Music News
Music Quality Matters. RKG Gets Grammy Nomination Consideration for a Third Time.
He’s hardly ever among the artistes on the Carnival circuit to get the attention of mass audiences, but he is certainly, for a third time, being considered for a Grammy nomination. The 67th Grammy Awards takes place on Sunday, February 2nd, 2025 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The nominations for the awards will however be announced this coming Friday, November 8th. Trinidad and Tobago radio personality and artiste, RKG is among the artistes being considered for Grammy nomination for his album, Fully Digital. Once again, for this music lover, consideration by the Grammy nomination committee is a career highlight.
In previous years, RKG has been considered by the GRAMMYs and while his name has not made it to the final nomination list just yet, he says he is happy that his music’s quality has gotten him this far. “Your music must be of a particular standard to pass the submission process. There are certified voters – producers, songwriters and others, who will listen to the music’s standard and quality,” he shared, adding that he is of the firm belief that his third-time consideration is based on his music’s quality. “The first time I was given consideration was with the album, Caribbean Born. The second time around I was considered alongside Kes The Band in the category of Global Music Performance and now, the third time around, I’m being considered in the category of Best Reggae Album.
RKG’s latest album, ‘Fully Digital’ boasts 14 tracks. He told Ebuzztt that he spent two days alongside producer, NyceNation, steadily working to deliver on the project. Now, reflecting on the journey to this point, he stands proud and happy, recalling that those two days of dedication in an area considered a crime hotspot, was a necessary part of the end product. On his style and delivery, RKG tells us that his aim has never been to sound like every other artiste, or to be boxed in to any one genre of music. “Me setting myself apart equates to me sometimes sacrificing my career. That may be a strong statement to make, but what I mean is God has given me a talent that I can be musically versatile with, something that not many people are capable of doing. I try to separate myself musically, because I think being unique is what’s needed,” he said.
Admittedly influenced heavily by the likes of dancehall artistes, Spragga Benz, Bounty Killer, General Degree and T&T’s Bunji Garlin, RKG says now he has found his own style and is comfortable delivering songs that blend genres and offer a difference to global music lovers. “My greatest desire when it comes to my music is to hear my songs in movies, on Netflix and other major platforms. God is the boss and God is in charge of time. Music is something that can live on and I want to create music that lives on through the people, through generations. I want to give the people music that can talk to them, heal them, strengthen them; I want my music to transcend beyond the norm of any festival, any party,” he said, adding that good music connects to the soul of the listener.
The globe at the fingertips of musicians and creators, RKG is unfazed by those who question his music at home in the Caribbean. He however encourages everyone to take a listen to ‘Fully Digital’ with the understanding that his target audience is a global one and his sound, is as unique as the people of varied nationalities, races and ethnicities worldwide. “This album’s music is timeless; the songs are not dated and these songs can be played for years to come,” he shared, telling us that during the voting process he received a very encouraging email from one of the panel’s voters who credited him with what they said was a a very good body of work in ‘Fully Digital.’
Reggae
New ‘Jamrock’ Documentary Celebrates Unforgettable Moments. Cruise Returns to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa, This Year.
Ahead of its 11th annual voyage in November, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise shares its story through a new film. VIBE premiered All in the Same Boat, a documentary directed by acclaimed filmmaker, Reshma B and produced by Boomshots TV that traces Marley and his manager Dan Dalton’s brainchild from a bold, outsider idea into one of the most culturally significant movements in reggae and dancehall today.
With over a decade’s worth of unforgettable moments pulled from the last 10 voyages, this 30+ minute documentary captures the spirit of a global reggae community built on shared identity, resilience, and reverence for Jamaican culture. It features iconic performances, real conversations with the artistes and DJs, and the heartbeat of it all: the “Jamrockers.” These are die-hard reggae lovers from over 40 countries who pull up every year for one reason – to feel that irreplaceable connection to Jamaican culture and keep the Marley message of “One Love” alive.
Having successfully navigated challenges including extreme weather and a global pandemic, the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise continues to thrive. Its 11th staging will return for its annual voyage from November 11th to the 16th, sailing from Miami aboard Norwegian Joy.
Stacked from foundation to future, this year’s lineup brings together reggae and dancehall’s most influential voices: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Stephen Marley (Traffic Jam Set), Burning Spear, Sizzla, Capleton, Beenie Man, Protoje, Barrington Levy, Elephant Man, Junior Reid, Lila Iké, Ding Dong & the Ravers Clavers, Tony Matterhorn “Man on the Moon”, Gyptian, 450, Richie Spice, Ghost, Mr. Lexx, Professor Nuts, L.U.S.T., Sister Carol, Sevana, Flourgon, Johnny P, and Jemere Morgan are confirmed.
The cruise’s famed Sound Clash at Sea will return alongside powerhouse sound systems including Stone Love (Geefus), King Jammy, Silverhawk Sound, Rory Stone Love, Renaissance Sound, Federation Sound, Warrior Sound, Rampage Sound, Kingston12 HiFi and Souljah1 Muzik, preserving a cornerstone of Jamaican music culture in its most authentic form.
Jamrock is a Premiere Reggae Event
The Jamrock experience has evolved into the premier reggae event at sea—one that continues to redefine how the culture is celebrated on a global stage. The five-day experience continues to immerse guests in the full spectrum of Jamaican life—from Nyabinghi sunrise sessions and sound bath meditations to dancehall workshops, fitness programming, and curated culinary offerings led by acclaimed Chef Lumley. A new addition this year includes a live theatrical production by legendary playwright Oliver Samuels, adding yet another layer to the cruise’s ever-expanding cultural canvas.
Following the impact of Hurricane Melissa in 2025, the cruise will return to Jamaica with renewed purpose, maintaining its distinction as the only chartered cruise with two Jamaican port stops. That commitment translates into tangible impact, generating millions annually for the island’s tourism and cultural economy while reinforcing a direct connection between the music, the people, and the place that birthed it.
As All in the Same Boat makes clear, Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise is a movement with its own rhythm, one that continues to bring the diaspora home, while inviting the world in. Since its inception in 2014, the mission remains the same: to create a space where reggae lives, breathes, and connects us all.
The documentary made its debut during the 10th annual cruise and later screened at Art Basel in support of hurricane relief efforts led by the Marley family’s Ghetto Youths Foundation. Damian Marley and Dan Dalton were executive producers of the film.
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