For any artist, their roots play a crucial role in shaping their whole artistic journey. For J Boog, that connection may be even stronger than for most and his roots are deeply entwined in his craft. This American singer is of Samoan descent and is even the son of a Samoan chief. Having been born and raised in the United States, J Boog is a unique blend of two different worlds. For anyone who is interested in hearing a unique take on traditional reggae music, J Boog is definitely worth listening to. The best way to enjoy his infectious music is to see him live in concert and in his element. Get your J Boog tickets today to be at one of his high energy shows.

 Jerry “J Boog” Afemata was born in Long Beach, California, and soon made the move over to Compton where he was raised.

Bringing The Island to the Mainland

Boog’s large and tightly knit family has had a huge and profound influence on his musical abilities. He is the youngest of seven brothers and one sister, each of which shaped his taste in music in some way or another. His music would come to reflect a wide range of influences, including the R&B influences of where he grew up, and the reggae which he would come to blend with other elements.

His sister, who played piano, was one of his biggest early influences. He would frequently sing songs as she played them on the piano. It helped that each sibling had a slightly different taste in music, and so Boog was exposed to a wide range of genres from a young age, each of which would help him to find his own unique sound.

Finding His Sound: Hawaii is Calling

In pursuit of finding his own unique sound, many things fell into place when Boog met George “Fiji” Veikoso in 2004. Fiji was another singer who was blending R&B and reggae styles together, and Boog found himself moving to Hawaii to make music with him.

Once there, he started recording his debut album with Fiji. Hear Me Roar was released in 2007 and peaked at the number eight spot on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums. This was followed by Backyard Boogie in 2011, which debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart. With his second album, Boog expanded his fan base considerably. This album featured a wider range of influences including hip-hop, ska, rock, reggae, and R&B.

Backyard Boogie was so successful that J Boog won the Best New Entertainer Award at the International Reggae and World Music Awards in Chicago in 2012.

An Expanding Fan Base

In addition to releasing two albums, J Boog worked on a lot of music which was subsequently released in the following years. Each of these singles was either recorded independently or collaboratively.

In 2014, Boog would release his EP ‘Live Up!’ which reached the number four spot on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart.

Every time Boog released new music, his fan base would grow. People have been instantly struck by his humility, his proud embrace of his Samoan culture, and his strong family roots. His music also represents a unique blend of sounds mixed with a feel-good island vibe which draw people in.

Feel-good island vibes

J Boog is an absolute natural performer who puts on an unforgettable live show. He has toured with some incredible artists such as Damien Marley, The Green, Ziggy Marley, and Rebelution. He also tours with his regular touring mates, The Hot Rain Band.

After the release of his debut album, Boog spent a considerable amount of time touring the United States extensively. It didn’t take him long to start performing internationally. J Boog would go on to play live shows in places like Africa, Dubai, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and more. After the release of his second album, Boog would take on Europe.

All of this extensive touring helped him develop a reputation as a stellar performer. If you’re a fan of J Boog and you haven’t yet seen him live, this year is your chance. J Boog will be performing a number of live shows. Get yourself a pair of J Boog tickets to see this electrifying musician perform.