The latest project, A Matter of Time, speaks with a frankness and gravity that Ollivierre is quick to point out, a stark comparison to the feel-good, roots revival and experimentation of his previous album Ancient Future.Īncient Future arguably introduced the world to Protoje with the smash single ‘Who Knows’, featuring long-time collaborator and friend Chronixx. A thoughtful man, as well an artist, the message in his lyrics against corruption, greed and inequality stands tall for listeners from all over the world. Where reggae has been traditionally used to voice political opinions and concerns, Protoje aspires to provoke thought in his listeners. The soft-spoken son of two musicians firmly believes in the power of his own music and that of his influential homeland. “The latest project, A Matter of Time, speaks with a frankness and gravity that Ollivierre is quick to point out, a stark comparison to the feel-good, roots revival and experimentation of his previous album Ancient Future” The Reggae Revival, akin to the Harlem Renaissance in 1920s America, has overseen a bursting movement of music, culture and thought that has reclaimed Reggae’s seat on the world stage and reshaped what we thought we knew of the genre.
Whilst Rastafarian practices undoubtedly influenced the genre, what set it apart was the often fiery moral condemnations of social structures and politics in lyrics, which has pored through into the likes of rap music such as our very own Grime.Īs we speak, there is a Reggae Revival happening, or as Oje Ken Ollivierre, popularly known as Protoje, refers to it, ‘…a rejuvenation, a wave’. The most well-known artists within this mesh of jazz, R&B and calypso include Bob Marley and the Wailers, Gregory Isaacs and Barrington Levy. Often lazily synonymised with Rastafarianism and cannabis use, this genre propelled Jamaican music to a world audience when it originates in the late 1960s. On the island that has produced entire genres and international superstars such as Bob Marley and Beenie Man, there is a bubbling excitement surrounding Dancehall’s politically-charged, socially conscious older sister–reggae. This island has influenced the vernacular, fashion and music tastes of millions that have never ever been there. This island has a population of just over 2.9 million, yet its influence spans decades, continents, cultures and subcultures. At home, London’s vibrant multiculturalism and an ever in-touch diaspora have produced a booming crossover genre of ‘Afro Bashment’, with young artists like J Hus and Yxng Bane fusing West African and Caribbean influences to the embrace of mainstream attention.Īlmost 5000 miles away, South of Cuba and West of Haiti, there lies an island. Internationally, the likes of Drake and Tyga have arguably co-opted an entire culture for social capital, with hit records such as ‘Controlla’ and ‘Blem’ bringing this style to the attention of international audiences. The commodification of dancehall is undeniable. The last year or so has seen a rise in the popularity of Caribbean-influenced music, with pop artists from around the world inexplicably waking up with a slight Jamaican tinge to their accents.
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