Samory I’s solo debut album, Strength, comes out November 17, 2023, via Overstand Entertainment/Easy Star Records. The LP is helmed by prolific reggae producer Winta James (Protoje, Chronixx, Damian Marley) and features guest appearances by Jamaican reggae artists Lila Iké, Jesse Royal, Mortimer, Grammy-winner Kabaka Pyramid, and Capleton.
About the new release, Samory I says, “The album is called Strength. It represents the struggles I’ve overcome, both mentally and physically, and is also a representation of my son, who is my driving force behind this album.” Echoing this sentiment, the album’s cover is a beautiful, stark, black and white photo of Samory with his son, shot by Yannick Reid. The record is sure to continue to push Samory I’s status as a prominent artist in the Jamaican and global reggae scene.
Samory’s career has been on the rise in recent years after his collaborative album Black Gold (2017) with Jamaican producer Rory “Stonelove” Gilligan, which helped make Samory a household name in the reggae world. The breakout single “Rasta Nuh Gangsta” from this rich opus of conscious Rastafarian declarations has over 10 million views on YouTube alone. Since then, Samory I has landed features on two Grammy-nominated reggae albums, including Jesse Royal’s Royal (2021) for their collaboration “High Tide or Low,” and Protoje’s album Third Time’s The Charm (2022) for the closing track “Heavy Load.” In 2022, Samory I released “Life Is Amazing” feat. dancehall star Chi Ching Ching and “Love and Mercy” off the Gratitude Riddim EP (produced by Winta James), which became one of his most streamed tracks to date.
