Capleton, Tarrus Riley to headline Reggae Giants Live! concert

When Capleton makes his way on stage with singer Tarrus Riley at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark on Thanksgiving Weekend Friday, Nov. 27, for the Reggae Giants Live! concert, fans can expect the energy level to be turned up.

Kacy Rankine, the Jamaican-born CEO of Roadblock Radio, told Caribbean Life on Monday, Oct. 19, that the concert series is being presented by RoadblockRadio.com | RoadblockRadio 101.1FM•HD3 and CCB INT’L. 

He said the Thanksgiving weekend concert begins at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. 

“Capleton, also known as ‘King Shango’ and ‘The Prophet,’ has built a career around commanding vocals and music rooted in Rastafarian spirituality and social consciousness,” Rankine said. 

He said songs such as “Tour” helped introduce Capleton’s sound to international audiences, while his Def Jam albums Prophecy and I-Testament connected reggae and hip-hop through collaborations with artists including Method Man and Q-Tip. 

“His distinctive delivery has made him a recognizable voice across generations of reggae fans,” Rankine said about Capleton. 

Speaking about Tarrus Riley, he said, “He is celebrated for his expressive vocals and songs exploring love, cultural identity and social issues.”

Born in the Bronx and raised in Jamaica, Riley is the son of veteran reggae singer Jimmy Riley.

Rankine said Tarrus Riley gained international recognition with Parables, the album featuring his signature hit “She’s Royal.” 

Tarrus Riley’s catalog includes Contagious, Love Situation and Healing, “reflecting a musical range grounded in roots reggae and rich vocal melodies,”  Rankine said. 

Capleton’s upcoming New Jersey appearance comes on the heels of his successful tour of the United Kingdom, where he performed before packed audiences in Bristol, Birmingham and London.

But Capleton said his recent appearance in Toronto, Canada, produced one of the “most talked-about moments” of his touring schedule when he arrived in a fire truck. 

“You know, they’re still talking about that entrance right now,” Capleton said. 

He said the entrance attracted attention on social media, but he said there was a deeper meaning behind the spectacle. 

This is not a physical fire, this is a metaphorical fire,” Capleton said. “If the fireman is in the fire truck, the fire can’t out.”