News & Culture
Stories from the yard — interviews, album reviews, festival coverage, and the people who shaped Jamaican music. 1,319 articles, from the 1962 archive to new editorial posts.
This section preserves JamaicansMusic.com’s original reporting from 1962 to 2022 as it was published, and is where new editorial stories from the JamaicansMusic team now appear. Posts are occasional rather than daily — for the latest additions to the library, visit the recently added music or get updates by email.
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Music Sean Paul and Keyshia Cole’s ‘Give It Up To Me’ Passes 500 Million YouTube Views on the Official Video
Nearly two decades after the Step Up-era crossover single, the Don Corleone-produced cut from The Trinity has crossed the half-billion mark on YouTube — 501,035,971 views on the official upload when checked 16 October 2026. DancehallMag reports more than 575 million combined across uploads; the Atlantic Records visual is in the Listen library.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Mr G Refreshes a Studio One Foundation on the I Shall Be Released Riddim for Young Blood Records
Producer Chad Simpson’s September 2026 juggling pairs Romain Virgo, Richie Spice, Christopher Martin, Jesse Royal, Pinchers and more on a beat rooted in the Heptones’ 1969 Coxsone Dodd cut — nine official tracks are on Apple Music and in the Listen library from verified YouTube uploads.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley Unveils Full 16-Track No Better Riddim Compilation on Ghetto Youths International
Fifteen vocalists on one beat — the Grammy-winning producer’s juggling project lands Friday 16 October 2026 after a drip-feed of singles from Jemere Morgan, Romain Virgo, Alaine, Pressure Busspipe, Turbulence, Ghost and Jaz Elise. Seven official uploads are in the Listen library now; the full set adds Sevana, Chino McGregor, Richie Spice and more.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Protoje Puts ‘The Art Of Acceptance’ and ‘At We Feet’ Forward for Grammy Consideration
On Instagram, Protoje asked Recording Academy voters to consider The Art Of Acceptance for Best Reggae Album and the Damian Marley collaboration “At We Feet” for Best Global Music Performance — a for-your-consideration campaign, not a Recording Academy nomination.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Capleton Puts ‘Heights Of Fire’ Forward for Grammy Consideration
Clifton George Bailey III and Evidence Music posted on X on 13 October 2026 urging Recording Academy voters to consider Heights Of Fire for Best Reggae Album — a for-your-consideration campaign, not a Recording Academy nomination.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Seven Jamaican Albums on Rolling Stone's 76 Best Albums of 1976 — Dub at No. 5
Rolling Stone's countdown of 1976, published 11 October 2026, places seven Jamaican LPs among the year's finest — led at No. 5 by Augustus Pablo and King Tubby's dub set King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown. Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Lee Perry, Max Romeo and Burning Spear also feature. Jamaica Observer and DancehallMag picked up the story; positions below follow Rolling Stone's list data.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music BRUV Musiq Festival Returns for Third Staging at Portmore Harbour Beach — 7 November 2026
Promoter Ricardo “Mansa Musa” Burnett moves Best Retro with Ultimate Vibes to Portmore for a larger crowd. Live bill: Tanya Stephens, Zebra, I Wayne, Warrior King, Bascom X, Junior Cat, General B, Round Head and Nitty Kutchie — with Metro Media, Stone Love and Renaissance on the decks. Gates noon.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Buju Banton and Protoje Join Cocoa Sarai and WondaGurl on “Oh My (#SaveSoil)” — a Conscious Planet Single for World Mental Health Day
Released 10 October 2026 through Conscious Music Circle, Monk Music and WonderChild Records, the collaboration unites two Jamaican reggae pillars with Grammy-winning vocalist Cocoa Sarai and producer WondaGurl on a Save Soil–aligned anthem. The official lyric video is in the Listen library now.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Popcaan Secures United States Visa as the Unruly Boss Eyes American Stages and a New Album
Jamaican dancehall star Popcaan has secured a United States visa, DancehallMag reports via The Shade Room, with World Music Views saying it confirmed the news and that he was en route to Florida as of 11 October 2026. His sister Annalecia "Unruly Squid" Sutherland welcomed the milestone for the OVO Sound artiste. No US performance dates have been announced; Squid says a new album is on the way soon.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Malie Donn’s Debut Album The Golden Child Climbs Apple Music Reggae Charts Across the Caribbean and Diaspora
Released 4 September 2026 on VP Records, the 21-track set has topped Apple Music’s Reggae Albums chart in Bermuda, St Lucia and Turks and Caicos and reached the top five in Jamaica, the UK, the US and Canada, the Jamaica Observer reports. All 21 tracks are in the Listen library from official YouTube.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Macka Diamond Says She Will Leave Dancehall at the End of 2026 After More Than Three Decades
