warm, joyful celebration of mothers and Jamaican music.

The Jamaican dancehall music scene is gearing up for a high-energy new release, as veteran industry insider turned hitmaker Ricco Diplomats, born Rick Foster, has joined forces with two rising independent production houses to drop an anticipated new banger titled *Redemption*. The track, fronted by fast-emerging dancehall talent Tielo Lanez, is a core offering from the collaborative Mercy Lap rhythm project, and is set to showcase the combined creative force of up-and-coming players in the Caribbean music space.

In a statement discussing the upcoming release, Diplomats expressed unwavering confidence in the track’s commercial and cultural potential, framing it as a potential career-defining breakthrough for the young collective of creators behind it. “This *Redemption* song has the potential to be a big hit. I believe this song will give us the big break as young producers. We all believe in Tielo Lanez so we’ve come together to bring different vibes and energy to make it happen,” he shared.

The new single will be released jointly under three independent imprints: Diplomats’ own Ricco Records, Moji Records, and Black Satin. For those unfamiliar with the collaborative context, Lanez is currently signed to prominent industry figure DJ Mac, who the production team has also partnered with on the project. Diplomats noted that the young dancehall star is widely tipped to become the next breakout face of the genre, a trajectory the team is fully backing.

The instrumental backbone of the entire Mercy Lap rhythm project was crafted by production collective Team Upgrade. *Redemption* is not the only track featured on the project, either: established fan-favorite dancehall stars Valiant and Skippa are also set to appear on the rhythm compilation, adding further star power to the collaborative release.

Diplomats, who currently serves as a core member of Valiant’s professional team, says this is far from the first time the collective has worked with Lanez. The artist has already cut multiple tracks for the team, including a song called *Fat Fat* featured on the Street Mongrel riddim, a reimagined version of the classic Throat riddim. *Redemption* marks the third full collaboration between Lanez and the Ricco Diplomats-led collective.

For Diplomats, the path to producing has been a gradual one built on years of experience in the music industry. Before stepping into production and artistry, he worked as a road manager and industry insider, cutting his teeth on the operational side of Caribbean music. He made his own debut as a dancehall recording artist in October 2021 with his first solo single, *Tek Go Off*. After cutting his teeth in promotions work, he made the shift to full-time recording and production, operating out of Core Upgrade studio located in Stony Hill, Jamaica.

A native of the Duppy Gully/Rocky Valley area of St. Andrew, Jamaica, Diplomats is an alumnus of St. Andrew Technical High School. His first formal industry partnership came back in 2017, when he joined forces with Ricardo ‘Shrimpy’ Meikle to launch Gold Plaque Entertainment, laying the groundwork for the independent production work he is leading today.

One of dancehall music’s most formidable forces, Aidonia, headlined a spectacular sold-out opening night of the Appleton Estate Live Wire event on April 30, leaving thousands of attendees breathless at Usain Bolt’s famous Tracks & Records venue in St Andrew’s Marketplace. The iconic entertainment hub was filled to capacity long before the headliner took the stage, with a crackling energy that rippled through every corner of the space as fans gathered for a night of authentic Jamaican music, cultural celebration, and world-class live performance.

Kicking off the evening’s lineup was emerging reggae-dancehall star Amanyea, who set an impossibly high bar with a dynamic opening set that won over the early crowd. The rising talent blended her own original viral tracks, including *Friends + Tax*, *Still Go Dance*, *La La*, and *Bad Gyal Szn*, with inventive covers of global and local hits from legends ranging from Beyoncé and Michael Jackson to Jamaican greats Tanya Stephens and Dexta Daps, keeping the audience engaged and singing along from her first note to her last.

Just moments before midnight, Aidonia stepped onto the stage to a roar of applause, bringing with him the razor-sharp lyrical skill and magnetic stage presence that have made him a mainstay of the global dancehall scene. Backed by the high-energy Ruff Kutt Krew, the dancehall icon launched into an explosive, hit-packed set that pulled from his decades-long catalog of fan favorites and chart-topping releases. Tracks including *Bad People*, *Empty*, *Trigger Work It*, *Run Road*, *Anyweh at All*, and *Fi Di Jockey* kept the crowd moving nonstop, with every lyric screamed back by the adoring audience.

Midway through his set, Aidonia upped the ante by stripping off his bright lemon-colored stage jacket to welcome his protégé, popular dancehall artist Govana, for a surprise joint performance of their collaborative hit single *Breeze*. After the duo wrapped up their collaboration, Govana kept the momentum going with a high-octane solo performance of his own track *Mawning Sir* before exiting the stage to thunderous applause.

Industry leaders have hailed the opening night of the series as a runaway success. “Tracks & Records was absolutely on fire — Aidonia and Amanyea delivered beyond every expectation,” shared Mark Telfer, customer and channel marketing manager for the event. “The combination of world-class entertainment, our premium brand partnership, and the unmatched energy of the Jamaican audience made this first instalment of Appleton Estate Live Wire truly one for the books.”

Building on the overwhelming success of the St Andrew opening, the Appleton Estate Live Wire series is now set to expand across the island, with its next stop scheduled for August 5 at the popular Plantation Smokehouse venue in St Ann. Event organizers say they plan to bring the same immersive, high-energy cultural experience to music fans across Jamaica in the coming months.

“We are incredibly pleased with the turnout and the electric energy we saw at Tracks & Records,” said Carlton Davy, lead promoter of Live Wire Events. “We want to thank Aidonia for such an outstanding performance, and every single patron who turned out to support live music. This is exactly the kind of vibrant, authentic experience we set out to create, and we could not be more excited to bring Live Wire to new audiences across the island moving forward.”