Protoje

Biography

Oje Ken Ollivierre (born 14 June 1981), popularly known as Protoje, is a contemporary Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter. Protoje first gained notice for a 2005 mixtape. In 2011, he released his debut album The Seven Year Itch. This was followed by The 8 Year Affair in 2013, Ancient Future in 2015, Royalty Free in 2016, A Matter of Time in 2018, In Search Of Lost Time in 2020 Third Time's The Charm in 2022 and "The Art of Acceptance×The Art Of Acceptance17 April 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Something I Said2Sword & Shield3Ting Loud4BIG 455Goddess6Feel It7At We Feet8The Locusts9Reference101000 Lashes11In Your Corner12Love Overflow13Ten Times Around The Sun14Big 45 ( Tippy I Dub )15Goddess ( Tippy I Dub )16At We Feet ( Tippy I Dub )" in 2026.
His albums In Search Of Lost Time×In Search of Lost Time28 August 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Switch It Up3:542Deliverance3:283Still I Wonder2:524Weed & Ting3:475A Vibe2:436Same So3:287In Bloom3:478Self Defense3:539Like Royalty4:0510Strange Happenings4:44 and Third Time's The Charm×Third Time's the Charm23 September 2022 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1The Charm2Hills3:323Family3:014Incient Stepping3:495Dreamy Eyes6Ten Cane Row7Late at Night3:518Love For Me9Here Comes The Morning10Heavy Load both reached the top 10 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. Proteje received Grammy nominations for the albums A Matter of Time×A Matter of Time18 May 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Flames5:092Blood Money3:483Mind of a King3:554Like This3:285Bout Noon3:446A Matter of Time3:517No Guarantee3:408Lessons3:349Truths & Rights3:5310Camera Show4:57 and Third Time's The Charm.

Early life

He was born in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica. His mother is Jamaican singer and lawyer Lorna Bennett, best known for her 1972 rendition of "Breakfast in Bed". His father is a former calypso singer Mike Ollivierre, from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Career

Protoje first gained notice for his 2005 mixtape Lyrical Overdose Volume 1, featuring mostly hip hop-influenced songs. With a guest appearance by Busy Signal, however, his future career was leveled as a reggae and dancehall artist.

Seven Year Itch

In 2010, Protoje began working with Don Corleon Records, run by his cousin and popular Jamaican producer Don Corleon. After releasing "Dread", "JA" and "Roll" in 2010, Protoje's debut album, entitled The Seven Year Itch, was released on 25 January 2011. The first single off the album, dubbed "Arguments" (2009), was responsible for his early popularity in Jamaica. In 2011, he released another single off the album entitled "Rasta Love" featuring Ky-Mani Marley.

8 Year Affair

His second album, The 8 Year Affair×The 8 Year Affair12 February 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1The 8 Year Affair4:502I & I3:563Kingston Be Wise4:114Hold You Now4:205Someone Like You4:186Around the World3:147Who Dem a Program3:278This Is NOT a Marijuana Song4:079Reggae Revival4:1210Come My Way4:3311Shot by Love3:4212Black Cinderella3:5613Hail Ras Tafari3:4314Music From My Heart5:20, was released 12 February 2013. "Who Dem a Program" was the first single released from the album in January 2012, with "This Is Not a Marijuana Song" following mid-year. "Kingston Be Wise" was heavily promoted via traditional and social media. On the day of its release, 5 November 2012, the music video became the most viewed YouTube link among internet users in Jamaica. The hashtag #KBW was used on Twitter. The song "Kingston Be Wise" (a remake of Ini Kamoze's song "England be nice") was featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto V on the in-game "Blue Ark" radio station, increasing its popularity further and making an international name for the reggae artist. Protoje cited reggae artist Ini Kamoze and group Black Uhuru as influences when recording the album.
In December 2014 Protoje was included on BBC Radio 1Xtra's 'Hot for 2015' list.