Charmaine Munroe, the Kingston-born deejay known as Macka Diamond and earlier as Lady Mackerel, told THE STAR she plans to retire from music when 2026 ends — more than thirty years in — to focus on herself, her loved ones and her son, while saying parts of the industry have made her feel unwanted. She says she is still turning down show offers and that her catalogue of hits stands. Days earlier, on TikTok, she had pushed back at critics after captioning a clip ‘leaving dancehall’; on that occasion she said she would continue music at her own pace.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Inner Circle’s Ian Lewis Urges Separate Grammy Categories for Reggae and Dancehall
In an Entertainment Report interview with Anthony Miller, Inner Circle bandleader Ian Lewis called on Jamaican artists and industry figures to lobby the Recording Academy for distinct Best Reggae Album and Best Dancehall Album honours — arguing the genres should not be compared under one umbrella.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Azizzi Romeo Delivers Debut Album Signs Of The Time — A Romeo Family Roots Set on Recall Reality
The Linstead-raised son of the late Max Romeo released his eleven-track debut on 2 October 2026 with Denmark’s Guiding Star Orchestra, on vinyl and digital via Recall Reality. All eleven tracks are in the Listen library from official YouTube.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Gary “Nesta” Pine Returns With Back To Roots — First Album in Ten Years on Jahdax Music
The Portland-born singer and former Wailers frontman released his third album on 30 September 2026, produced by Paul Kastick. Five tracks are in the Listen library from official YouTube; the full eleven-song sequence is on Reggaeville.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Yaksta Turns Up the Heat on ‘Bed Room’ — a Late-Night Love Song After ‘The Microphone Saved Me’
The St Mary dancehall artiste released the single on Friday 2 October 2026 through New League Music, distributed by VPAL Music. It is smooth, contemporary dancehall and an unapologetically adult departure from his motivational lane — and it is in the Listen library now.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Christopher Martin Drops the Official ‘Ova Yah Suh’ Video
The lovers-rock favourite has released the official visual for ‘Ova Yah Suh’ on christophermartinVEVO — months after the audio single landed in August. Martin announced it on Instagram on October 6, pointing fans to YouTube. It is in the Listen library now.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Elephant Man Posts the Official ‘Eyelash’ Video — Energy God Goes Straight to Instagram
The dancehall veteran announced the official visual for ‘Eyelash’ on Instagram on October 6, pointing fans to elephantmanVEVO. The clip landed on YouTube a day earlier. It is in the Listen library now.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Burning Spear Puts ‘Call On Me (Live)’ Forward for Grammy Consideration
Winston Rodney took to Facebook on 5 October 2026 with a short for-your-consideration message for his 16-track live album — “For your Grammy consideration. Call on me.” — filed under “Roots and Culture” and backed by Suncity Radio 104.9 FM. This is an artist campaign, not a Recording Academy nomination.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Vybz Kartel Announces ‘The Sun,’ a Full Chambah Collaboration Due 18 December 2026
The Worl’ Boss took to Instagram in early October to lock a Friday, 18 December release for The Sun — a full album produced with Chambah, his close collaborator since freedom. It follows God & Time; no tracklist, features or cover art had been shared publicly as of 3 October.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Spectacular Drops the Official Video for ‘I Need It’
The Jamaican roots-reggae veteran’s first extract from forthcoming album Rhythms of the Righteous landed on streaming in early September; the @Burningspectacular channel posted the official video on September 30, with fresh Conquering Sound promo October 2. The video is in the Listen library now.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Masicka Brings Forever1NE Home: Portmore Festival Set for Caymanas Park, December 19
The Portmore deejay will headline his first self-staged show in his hometown with the inaugural Forever1NE Music Festival at Caymanas Park on December 19, 2026 — Magnum as title partner, Zimi Entertainment co-promoting, more acts still to come.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Glen Washington Signs Exclusive Management Deal With Donsome Records as Atlanta Team Eyes 2027 Festival Circuit
Per a press release dated October 1, 2026, Jamaican-born roots singer Glen Washington has signed an exclusive management agreement with Donsome Records, LLC in Atlanta. Adrian "Donsome" Hanson will lead career management, catalog administration, marketing and live booking — with recent releases "Sound Victory" and the album "Just Giving Thanks" in the frame.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Sean Paul Drops ‘DIP’ With Sommer Ray
The Dutty Rock Productions single is out on streaming under Milk & Honey Records. DancehallMag tracked the Sommer Ray tease and the day-before Dip Out countdown; the YouTube Music audio is in the Listen library now.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial
Music Kabaka Pyramid Goes Back to the Bars on ‘A Warrior’s Pain’ With R-Mean and Styles P
Fifteen years after Rebel Music, the Kingston lyricist revisits his hip hop side on a new single with American rappers R-Mean and Styles P. ‘A Warrior’s Pain’ is the foundation for Rebel Music 1 & 2, a lyrics tape marking the anniversary, he told the Jamaica Observer. The official video is in the Listen library now.
By JamaicansMusic Editorial