The International Costa Maya Festival is proud to announce another artist in the performance list at this year’s festival – J Boog. He will be performing along with Island Invasion on Friday, August 8, 2014, after a live musical presentation by the Garifuna Collective. It is a night you don’t want to miss as it will be full of great artists and the very best in music.
J Boog (born Jerry Afemata, Long Beach, California) is an American reggae and R&B vocalist and songwriter. Raised in Compton, California and based in Hawaii, he released his first solo album Hear Me Roar in 2007, which peaked on Billboard’s Top Reggae Albums at #8. In 2011 he released his first EP, J Boog which peaked at #19 on the Top Heatseekers chart and reached #3 on Top Reggae Albums. His next album Backyard Boogie reached #1 on the reggae charts for 2011, 2012, and 2013, and in July 2013 his Live Up! (EP) reached #18 on the Top Heatseekers chart.
J Boog is a man of many influences. The singer of Samoan descent was born in Long Beach and raised in Compton, California. Growing up in the rough streets of Compton, the strong sense of tradition and culture that J Boog absorbed from his family was instrumental in his path to stay off the streets and begin a successful music career.
J Boog’s music career became serious in 2005 when he worked alongside George “Fiji” Veikoso”. The two began working together immediately and J ended up moving to Hawaii in 2006 to continue developing his craft. After releasing his debut album “Hear Me Roar” in 2007, he joined the musical family Wash House Music Inc, a record label based in Hawaii and San Francisco.
J Boog’s music is authentic Island Music and genuine Jamaican reggae at the same time and a natural theme of his writing is about love. These days Boog is either in a studio, on a stage or catching a flight. Radio interviews have become a daily thing and it’s a little overwhelming for the young artist, though he has been smart enough to keep his humility. He has a great sense of humor and an even better sense of reality. It’s easy to see why J Boog has been winning over fans when you meet him. He has the right spirit and attitude to carry him to the next level.
His last album, “Backyard Boogie” was released in September 27, 2011, and features Tarrus Riley, Jacob Hemphill (of SOJA), Peetah Morgan (of Morgan Heritage), Fiji and others.
Leading up to the release of his official new album, J Boog released the “J Boog EP” on June 14, 2011, via Wash House Hawaii/EMPIRE Distribution. The EP featured five brand new songs, along with three previously released songs, including his smash hits “Let’s Do It Again” and “So Far Gone”.
