Protoje

Oje Ken Ollivierre, known professionally as Protoje, was born on June 14, 1981, in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica. His musical lineage includes his mother, Jamaican singer Lorna Bennett, and his father, calypso singer Mike Ollivierre from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Protoje began his career gaining attention with his 2005 mixtape, “Lyrical Overdose Volume 1,” which featured hip-hop influences. The inclusion of Busy Signal on the mixtape influenced his transition towards reggae and dancehall music.

In 2010, Protoje collaborated with Don Corleon Records, an imprint led by his cousin, producer Don Corleon. This partnership led to the release of singles such as “Dread,” “JA,” and “Roll” in 2010. His debut album, “The Seven Year Itch,” was launched on January 25, 2011, with the single “Arguments” (2009) contributing to his initial recognition in Jamaica. He further released “Rasta Love” featuring Ky-Mani Marley from the same album in 2011. His second album, “The 8 Year Affair,” was released on February 12, 2013. The album featured singles like “Who Dem a Program” (2012), “This Is Not a Marijuana Song” (mid-2012), and “Kingston Be Wise” (2012). “Kingston Be Wise” gained significant traction, becoming the most viewed YouTube link among Jamaican internet users on its release day, November 5, 2012. This track was later featured in the video game “Grand Theft Auto V” on the in-game “Blue Ark” radio station, contributing to his international exposure.

Protoje’s third album, “Ancient Future,” was released in March 2015, following a delay from its initial September 2014 schedule. This album, produced by Phillip “Winta” James, included the successful single “Who Knows,” a collaboration with Chronixx, which was certified Silver by BPI in 2022. “Ancient Future” reached the top of the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart two weeks after its release. In 2018, his album “A Matter of Time” received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Reggae Album. He signed a label deal with RCA Records in 2020, which also included artists Lila Iké and Sevana from his In.Digg.Nation label. His fifth studio album, “In Search Of Lost Time,” released on August 28, 2020, peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. His sixth album, “Third Time’s The Charm,” released on September 23, 2022, reached No. 8 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart and secured him another Grammy Nomination.