History
Oje Ken Ollivierre, professionally known as Protoje, is a prominent reggae singer and songwriter hailing from Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica. He is the son of Jamaican singer Lorna Bennett and a former Calypso king.
Early Career and Debut Album
Protoje's musical journey began to gain momentum in 2010 when he started collaborating with his cousin, the acclaimed Jamaican producer Don Corleon. Following the release of singles such as "Dread," "JA," and "Roll" in 2010, Protoje unveiled his debut album, The Seven Year Itch, in 2011. The album's early popularity in Jamaica was significantly bolstered by the single "Arguments," released in 2009. In 2011, he further promoted the album with the release of "Rasta Love," a collaboration featuring Ky-Mani Marley.
Subsequent Releases and Influences
His sophomore album, The 8 Year Affair, was released in 2013. The lead single from this project was "Who Dem A Program," followed by "This Is Not A Marijuana Song." The track "Kingston Be Wise" received substantial promotion across both traditional and social media platforms. For The 8 Year Affair, Protoje cited reggae artists Ini Kamoze and the group Black Uhuru as key influences.
Third Album
Protoje's third album, Ancient Future, was released in September 2014.
