Ep. 20: How Did Sly and Robbie Inspire Jesse Royal’s Reggae Journey?

Greetings and maximum respect, massive! Native Wayne here on Rebel Rockers, and on this crucial episode, we are honored to sit down with one of the truly wicked voices of contemporary reggae, the two-time Grammy nominee Jesse Royal[1]. We go deep into the foundation of the music, journeying from the spiritual vibrations of Ethiopia and Japan to the inner-sanctum sessions with legends like Fatis Burrell and Sly and Robbie, where earth-shaking riddims were conjured from thin air in mere minutes. Jesse opens up about the spiritual blueprint of his career—including a life-altering piece of advice from the late Bunny Rugs—and shares the wild, unexpected studio intervention that actually birthed the iconic intro to "Modern Day Judas." Plus, we uncover the heavy, unfiltered truths behind his latest Grammy-nominated masterwork, No Place Like Home, and how a legendary feature came together from behind bars. How did a profound turning point and a brotherhood of reggae's finest shape this revolutionary sound? You'll have to pull up the full episode on Rebel Rockers to catch the complete vibration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices