Protoje

Protoje is the stage name of Oje Ken Ollivierre, a Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter from Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica. Born in 1981, he works in reggae, dub and rock. He is the son of Jamaican singer Lorna Bennett and a former Calypso king.

Career

In 2010, Protoje begins working with his cousin, the Jamaican producer Don Corleon. That year he releases the singles “Dread”, “JA” and “Roll”. His debut album, The Seven Year Itch, follows in 2011. The song “Arguments”, released in 2009, helps establish his early popularity in Jamaica, and “Rasta Love”, featuring Ky-Mani Marley, appears in 2011 as another single from the album.

His second album, The 8 Year Affair, appears in 2013. Its singles include “Who Dem A Program” and “This Is Not A Marijuana Song”. “Kingston Be Wise” is also strongly promoted through traditional and social media. For this album, Protoje cites Ini Kamoze and Black Uhuru as influences.

Albums

Protoje’s recorded work in this period includes The Seven Year Itch, The 8 Year Affair and Ancient Future.