Ancient Future

His third album Ancient Future×Ancient Future9 March 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Protection4:362Criminal3:583Who Knows3:304All Will Have to Change5:275Stylin'3:346Love Gone Cold4:517Sudden Flight3:428Bubblin'4:209Answer to Your Name3:5710Who Can You Call3:5311The Flame5:20 was initially set for release in September 2014, but was put back until March 2015. Produced by Phillip "Winta" James, the album includes the song "Who Knows×Who Knows2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWho KnowsBWho Knows Dub Mix", a collaboration with Chronixx, which was released as a single. Two tracks from the album, "Answer to Your Name" and "Criminal" were released ahead of the album as exclusives on the England Be Wise mixtape for BBC 1xtra DJ Toddla T. Two weeks after its release it topped the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart. "Who Knows" was certified Silver by BPI in 2022.

Recent career

On 14 June 2016, Protoje released Side B of his fourth studio album, Royalty Free×Royalty Free14 June 2016 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Can't Feel No Way2:392Glad You're Home3:333Sandra Foster3:374Flight Plans4:125Used to Be My Life5:46, as a free download to the public on his website. His 2018 album, A Matter of Time×A Matter of Time18 May 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Flames5:092Blood Money3:483Mind of a King3:554Like This3:285Bout Noon3:446A Matter of Time3:517No Guarantee3:408Lessons3:349Truths & Rights3:5310Camera Show4:57, received a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Reggae Album category. On 27 March 2020, Protoje joined Chronixx on a remix of Alicia Keys' song Underdog. On 13 April 2020, Protoje announced a new label deal with RCA Records.
The deal allowed him "a certain level of creative control" and included artists Lila Iké and Sevana who he had been mentoring under his own In.Digg.Nation label.
On 28 August 2020, Protoje released his fifth studio album In Search Of Lost Time×In Search of Lost Time28 August 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Switch It Up3:542Deliverance3:283Still I Wonder2:524Weed & Ting3:475A Vibe2:436Same So3:287In Bloom3:478Self Defense3:539Like Royalty4:0510Strange Happenings4:44, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
On 23 September 2022, Protoje released his sixth studio album Third Time's The Charm×Third Time's the Charm23 September 2022 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1The Charm2Hills3:323Family3:014Incient Stepping3:495Dreamy Eyes6Ten Cane Row7Late at Night3:518Love For Me9Here Comes The Morning10Heavy Load, which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart and has secured him a Grammy Nomination.

Mixtapes

2011: This Is Protoje
2013: Music from My Heart
2015: Kingston Be Wise (Toddla T Meets Protoje)

Albums

2011: Seven Year Itch
2013: The 8 Year Affair
2015: Ancient Future
2016: Royalty Free (Side B)
2018: A Matter of Time
2020: In Search of Lost Time (Deluxe version released in 2021)
2022: Third Time's the Charm
2023: In Search of Zion
2024: The Jamaican Situation (A Soundtrack, Side A)
2026: The Art of Acceptance

Singles

2009: "Arguments"
2010: "Dread"
2010: "JA"
2010: "Roll"
2011: "Rasta Love" (featuring "Ky-Mani Marley")
2012: "Who Dem a Program"
2012: "This Is Not a Marijuana Song"
2012: "Kingston Be Wise"
2013: "I&I"
2013: "Resist Not Evil (Militancy Riddim)" (Overstand Entertainment)
2014: "Who Knows×Who Knows2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWho KnowsBWho Knows Dub Mix" (featuring Chronixx)
2014: "Stylin'"
2015: "Answer to Your Name"
2015: "Bubblin'"
2015: "Sudden Flight" (featuring Jesse Royal and Sevana)
2017: "Blood Money"
2018: "Bout Noon"
2018: "Criminal"'
2020: "Switch It Up"
2021: "Still Blooming×Still Blooming26 February 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Still Blooming3:46" (featuring Lila Iké and Izy Beats)
2022: "Hills×Hills21 April 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hills3:30"
2022: "Family×Family11 August 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Family3:01" (featuring Jesse Royal)