By Brittany Somerset
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – On Saturday, July 25, both reggae royalty Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley and rap luminary Nas perform together at Reggae Sumfest, in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
It’s not a Nas performance, and it’s not a Damian Marley performance. It’s going to be a Nas and Damian Marley collaboration, specially for Reggae Sumfest,” said Johnny Gourzong, Executive Director of Summerfest Productions.
Gourzong said that this popular pairing was the result of extensive thought by the Reggae Sumfest team, as to how to make this year’s event memorable. He emphasized that this is the first time that Nas will be performing in Jamaica, and added that it “Will be an even more special performance since he will be performing with one of our brightest stars in Reggae music, a son of the great Robert Nesta Marley. What better debut in Jamaica then on the stage of Reggae Sumfest?”
“While Damian Marley has wowed the Sumfest crowd in previous years, seeing him perform with Nas will be interesting. They are working on a collaborative album, and the sounds of reggae juxtaposed with hip-hop beats should make for a spectacular performance,” said Brittany Somerset, Stage Photographer for Reggae Sumfest. The Festival starts with a beach party on Sunday, July 19 and then has three nights of live performances from Thursday July 23 to Saturday July 25. The festival goes on overnight, because the daytime sun is too hot in Jamaica.
Sumfest will also feature Ne-Yo, Queen Ifrica, Tarrus Riley, Mavado, Busy Signal, Bounty Killer, Etana, Da’Ville, Vybz Kartel, Beenie Man, Morgan Heritage, and many more. Other confirmed international female R&B artists for the Reggae Sumfest stage will be Jazmine Sullivan, Keri Hilson and Toni Braxton.
“We are arranging for additional international performers, but we’re not ready to release who we’re considering. You’ll just have to wait a little longer.” Gourzong teased.
“Sumfest is notorious for adding on high-profile artists at the last minute; a marketing strategy that always raises the level of anticipation throughout the Summer,” said Somerset. “It is the premiere event in Jamaica and attracts thousands of music lovers worldwide.”
