Internationally adored reggae revivalist, artist and producer Protoje makes a return with his anthemic new single ‘BIG 45’ dropping today on his In.Digg.Nation Collective/Ineffable Records label.
Protoje delivers his new single ‘BIG 45’, a booming reggae anthem saluting soundsystem culture, which is produced by The Indiggnation and Winta James, who was responsible for some of Protoje’s biggest songs including ‘Who Knows’ and ‘Switch It Up’ featuring Koffee. He has already been teasing the tune at his live shows and on socials, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response.
In the video directed by SAMO, Protoje casually performs the bass-driven track while he and his crew transport speaker boxes through the streets. The featured cabinets of sound are staples of Jamaican sound system culture that have cultivated the veteran musician’s career. Protoje carries the torch for sound system culture, which is a formative part of reggae music that was birthed out of Jamaica.
Protoje said
“‘BIG 45’ is a reggae and dancehall anthem…it’s talking about soundsystem, it’s talking about live music. This song came up whilst I was in soundcheck in Germany. My band started to play a vibe and I connected with it. The moment we started it, everybody got excited because we knew it was one of those ‘bring everyone together’ type of songs to make you move and rise up.”
BIG 45 kicks off a major touring season for Protoje. On March 9th, the reggae superstar hits the stage at Australia’s WOMADelaide festival and journeys across Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Germany and Denmark throughout the end of the month. In April and May, he will perform throughout the U.S. and return to Europe this summer for the reggae festival circuit, followed by a string of solo dates in November.
The 2 x Grammy nominated Protoje is regarded as one of reggae music’s most influential artists, and often blends hip hop, soul and jazz into his native sounds of reggae and dancehall. Protoje is the name that reverberates at the core of Jamaica’s musical renaissance. A visionary and an architect of sound, Protoje has redefined what it means to be a modern artist, blending the rich heritage of reggae with the fresh influence of hip-hop, soul, and jazz. From his roots in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica, Protoje’s journey is one marked by passion, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to his craft. In 2014, with his iconic track “Who Knows” ft. Chronixx, Protoje became a key figure of the “reggae revival” movement, he went on to collaborate with superstars like Jorja Smith, Alicia Keys, Pa Salieu, Wiz Khalifa and many more.
His track “Switch It Up” ft. Koffee made its way into Barack Obama’s 2021 Summer Playlist, a testament to Protoje’s cross-generational appeal and cultural resonance. He founded In.Digg.Nation Collective, a platform built to uplift the next wave of Jamaican talent, which nurtured artists like Sevana, Lila Iké, and Jaz Elise. In November 2023, he reimagined his 2020 album In Search of Lost Time with In Search of Zion, a deep dive into the experimental realms of dub. Picking up two Grammy nominations for Best Reggae Album, for A Matter of Time (2018) and Third Time’s The Charm (2022). From Rolling Stone to Vogue, from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, Protoje’s reach is vast, transcending borders and genres. His performances at Coachella, Glastonbury, and Lollapalooza have solidified him as one of the most dynamic forces in modern music.
Protoje is more than an artist; he is a cultural catalyst who’s redefined what it means to be a Jamaican musician in the 21st century. Uncompromising, boundary-pushing, and constantly evolving—Protoje is not just part of the conversation; he is creating it.
