“When yuh hear ‘Jamaica Love’, you think white sand and beaches and all-inclusive hotels. But for me, that’s one element of Jamaica that makes this place so beautiful. But when yuh talk about the country’s motto ‘Out of Many One People,’ that’s not reflective of ‘Jamaica Love’;[that motto] is the grim and the grime of the hard-working people that’s the bloodline of Jamaica that keeps it moving. ‘Jamaica Love’ reflects what attracts people to Jamaica when dem seh ‘Irie man, everything kool’. It’s the humour, the personalities and unique characters, the ability to take nothing and turn it into something,” the Morgan Heritage co-founder said.
While composing this project, spending time with his brother Laza and dancehall superstar Popcaan, and exploring different parts of the island, Mojo said he “fell in love with Jamaica all over again, all while healing from the loss of our brother Peetah”.
“I had an album to release, and I pushed that back because I wanted to share this experience, this journey for Peetah, my children and for all that we represent and hold dear. And that’s what ‘Jamaica Love’ means for me and that’s what I want to share with the world,” he noted.
Mojo assured fans that despite his upbringing, the musical medley and shared talents explored in the project, it remains true to ‘Brand Jamaica’.
“I am Jamaican so everything I do is authentic. I’m not the inner-city kid from Kingston, I’m from Brooklyn – born and raised, but Jamaica is in my DNA. I’m who you’d call a ‘Yankie Boy’ who come from the slums of Brooklyn to the countryside of Jamaica and make it home and become a household name on a little island, 2,000 miles away,” he underscored.
Mojo said the project is a reflection of his upbringing, studying the godfathers of hip hop and R&B, getting an education in Massachusetts and being exposed to pop and rock & roll radio and a plethora of artistes.
“These are the sounds that creates ‘Rasta Rock’, which we fused together [with various genres]. These are just the musical palette of Jamaica and for me to creatively bring that into one sound is what will make our product extremely special,” he said.
The EP, which is set to be released on August 29, features musical megastars such as Gramps Morgan, Sizzla, Popcaan, Jamal, American rapper Maino, and Chronic Law. However, Mojo was overly impressed with Jamal.
“Jamal is youth weh mi watch rise to fame and mi pay attention to di things dem weh him seh and I know that this kid is not dunce; I knew there was more to it. So, when I met him and we collaborated on the song ‘Men of Action’ [featuring Maino] it was just an unlikely combination and it has become one of my favourite tracks on the EP,” said Mojo.
“Jamal represents what I represent in Morgan Heritage – the unbeknown, least vocal one and I’m the representative of underdogs worldwide. Like him, I know what it’s like to go overlooked, treated less than how you’re to be treated and I know what it’s like to become a hero,” Mojo added.
He clarified that his solo project is not him stepping away from Morgan Heritage, but more of him giving fans a closer look into what he represents as part of the band. It also serves as an extension of his solo career and his personalised sound, the aforementioned Rasta Rock’, but also carved out a deeper connection to his roots while showcasing his individual talent globally.
“It’s me continuing to display what exactly I bring to Morgan Heritage and contribute to what make us unique. For me as the rapper inna Morgan Heritage, it’s been a great experience for me, evolving and growing as a singer and becoming better at the way I craft my rhymes with a sense of purpose and intent,” Mojo said.
