Tarrus Riley may as well have crowned himself a prince. It’s no surprise that man who sings about the inherent royalty of a lady is himself reggae royalty. The biography of the reggae artist starts with his father, Jimmy Riley- a respected singer whose hits like “Love and Devotion” and countless others gets him counted amongst the greats. With a musical pedigree that leaves the vibes in his blood, its no surprise that he’s the one being counted on to preserve the roots lyrical culture of reggae, lest it all fade away into dancehall wars.

Born in New York and raised between Miami and Jamaica, Riley’s love for music started young and by the age of 15 recorded his first single, “Nowadays.” Riley has long since moved from his early attempts at dancehall to a more conscious music touching on many pertinent topics in Jamaican and international society. Riley’s stated in interviews with other outlets that the musical influences of a variety of genres including Rap, R&B, and Pop as well as Dancehall have had an impact on his music. While the effect isn’t overt, it has shaped the songs and content ranging from love to topical issues to everyday believes. The music is conscious but current- encouraging a new generation to think about their choices. Riley’s fans can attest that he speaks the issues that have been addressed in his two albums including the warning against gun violence in “Beware” and his torrent against the Willie Lynch syndrome-the idea that blacks are tearing down each other, in “System Set”. His latest album, Contagious, which was released in August on VP Records continues to address issues. “Start Anew” is a song in which Riley sings out against domestic abuse, urging women to cut it off. These aren’t messages being heard in a lot of music today, so its refreshing to see it being told by such a talented artist.

Lest you be discouraged, Riley isn’t a preacher giving a sermon. Sure there are messages as well as the pan-African nationalism expected on a classic reggae album. But still riding off the success of “She’s Royal” on his second album Parables(his first with VP), Contagious also has its share of romantic songs. The lead track “Loves Contagious” talks about “a feeling inside bubbling over” that is going around. As a sweet homage to love, it reminds listeners to cherish the important people in their lives.

All in all, Riley himself has proven himself to be contagious, with no negative reviews and praise for his musical work. With his third album brining out more positive tunes, its no surprise that he’s being hailed as heir to the reggae throne. If you’ve yet to check out Contagious put it on your to do list. Riley brings us music that we love and is making himself a voice to remember. If you want more Tarrus Riley also check out the work he’s been doing with his father as they have done a few collaborations.