Sean Paul ADD
Reggaeville Yearbook 2025 - Jamaica Rise Again!
01/28/2026 by Gardy Stein
IN THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE
As tempting as it is to prompt ChatGPT into writing this editorial, we’ll stick to our human resources to look back on 2025 for and with you, dear readers. In far too many other domains, AI has slowly but surely crept up on us, replacing call centre agents, graphic designers, songwriters and, alas, even singers and players of instruments. While this advancing technology is certainly helpful in fields like medicine, research and data processing, we should handle it with care in the creative sector.
Yes, the rapid growth of generative AI tools was certainly one of the prominent features of the last twelve months and heralded winds of change but, as usual, we are more interested in the Reggae side of things here. First of all, there’s a Happy Birthday to wish: Bob Marley would have turned 80 on February 6th, and in addition to parties around the globe in his honour, the Bob Marley Hope Road Live Show was opened in Las Vegas in June.
Another artist that caused quite a stir was Vybz Kartel, whose concerts and tours were record-breaking. Let us sweep you off your feet with a little journey back in time, re-visiting the musical highlights of 2025, as you’ll find the most important releases, interviews, album reviews and concert reports on the following pages. Which event filled you with a rush of excitement, and which artist has taken your heart by storm?
For our 55 music experts who participated in the ALBUM OF THE YEAR poll, the answer was clear: Chronixx received the most votes with the album Exile, closely followed by Lila Iké and Keznamdi. See the results on page 126-127!
While celebrating new music belongs to the sunny sides of the YEARBOOK, we also had to face some dark clouds, as legends like Max Romeo, Jimmy Cliff, Cocoa Tea, Vivian Jones and Naâman were laid to rest. Rise in power, ye great souls!
All those storm metaphors lead up to our cover story, simply but powerfully illustrated by the Jamaican Government’s official Relief logo. By far the biggest impact in 2025 on the island we love was Hurricane Melissa, wreaking terrible havoc from which the regions affected only slowly recover. But, since the worst circumstances often bring out the best in us, the world stood together to help those in need, as our special feature documents (pages 56-79).
What’s left to say now is THANK YOU, dear Reggaeville Family, for your ongoing comments, shares, likes and views. We couldn’t do this without you! Now, saddle your stallion and ride into the Year of the Fire Horse like Calamity Jane - happy 2026 to you all!
READ & DOWNLOAD: YEARBOOK 2025
