2019 ZEEN 1 ALL IN THE SAME BOAT ROCKIN’ ON THE SAME ROCK GOT TO GET TOGETHER, LOVIN’ EACH OTHER. DECEMBER — Bob Marley & The Wailers (1971) 9-14, 2019 ANITA POSADA ANITA PHOTO BY BY PHOTO 2 3 TABLE OF 2019 CONTENTS 8. Greetings 36. Pinchers 10. All Hands On Deck! 38. Sister Nancy 12. Stephen “Ragga” Marley 40. Everton Blender 14. Buju Banton 42. Ding Dong & Ravers Clavers 16. Popcaan 44. Koffee IMAGE 18. Tarrus Riley 46. Christopher Martin 20. Bounty Killer 48. Skip Marley 22. Julian “Juju” Marley 50. Johnny Osbourne 24. Busy Signal 52. Wayne Marshall 26. Marcia Griffiths 54. Charly Black 30. Capleton 56. Ghost 32. Morgan Heritage 58. Professor Nuts 34. Mighty Diamonds 60. WTJRC Rewind PHOTO BY EVAN WOLLENBERG EVAN BY PHOTO 4 5 TABLE OF 2019 CONTENTS 72. Full Steam Ahead 110. King Jammy’s 78. Damian Marley, Forward Ever 112. Black Scorpio 84. #Allinthesameboat 114. Rorystonelove 88. King Jammy’s vs Black Scorpio 116. Bass Odyssey 96. Soundclash At Sea 118. Bodyguard 98. Tony Matterhorn 120. Kingston 12 Hi-Fi 100. Warrior Sound 122. Heavy Rotation 102. Dynamq Sound 126. Ports of Call 104. Pink Panther 127. Map/Schedule 106. Soundclash Scorecard 128. Activities 108. Stone Love 142. Crossword Editorial direction by Rob Kenner & Reshma B for Boomshots Media LLC Designed by Ricardo A Castaneda PHOTO BY EVAN WOLLENBERG EVAN BY PHOTO ©2019 Boomshots Media LLC All Rights Reserved 6 7 GREETINGS All aboard the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise 2019! This Zeen is your official guide to who’s who and what’s happening on our 6th annual voyage to Jamaica, the birthplace of reggae music. The singers and players of instruments are here—rising stars and living legends. The DJs and sound systems are fully loaded with tunes galore. And most of all, the massive and crew—that’s you. If you’re a returning Jamrocker, you know to expect the unexpected. If this is your first voyage, prepare yourself for a celebration of reggae music and culture like no other. And always remember that the Jamrock Cruise is all about positive vibrations. Like the song says, we’re “All in the same boat.” PHOTO BY EVAN WOLLENBERG EVAN BY PHOTO 8 9 ALL HANDS ON DECK! PHOTO BY EVAN WOLLENBERG EVAN BY PHOTO 10 11 STEPHEN “RAGGA” MARLEY “There’s no room for mistakes,” sang Their father instilled in them a strict work Stephen “Ragga” Marley in 2011. “We’re ethic as well as an awareness that “music is sailing a tight ship ashore.” A veteran of way more than just music.” Proceeds from all five Jamrock cruises to date, the eight- the early Melody Makers single “Children time Grammy winner returns for his Playing in the Streets” went to benefit sixth performance at sea this year. Ragga UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s is a multi-talented producer, songwriter, Fund. More recently, Ragga donated one singer, and deejay, who also happens to be dollar from each ticket sold on his latest tour a consummate performer with a knack for to the Ghetto Youths Foundation, which he spontaneity. His maiden voyage became the oversees along with his brothers Damian stuff of legend after a sudden rain shower and Julian to support intergenerational forced a cancellation of his set on the main projects to provide opportunity to the deck. Taking up his trusty acoustic guitar, underprivileged. Supporting his free- Ragga vowed that “the show must go on” flowing 2018 album, One Take: Acoustic and led an epic all-star jam Jams, the tour was a further session in the ship’s atrium. demonstration of impromptu Embarking upon a lifetime virtuosity in action. Expect journey of musical works nothing less when Ragga starting at the age of 7, Ragga steps on the stage this year. honed his skills alongside Like his song says, “All hands siblings Ziggy, Sharon, and on deck.” —Rob Kenner Cedella in the Melody Makers. POSADA ANITA BY PHOTO 12 TKK 13 BUJU BANTON “My destination is homeward bound,” sang shirt sold out within minutes and has since Buju Banton at Jamaica’s National Stadium been worn by reggae-loving tastemakers this past March. “Though forces try hold like Drake.) Buju’s also begun releasing I down. Breaking chains has become the new music, including the scathing roots norm. I know I must get through no matter reggae cut “Country For Sale,” the rude what a gwaan.” The words of Buju’s 1997 boy anthem “Steppa,” and “Trust Issues,” single “Destiny” took on added resonance a digital scorcher produced by dancehall due to the enormity of the occasion—a mastermind Dave Kelly. Everything we’ve triumphant homecoming celebration for heard thus far has heightened anticipation a reggae icon who’d been gone too long. for the Gargamel’s new album, set to be With that historic