分类： entertainment

Just over a year ago, the three-member reggae collective Rockaz Elements, hailing from Spanish Town, dropped their third extended play (EP) *Sup’m Bout Reggae*, a project distributed by US-based label Berta Records. The four-track release, featuring standout cuts *My Pain*, *Twenty Dollars*, *Believe I*, and the Chino McGregor-assisted collaboration *Jamaica World*, earned steady airplay across local Jamaican FM radio stations, marking one of the group’s most successful runs to date.

Now, on the heels of that breakout momentum, founding core member I-T Rockaz is embarking on a new creative chapter: launching a solo career while remaining anchored to the collective he helped build. His debut solo offering, *Thankful*, is a soul-stirring reggae anthem rooted in themes of gratitude, personal resilience, and authentic lived experience. Far more than just a track, it serves as a gentle but powerful rallying cry for anyone navigating hardship, reassuring listeners that temporary struggles will eventually give way to better days.

What makes the single’s backstory even more compelling is its unexpected evolution. I-T Rockaz penned the track long before he survived a near-fatal motor vehicle crash. After walking away from the traumatic incident, he revisited the lyrics, and the song took on a deeper, more urgent meaning, transforming into a visceral reminder that life itself is a gift that deserves constant appreciation.

In a recent interview with the *Jamaica Observer*, the artist opened up about the core inspiration behind his solo debut. “Well, it really was an inspiration from life itself and me being a true soul of gratitude. It is totally relatable to me and from the feedback so far others can resonate as well as it encourages everyone to be thankful through good and bad days,” he explained.

One of the most common questions surrounding his new project has centered on his status with Rockaz Elements: is he leaving the group for good, or is this a side venture? I-T Rockaz made his position clear, emphasizing that his solo work is an expansion, not an exit. “I am forever Rockaz. I’ve been encouraged to step out and represent, so I’m a representation of Rockaz Elements. I’ve been a builder of the group over the years and I will always be. New music is still being released by the group as well. This is just more channels to showcase good music, but more from my personal view now,” he shared.

Music has been a constant through every stage of I-T Rockaz’s life, rooted in a upbringing surrounded by artistic family members. “I started out at a tender age just loving the music and growing up in a musical family. I journeyed out on my bicycle back in time and met U-B, one of the other members of Rockaz Elements, at Angels Grove while pursuing the craft and from there I’ve been into the music entirely,” he recalled.

Reflecting on his decades-long journey in the reggae industry, I-T Rockaz framed his career as a deliberate, growth-filled progression. “My musical journey can be defined as challenging, but successful through obstacles; a growing journey of greatness is what I’d call it as nothing great comes without hurdles,” he said. “I bring a soulful and truthful vibe to the table, I’m a happy creative soul, so I express that through my music, and I love playing instruments, so it’s a love for music in a person. The world needs good music to vibe to and so I’m here to give them good music to dance to and also to motivate others through music.”

In a high-profile verdict handed down Friday at a court in southwest England, James Holder, the 54-year-old co-founder of iconic British streetwear label Superdry, has been found guilty of rape. The guilty verdict came after a jury deliberated on the case, which centered on an attack Holder carried out against a woman in 2022, following their first meeting at a local bar in Cheltenham. Following the conviction, judges denied Holder bail, meaning he will remain in custody while awaiting his sentencing hearing scheduled for next week.

Holder, along with business partner Julian Dunkerton, launched Superdry in 2003, building the brand from a small startup into a globally recognized streetwear label that won widespread popularity for its blend of casual design and British aesthetic. But the company has faced a series of major challenges in recent years, most notably a pronounced slump in sales that prompted a major corporate restructuring. As a result of that restructuring, Superdry was officially delisted from the London Stock Exchange earlier in 2024 and rebranded under the new name Superdry & Co.

Months ago, a wave of excitement began building across the global dancehall community: rumors spread that a highly anticipated new collaborative riddim project, dubbed WYFL, would drop in early 2025, boasting the official endorsement of reggae-dancehall icon Shaggy. For one Jamaica-born artist based in Europe, that buzz turned into a career milestone.

