Protoje, Mortimer

Biography

Oje Ken Ollivierre, professionally known as Protoje, was born on June 14, 1981, in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica, to a musically influential family—his mother is Jamaican singer Lorna Bennett and his father is a former Calypso king. Protoje first gained attention in 2005 with his mixtape Lyrical Overdose Volume 1, which featured hip hop-influenced songs, but a guest appearance by Busy Signal redirected his career toward reggae and dancehall. Beginning in 2010, he partnered with his cousin Don Corleon at Don Corleon Records, establishing the foundation for his professional music career. His debut album The Seven Year Itch (2011) featured the breakthrough single "Arguments" (2009), which catalyzed his early popularity in Jamaica, followed by the collaboration "Rasta Love" with Ky-Mani Marley.

Protoje has become a leading figure in the contemporary reggae revival movement, releasing six studio albums: The Seven Year Itch (2011), The 8 Year Affair (2013), Ancient Future (2015), Royalty Free (2016), A Matter of Time (2018), In Search Of Lost Time (2020), and Third Time's The Charm (2022). His albums In Search Of Lost Time and Third Time's The Charm both achieved top 10 positions on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, with the latter peaking at No. 8. Protoje has received Grammy nominations for A Matter of Time and Third Time's The Charm, establishing himself as a critically acclaimed artist. Beyond his solo work, he founded the In.Digg.Nation label and signed a deal with RCA Records in April 2020, which granted him creative control while allowing him to mentor emerging artists including Lila Iké and Sevana.

Protoje's musical style draws from traditional roots reggae while incorporating contemporary production and philosophical lyricism. He cited reggae artists Ini Kamoze and the group Black Uhuru as influences when developing his sound. His work is characterized by socially conscious messaging and spiritual themes, earning him recognition as a "philosophical thinker" who articulates righteous perspectives through his music. Leading the band The Indiggnation, Protoje has solidified his position as both a performer and mentor within Jamaica's reggae community.

Fun Facts

• Protoje's mother, Lorna Bennett, is a Jamaican singer, and his father is a former Calypso king, making him part of a multi-generational musical family with Caribbean roots.
• His breakthrough single "Arguments" was released in 2009 but became responsible for his early popularity in Jamaica following the 2011 release of The Seven Year Itch album.
• Protoje leads a band called The Indiggnation, positioning himself not only as a solo artist but also as a bandleader within the reggae community.
• His song "Kingston Be Wise" from The 8 Year Affair (2013) was featured on the soundtrack for the video game Grand Theft Auto, bringing his music to a global gaming audience.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Don Corleon - Cousin and producer who ran Don Corleon Records; instrumental in launching Protoje's professional career (The Seven Year Itch and subsequent early albums) [2010-present]
• Ini Kamoze - Reggae artist cited as a stylistic influence (Influenced Protoje's approach to The 8 Year Affair) [Career influence]
• Black Uhuru - Reggae group cited as a stylistic influence (Influenced Protoje's approach to The 8 Year Affair) [Career influence]

Key Collaborators

• Ky-Mani Marley - Featured artist on reggae collaboration (Rasta Love) [2011]
• Mortimer - Jamaican roots reggae artist; two major collaborations with Protoje (Protection (opening track on Ancient Future, 2015) and Truths & Rights (on A Matter of Time, 2018)) [2015-2018]
• Chronixx - Reggae artist featured on remix collaboration (Underdog (Alicia Keys remix)) [2020]
• Winta James - Producer who worked extensively with Protoje (Ancient Future (producer), collaborated on multiple projects) [2015-present]

Artists Influenced

• Mortimer - Protoje served as a mentor and key figure in Mortimer's career development; introduction to Protoje was pivotal in establishing Mortimer as a roots reggae artist (Protection and Truths & Rights collaborations) [2015-2018]
• Lila Iké - Mentored under Protoje's In.Digg.Nation label following his RCA Records deal (In.Digg.Nation label roster) [2020-present]
• Sevana - Mentored under Protoje's In.Digg.Nation label following his RCA Records deal (In.Digg.Nation label roster) [2020-present]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia