For artists of Jamaican heritage, gaining acceptance in Jamaica is similar to winning a Grammy or getting a platinum record. Primo Green, born and raised in Toronto, got his chance in July when he performed at Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay.
The reggae/hip hop act performed ‘I Am Stronger’, his song with Norris Man, on International Night which closed the annual event on July 20.
“I grew up watching Sumfest as a youth and it has been a dream of mine to be on that stage. It was a surreal moment and definitely a great experience,” said Primo Green. He admitted that “There were a lot of nerves before going on the stage but once I started performing, I got more comfortable.”
Primo Green is known for hip hop songs like ‘Heartless’ and ‘Lean on Me’. He met Norris Man in Toronto in May through his road manager, when they performed at a Mother’s Day show. While some of his biggest influences are American hip hop giants like DMX, Jay-Z and Nas, he developed early respect for Beres Hammond, Dennis Brown and Bob Marley who are some of his Jamaican parents’ favorite acts.
Launching his career as a member of sibling group, EMG, Primo Green has been solo for some time. ‘Wonderland’, his first album, was released in 2018.
Working on Reggae Sumfest has whetted his appetite for more ‘yaad’ action.
“I would definitely love to perform on Sumfest again in the near future so I can showcase my artistry and versatility from the catalog of songs I have. I’m forever grateful to Norris Man for giving me the opportunity to share the stage with him and I would love to perform again in Jamaica soon,” said Primo Green.