Don G, who has made the landlocked European nation of Luxembourg his home since 2017, caught wind of the project early on and knew he wanted a spot on the release. Co-created by veteran producers DJ Mac and Crashdummy, the WYFL riddim quickly became one of the most talked-about projects in the dancehall space, so Don G wasted no time making his case. After weeks of persistent outreach to the production team, he secured the opportunity to lay down his own original track for the compilation.

The result is *Raise All Glasses*, an upbeat party anthem tailored for weekend club nights that sticks to Don G’s longstanding commitment to family-friendly, clean lyrics. “I headed into the studio, cut my vocals over the beat, and built the track from there,” Don G explained in an interview. “After I finished the initial recording, I sent it off to my go-to mixing engineer DJ Cash Flow Neil based in Jamaica, then passed it along to DJ Mac for final tweaks. He ended up loving how it turned out.” To build hype ahead of the full March release, Don G shared a 60-second behind-the-scenes snippet of the recording process across all his social media channels, and the clip quickly went viral, drawing thousands of views and engagement from dancehall fans around the world.

What makes the WYFL project such a standout opportunity for Don G is the caliber of talent joining him on the compilation. The lineup includes some of the biggest names in modern dancehall: Vybz Kartel, Mavado, and Spice, all of whom contributed original tracks to the project. So far, the project has more than lived up to the months of pre-release hype, cementing its status as one of 2025’s most anticipated dancehall drops.

For Don G, featuring on WYFL marks a notable creative shift: most of his past work leans into traditional, roots-driven reggae, and even though he has dabbled in dancehall in the past, this project gives him a chance to show fans a new side of his artistry. “This means a lot to me because it lets me prove my versatility as an artist,” he said.

Hailing from St. Catherine, Jamaica, Don G has built a steady following across Europe since relocating nine years ago, performing at venues across the continent and honing his craft on multiple well-received roots reggae tracks including *Free*, *Real Warrior*, and *Internal Fire*. With the release of *Raise All Glasses* on WYFL, he’s poised to expand his audience and break into the mainstream of the global dancehall scene.

In an era where many emerging artists tailor their sound to match fleeting mainstream trends to win broad attention, Jamaican singer-songwriter Zale is taking a different approach. While he shares the common goal of reaching a wide, diverse audience with his work, he refuses to compromise his creative integrity by leaning into overused popular riddims just to boost streams or visibility.

For his latest independent release, *Don’t Stifle Dreaming*, Zale leaned into intentional patience rather than chasing viral appeal, keeping his creative process focused on authentic self-expression rather than marketability. In an exclusive interview with Observer Online, he drew a clear line between artistic creation and promotional strategy. “I want my music to reach people, but that’s a marketing task, separate from the creative process of making music,” he explained. “When I create, I try to only think about what is resonating with me in the moment. Of course, I will try to add in catchy elements, but that’s tuned to my own taste.”

Raised in Spanish Town, Zale took on both writing and production duties for his new track, which carries a heartfelt message of empowerment for young people. The single pushes listeners to pursue their personal goals even when faced with doubt from critics and naysayers, and its upbeat, encouraging tone mirrors Zale’s own core outlook on life.

He opened up about the personal motivation behind the song, noting that he has watched countless people abandon their own aspirations to take what is framed as a more “practical” path, leaving them unfulfilled and just going through the motions of daily life. “I’ve just always wished more people could follow their dreams and that more people were encouraged to try,” he said. “So that’s what this song is; it’s to light a fire in people that inspires them to go for the life they truly want.”

Zale’s eclectic musical style has been shaped by a wide range of influences collected throughout his life, starting from his childhood home and continuing through his time at Campion College, his alma mater. His mother was a dedicated fan of rocksteady, roots-reggae, and American rhythm and blues, laying the foundation for his love of diverse sound. In high school, he expanded his listening library to include icons ranging from reggae legends Bob Marley and Junior Gong to contemporary artists like Runkus, John Mayer, Erykah Badu, and Ed Sheeran. These varied influences can be heard across his existing discography, which includes previously released tracks *Journey* and *Sunday*.

