Samory I

Hailed as “among the most compelling Jamaican voices of this generation” by Grammy.com, Samory I pours waves of emotion into every word he sings. An artist both in tune with the contemporary and appreciative of the classic, his impassioned vocals often carry exalting messages with a spirit of rebellion. He was named after Samory Touré, a successful African ruler who fought against European colonization in the 19th century. Like his namesake, Samory I is a voice for the voiceless with messages of hope, pain, resilience, and love. His lyrical consciousness and distinct emotive vocals are resonating with fans across the globe. Following his rich opus of conscious Rastafarian declarations on Black Gold (2017) and its breakthrough single “Rasta Nuh Gangsta”, Samory I has featured on two GRAMMY-nominated reggae albums: Jesse Royal’s Royal (2021) for their collab “High Tide or Low,” and Protoje’s Third Time’s The Charm (2022) for the closing track “Heavy Load.” In 2022, Samory I released “Love and Mercy'' off the Gratitude Riddim (produced by GRAMMY-nominated Winta James), which became one of his most streamed tracks to date. Since then, Samory I has continued to work with James, culminating in the release of Samory I's 2023 album Strength. The album has garnered key radio play and global attention, with Rolling Stone Magazine touting it as a "Brilliant Reboot of Roots Reggae Tradition" and including it as the only reggae album on their Best Albums list in 2023.