performance, Buju released in 2020. Now Buju is about to became the first Jamaican artist to headline make history once again with his debut on the prestigious arena since Bob Marley at the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise. the One Love Peace Concert in 1978. “I’m definitely excited,” says Damian On the heels of his worldwide Long “Jr. Gong” Marley. “I’m a big fan of Buju’s Walk to Freedom Tour, music ever since high school named after Nelson Mandela’s days coming up. So you autobiography, Buju has know we’re definitely looking maintained a strong presence forward to this and I’m sure in popular culture, appearing everybody else is too. That’s on a T-shirt collab with the gonna be a special moment.” renowned lifestyle brand —Reshma B PHOTO BY MARKEEM MYRIE BY PHOTO Supreme. (The coveted Buju 1414 15 POPCAAN “I’m from a place where dog eat dog,” sang of his sophomore album Forever and in Popcaan on “Gangster City,” a 2010 track December of that year, his “linky” Drake that he still performs regularly on his live made a surprise appearance at the first sets. “Mi know ‘bout living hard.” Although annual Unruly Fest to announce that the Unruly Boss has elevated himself Popcaan had officially signed to OVO. greatly during the nine years since he made Despite aligning himself with one of the that tune—appearing in films on Netflix most successful artists in hip hop, Papi is and touring the world performing to sold- unlikely to forget the journey that brought out arenas—the youth born Andrae Hugh him to this point. “Although man make it Sutherland hasn’t forgotten his experiences now,” he sings on “Family,” a smash single growing up in Three West, a government- from 2017, “we know how struggle feel.” subsidized housing scheme in Portmore, “Certain songs on Forever is very Jamaica. Popcaan has come a long way personal,” Popcaan explains. “And it is since then, a journey recounted on his coming straight from things weh happen acclaimed 2014 debut album Where We to me in my life.” Even as he declares his Come From. “I’m representing my whole longevity in the game, Popcaan understands community, people who have well that success can come at a been through it with me,” he serious price. He may not be said of the project back then. the carefree artist once known Returning to the Jamrock as the Raving King, but as Cruise for the third time this he progresses through life year, Popcaan is fresh off Popcaan still uses his music to some major achievements. speak his truth. —Reshma B. July 2018 saw the release TIZZY TOKYO BY PHOTO 16 17 TARRUS RILEY There’s an old saying that you can pay experimentation, writing and singing for school but you can’t buy class, which timeless songs about love, life, and is a quality Tarrus Riley exudes in every reality, set against musical soundscapes aspect. His work ethic is second to none, that incorporate multiple influences his demeanor unassuming, professional, while remaining firmly rooted in reggae. and irrepressibly positive. And the Along the way he’s emerged as one music? First class all the way. Son of of the music’s greatest ambassadors. the esteemed vocalist Jimmy Riley, a This year Mr. Riley returns for his sixth founding member of seminal harmony consecutive Jamrock Cruise fresh off the groups The Techniques and The Uniques, release of his seventh project, an E.P. titled Tarrus was born in the Bronx and raised B.L.E.M. that was created in collaboration between Florida and Jamaica, educated with the young Jamaican producer in a musical school like none other. IzyBeats, known for his work with Koffee “Tarrus grew up right in the midst of and Jorja Smith. In patois “blem” means things,” his late father once remarked. adding something extra to infuse a special “Most of the veteran singers were friends flavor, aroma, or texture. Tarrus explains of mine, so he knew them all.” As the son that the EP’s title is an acronym for of a reggae icon, he bears the Blending Life’s Experiences mantle of responsibility like Musically. “I’m just giving a gift rather than a burden. you likkle more,” he says of Fifteen years ago he released songs like “G.Y.A.L. (Girl You his debut album, which he Are Loved)” featuring the titled Challenges. A child Ghanaian star StoneBwoy. of the dancehall era, Tarrus “Just relax and get used to the PHOTO COURTESY OF ARTIST COURTESY PHOTO balances tradition with tune dem.” —Vivian Thomas 18 19 BOUNTY KILLER He may be known for being “cross, works in the community, benefitting the angry, miserable,” but Bounty Killer has Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) and been known to crack a smile now and the Victoria Jubilee maternity Hospital then.