Beyond encouraging dream pursuit, *Don’t Stifle Dreaming* also carries a lesson about navigating negative influences from peers. Zale shared his advice for handling unsolicited discouragement: first, recognize that most doubt from others stems from their own internal insecurities and fears, not a realistic assessment of one’s goals. Then, ask whether you actually aspire to live the life that the critical person is living. If the answer is no, take their input with a grain of salt, and instead seek guidance from people who have already found the fulfillment you want for yourself. “If I want to be fulfilled in life, I’d rather listen to people who are themselves fulfilled,” he reasoned.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican football supporters are gearing up for an unprecedented, immersive celebration of global football, as brand partner Guinness is bringing the coveted English Premier League trophy to the country’s capital. This special two-day community activation will turn the entire island into a temporary focal point for Premier League fandom, merging global sporting prestige with Jamaica’s one-of-a-kind local football culture. As the official beer sponsor of the Premier League, Guinness frames the tour stop not as a simple promotional stunt, but as a purpose-driven initiative designed to deepen connections between the brand, the league, and legions of passionate Jamaican fans.

Sean Wallace, a representative for Guinness, highlighted that the event embodies the brand’s longstanding commitment to delivering meaningful, high-quality experiences that bring supporters closer to the sport they adore. “Football is woven into the cultural fabric of Jamaica, so this is a truly landmark moment for us,” Wallace explained. “Local fans deserve world-class experiences that let them engage with the game they love on a deeper level. Bringing the Premier League trophy all the way to Kingston gives Jamaican supporters a tangible, in-person connection to one of the most-watched and beloved sporting competitions on the planet.”

Curated to replicate the electric atmosphere of a top-flight Premier League matchday, the activation includes a full lineup of tailored events for fans of all ages. Attendees will get the chance to pose for one-of-a-kind photos with the trophy, join massive community watch parties for live Premier League fixtures, and attend exclusive fan gatherings that capture the prestige and energy that the league is known for worldwide.

What makes this Kingston stop unique among global trophy tours, Wallace says, is the unparalleled passion and energy of Jamaican football culture itself. “Football in Jamaica isn’t just a game—it’s a full, immersive experience from start to finish,” he noted. “Even the sideline commentary is a performance in its own right. Every local has an opinion, every person considers themselves an expert, and the electric energy never fades from kickoff to the final whistle. We’re bringing the premium, world-class experience, and Jamaica brings that unmatchable vibe—that combination is what makes this moment totally one of a kind.”

The multi-location event kicks off on Friday, May 1, with an official welcome reception hosted at the British High Commission in Kingston. After the opening event, fans can join public watch parties at two of the city’s most popular gathering spots, Di Lot and Tracks and Records, before the weekend of celebration wraps up with a large public celebratory gathering on Maiden Cay on Sunday, May 3.

Wallace emphasized that Guinness’ core goal extends far beyond simply giving fans a chance to see the trophy in person. The brand aims to elevate the entire fan experience by building on the passion that already exists across the island. “Jamaican fans already bring unmatched passion to the game,” he said. “What Guinness adds is the intentional theatre: the build-up anticipation, the thoughtful staging, the attention to small details that make the moment feel special. We want to heighten the experience without ever taking away from the authentic passion that Jamaican fans bring to every match.”

This Kingston activation is just one part of Guinness’ broader regional strategy to grow its roots in football culture across the Caribbean. By leaning into the shared passion for the Premier League that unites fans across the region, the brand aims to build deeper, more personal connections with local communities.

For local Jamaican supporters, the invitation to join the celebration is straightforward: this is a can’t-miss moment for anyone who loves the game. “If you’ve ever debated a bad call with your friends, or had your whole day turned around by a last-minute winning goal, this weekend is for you,” Wallace said. “The Premier League trophy is here, in Jamaica, and that’s history in its own right.”

With football passion already a permanent, core part of Jamaican daily culture, Guinness’ new activation is poised to amplify that existing energy, giving local fans a chance to engage with one of the world’s most popular sporting properties in an experience that feels both world-class and distinctly Jamaican.