分类： entertainment

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A one-of-a-kind collaborative art experience is set to launch in downtown Kingston next week, as the National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ) and Scotiabank Jamaica join forces to unveil a brand-new exhibition titled *Of Wood and Water: The Scotiabank Collection*. The opening event is scheduled for Sunday, June 14, starting at 1:30 p.m. at the gallery’s downtown location at 12 Ocean Boulevard, with free entry open to all members of the public.

The exhibition draws its evocative name from Jamaica’s ancestral Taino root, which is widely translated to the “land of wood and water” — a nod to the island’s deep indigenous history that serves as the thematic backbone of the entire showcase. Curators have pulled together more than 40 striking pieces from Scotiabank’s extensive corporate art collection, and paired these works with complementary pieces selected from the National Gallery of Jamaica’s own permanent holdings to create a layered, holistic narrative.

Organized around core geological concepts that mirror the island’s physical and cultural evolution, the exhibition is divided into three distinct thematic sections: superposition, metamorphism, and rupture. Through this structured curation, the collection invites guests to explore how Jamaica’s landscape has been shaped over centuries by shifting, restless natural forces, and to examine the interconnected relationship between the island’s dynamic terrain and the communities that call it home. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with works that reflect both the geographic and the social evolution of Jamaica, rooted in the indigenous identity that has defined the island for millennia.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A Jamaica-born, New York-based reggae performer Brooky Danger is spreading a message of resilience and hope through his latest uplifting release, the single *Joy Within My Soul*. The track was crafted to push listeners to hold onto motivation and optimism even amid the chaos and hardship that defines much of modern daily life. In a recent interview, the conscious entertainer opened up about the personal and global inspirations behind the project, revealing that the idea for the song took root after watching widespread struggles unfolding across international communities. He noticed that many people were feeling burnt out and adrift, and recognized a growing need for audiences to learn how to draw strength from their own inner resilience.

“The daily events unfolding all over the world are what pushed me to create this track,” Brooky Danger explained. With this new release, he aims to encourage fans to adopt a positive perspective even when confronting unexpected barriers and long-term challenges. “My biggest goal with this song is to give people the motivation to keep moving forward through their everyday lives,” he said.

For the artist, the message at the core of *Joy Within My Soul* is far more than a marketing hook — it is a deeply personal belief that shapes how he lives his own life. While he does not dismiss the very real difficulties that people face every day, he remains firm in his conviction that intentional optimism is one of the most powerful tools people can hold. “This message is very personal to me. As someone who sees himself as a leader, I have always chosen to stay optimistic,” he shared. When asked about his own greatest source of joy, Brooky Danger pointed to the simple gift of life and good health. “Just the fact that I am alive and well — that is what brings me the most joy,” he stressed.

Having grown up in Jamaica before relocating to New York to build his career, Brooky credits his life in the United States with expanding his world view and giving him a richer pool of experiences to draw from when writing new music. “Living here has broadened my knowledge base dramatically. I get to see more of the world, which means I always have more stories and ideas to write about,” he explained.

Though *Joy Within My Soul* centers heavily on themes of hope and encouragement, Brooky Danger is quick to note that this positive tone is no departure from his usual artistic style. “This isn’t something new for me — I have always been a positive person,” he said. He also shared that choosing to release an intentionally uplifting, message-driven track at this moment in history was a fully deliberate choice. “Given everything that the world has been going through recently, releasing this song now was always the plan,” he noted.

So far, the response to the single from fans in Jamaica and across the global Jamaican diaspora has far outpaced Brooky Danger’s initial expectations. “The response has been absolutely overwhelming, and that has kept me very busy putting new projects and next steps together,” he said.

Beyond his own music, Brooky Danger advocates for greater support and visibility for culturally rooted, positive reggae music within the broader industry. “I believe this incredible, culture-driven music that we create deserves far more promotion and platform space than it currently gets,” he said. At the same time, he openly acknowledges one of the biggest struggles that message-driven, conscious artists face in today’s streaming era. “It’s sad to say, but right now more audiences are drawn to negative content than positive,” he stated.

Brooky Danger repeatedly emphasized the critical role that New York’s diverse music scene has played in shaping his growth as an artist. He counts two of Jamaica’s most iconic reggae and dancehall acts — dancehall legend Bounty Killer and reggae superstar Buju Banton — as his biggest artistic influences.

Describing himself as a highly versatile reggae artist, Brooky Danger says the recording process for *Joy Within My Soul* was an entirely enjoyable experience, and he confirmed that multiple new releases are already in the works and will be dropping in the near future. Looking ahead, he aims to grow his global audience while continuing to use his music as a force for good in people’s lives. “My long-term goals are to tour all over the world and use my platform to help as many people as I can,” he said. For fans and anyone else navigating tough circumstances, he leaves a simple but profound reminder: to cherish life and hold close to what matters most.

