Skull goes straight reggae

When South Korean singer Skull visited Jamaica on the invitation of the minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Damion Crawford, in February, his talent and love for reggae were undeniable. Now, only a few months later, Skull is gearing up to release his first solo reggae album.

According to online reports, the album is set for a July 18 release and will have only reggae tracks.

One of Skull's close friends said listeners should expect to hear some real reggae from the 35-year-old singer, as "In the new album he tried to put all the soul he has into reggae music. I think listeners can expect to hear some real reggae from him."

authentic reggae acts

Skull, whose real name is Jo Sung-jin, had reportedly been working on the upcoming album for several years. When his former outfit Stony Skunk disbanded in 2010, he worked as an underground solo artiste until 2013, then collaborated with Ha Ha (another Korean singer) to release a collaborative album. That year, the pair also hosted the Reggaerilla Concert, further establishing them as authentic reggae acts in their home country.

No stranger to the music industry, Skull already has collaborations with some established Jamaican performers including Spragga Benz and Rohan Marley, as well as Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall, who has Jamaican connections. Skull has also opened shows for incarcerated reggae artiste Buju Banton.

In 2007 his debut single, Boom Di Boom Di, peaked at number three on the United States' Billboard Hip Hop/R&B Singles Charts.

In February, Skull and Ha Ha, along with a few singers from Columbia, performed at the Arts in the Park Festival, held on the east lawns of Devon House, putting on a crowd-pleasing performance. Many who were unfamiliar with the group, and Skull in particular, were left pleasantly surprised at the authentic reggae sound the singer possesses.

His set left the crowd demanding encores.

shereita.grizzle@gleanerjm.com