WATCH THIS: ‘All in the Same Boat’ the Jamrock Cruise Documentary

How Damian Marley’s annual voyage went from a crazy idea to a premier event in global reggae culture.  The idea for the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise came to life in an unlikely place—Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s manager, Dan Dalton, was relaxing in his hot tub, burning a spliff, when inspiration struck. “What if there […]

WTJRC 2022 Heavy Rotation Playlist

All in the Same Boat, Rockin’ on the Same Rock Once again it’s on. The last time we were on board the Jamrock Cruise was December 2019, before most people had ever heard the words “Covid-19.” Three years later the big ship is ready to rock with artists like Burning Spear, Shabba Ranks, Damian Marley, […]

Dre Island Speaks On “We Pray” Collab With Popcaan

“They Don’t Want To See The Unity Between Dancehall and Reggae” “It’s a joy to see what Rastafari has done, said Dre Island shortly after stepping off the main deck stage of the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise. Having joined Popcaan to perform their hit duet “We Pray,” Dre Island was in a reverent mood […]

Boss of the Year: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley

Junior Gong Is Changing The Game In More Ways Than One On “The Struggle Discontinues,” a track from Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s  forthcoming album Stony Hill, Gongzilla offers a thought-provoking critique of reggae’s long history as “sufferer’s music.” As the tune puts it: “I don’t wanna sing a song that says ‘the struggle live on’… […]

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Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise Zeen

Our 2015 Zeen Is The Next Best Thing To Being On Board “All in the Same Boat,” Bob Marley sang on The Wailers’ 1971 Boomshot “Don’t Rock My Boat,” produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry, “Rockin’ on the same rock / Got to get together, loving each other.” This lyric isnpired the title for the 2015 […]

Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise 2: Twice As Nice

They Said “What Happens On The Cruise Stays On The Cruise”—But They Were Wrong! Having successfully completed its second annual mission, Damian Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise goes down in history as another amazing experience for lovers of reggae and dancehall music. This year featured not one but two back-to-back cruises loaded with no […]

Reasoning with Keith Walford from Bass Odyssey

The Sound System’s Founder Talks Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise and the Sound Clash on the Sea In the mid 1970s Keith Walford expanded his father’s mechanic business in Alexandria, St. Ann into distributing and stocking jukeboxes all over Jamaica. His used to spin music at private fetes before officially launching Bass Odyssey in 1989 […]

Reasoning with Father Metro

Metro Media Top Selector Talks Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise Sound Clash on the Sea Jimmy Metro, aka Haldane James, took over Metro Media in 1976 after the sound’s original founder, Lou Gooden, emigrated from the island. Building up the sound’s following in the Woodford Park area of central Kin, Jimmy had a great ear […]

Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise to Host First Ever Soundclash on the Sea

Mighty Crown vs Metro Media vs Bass Odyssey—Some Selector Get Chuck Overboard From the moment Jr. Gong first announced the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise, the concept was clearly a game-changer. Bringing an outernational audience of reggae lovers on board a luxury liner with a stellar lineup of reggae and dancehall talent made last year’s […]

HEAR THIS: Busy Signal “WhatsApp”

Turf Prez Inna Soca Style Back in 1984 when Byron Lee and the Dragonaires created their classic hit, “Tiny Winey,” they could not have predicted that this song about a provocative dancer could inspire another soca tune, thirty-one years later. Busy Signal explains that he particularly enjoyed the tune’s exuberant narrative—as well as its infectious […]