Protoje was born Oje Ken Ollivierre on June 14, 1981 into a musical family. His mother, Lorna Bennett, is an Attorney-at-law and reggae icon, best known for the 1972 hit, ‘Breakfast in Bed.’ His father, Michael Ollivierre, also known as Lord Have Mercy, is a notably successful athletics coach and former Calypso King in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Coming from such a talented family, and especially being exposed to his parents’ era of music, it is no surprise that Protoje is rising to prominence in his own time. On his upcoming and very introspective debut album, The Seven Year Itch, he experiments much with dub and his love of 70’s and 80’s reggae, especially Black Uhuru and Hugh Mundell, is apparent. From silky melodies to hard-hitting lyrical barrages, Protoje recites life as he experiences it, not as he imagines it.
Protoje’s dedication to his craft will place him among history’s most prolific artists.