Fresh off earning silver certification in the United Kingdom for his breakout 2015 hit *Shabba Madda Pot*, popular Jamaican dancehall recording artist Dexta Daps is marking another major career milestone, with a new chart win that cements his growing international footprint.

On Monday, Daps’ latest studio single *Shine* climbed four spots up the USA iTunes Reggae Chart, jumping from the 9th position to land at number 6, a new career high for the track in one of the world’s largest and most competitive music markets.

Crafted by production team Aljero Shevon Barnett, Billy Summers, and Daniel Fuller Grossman, with writing credits split between Dexta Daps himself and songwriter Sheldon Taylor, *Shine* generated massive public interest almost immediately after its launch. The track’s resonant message and catchy production helped it climb global reggae charts at an impressive pace, winning over fans old and new in the process.

The single’s accompanying music video, a collaborative directorial project between visual creator Lagikz and Daps, was filmed entirely on location in Seaview Gardens, the Kingston community that the artist calls home. Shot among the neighborhood’s residents and infused with the area’s signature vibrant energy, the visual leans into raw authenticity and deeply personal storytelling. It captures the intergenerational spirit of the community, weaving a narrative of homecoming that strikes an emotional chord with viewers even outside of Jamaica.

In an official statement shared with *Observer Online*, Dexta Daps spoke to the meaning of the latest chart achievement, saying, “To have my own music and message hit the top 10 on iTunes means everything. This is for the people who have always held me down and for everyone who dares to step into their own light.”

As of this report, *Shine* is available for both streaming and digital download across all major global music platforms.

Marcia Griffiths, one of the most enduring figures in global reggae music, has continued her decades-long streak of staying culturally relevant with a brand-new release. Titled *When You Love Me*, the track marks a new collaborative partnership between the iconic vocalist, acclaimed producer Sean Lewis Folkes, and prominent South Florida backing ensemble Code Red Band. The single officially dropped June 5 via Folkes’ own LF Label imprint.

Folkes, a producer with an established track record of working with revered reggae acts including Ed Robinson, Luciano, and Pressure Busspipe, shared glowing feedback about his experience collaborating with Griffiths, describing the project as remarkably seamless from start to finish. In an interview with Observer Online, he emphasized that the partnership was rooted in shared professional respect and deep reverence for reggae’s core traditions. “Marcia comes to every project fully prepared, yet remains open to intuitive creative shifts, constantly refining melodies to center the song’s core message,” Folkes explained. “Her calm, focused energy in the studio guarantees every track retains its authenticity, grounding each work in cultural integrity and intentional artistry.”

Griffiths’ seven-decade career in music is a testament to her unique ability to adapt and remain beloved by new generations of listeners. She launched her professional career in the early 1960s, breaking into the industry as a rocksteady artist at Jamaica’s iconic Studio One, where her career quickly gained momentum by the end of the decade. Unlike many of her peers from the early reggae and rocksteady eras who faded from mainstream attention, Griffiths has consistently maintained her relevance by partnering with forward-thinking producers who understand current musical currents.

Her career evolution has seen her find success across multiple eras of Jamaican popular music. In the 1970s, she earned global acclaim as a member of The I Three, Bob Marley’s iconic harmony trio, touring across the world with the reggae legend. That same decade, she recorded a string of classic hit singles including *Dreamland* and *Stepping outa Babylon* for pioneering producer Sonia Pottinger. In 1982, she released her best-selling track, *Electric Boogie*, written by the legendary Bunny Wailer.

The 1990s brought a new wave of popularity for Griffiths when she found a fanbase among dancehall audiences, recording a run of hits including *I Shall Sing*, *Land of Love*, and *Fire Burning* for Donovan Germain’s influential Penthouse Records. At the start of her career at Studio One, she was mentored by celebrated singer-songwriter Bob Andy, with whom she recorded collaborative hits including *Really Together*; her solo breakthrough hits from that era also include fan-favorites *Feel Like Jumping* and *Mark my Word*.

Now, with her latest release, the 70-plus-year career veteran shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to add new chapters to her legacy as one of reggae’s most iconic voices.

For genre-blending singer Wesrok, country music has always been a medium for raw, authentic storytelling. But with his latest release, *God Knows Me Better*, the country-reggae crooner opens up about his most intimate narrative yet: a gradual, deeply personal journey of growing Christian faith, self-reflection, and the quiet conviction that life’s deepest answers come from a relationship with God.