Ahead of his album release Third Time’s The Charm this Friday, the versatile MC/artist Protoje shares the LP’s latest endearing ballad “Ten Cane Row” featuring the British soul singer Jorja Smith. Iotosh is at the helm, while Llamar “Riff Raff Keys” Brown lays a blanket of soft keyboard chords on the JA meets UK collaboration.
Protoje opens the track inviting you to learn about this queen he knows. The clear sign of royalty is a crown atop of her head — the ten braided rows of hair, curving down from her neck flowing along her figure. It’s a crown like no other — all natural — unlike the precious jewelry typically associated with sovereignty.
The visual, directed by SAMO, is self-care at its finest, and Black hair is a focal point of pride and beauty. Corn rows or cane rows (the region-specific term in Jamaica) are worn by the music video’s subjects as they unite and celebrate attributes of style, glamor and grace in every frame.
“Ten Cane Row” feat. Jorja Smith follows the album’s previously released gems “Late at Night ” feat. Lila Iké, “Family” feat. Jesse Royal, “Incient Stepping” and “Hills.”
Protoje’s latest opus, Third Time’s The Charm, adds to the trilogy of albums he’s dropped since his GRAMMY nomination for A Matter of Time (2018). It comes after In Search of Lost Time (2020), released in partnership with Protoje’s label In.Digg.Nation Collective and RCA Records, which planted a new flag for Protoje and his network of homegrown Jamaican talent he’s helped develop over the past two years. Third Time’s the Charm conjures hope and progression and is a bookend to the isolating era of the pandemic.
“Sonically Third Time’s The Charm is a bit more reggae than my last, even though reggae is always the root, I had some fun implementing all the sounds I’ve grown to love,” claims Protoje.
Recorded primarily at Protoje’s studio The Habitat, located in the hills of Kingston, Jamaica, the tight-knit set features an array of the island’s producers like Iotosh, Ziah .Push and Zion I Kings (which consists of Laurent “Tippy I” Alfred, Romaine “Teflonzincfence” Arnett and David “JAH David” Goldfine). Protoje carries a deep affinity and vast understanding of multiple genres: from ska, to lover’s rock to reggae, he intrinsically channels his native island’s rich musical stylings stretching over a half century, while mixing hip-hop, trap dance and soul into a colorful unconventional style of his own.
The acclaimed musician, record label chief and one of Jamaica’s key figures in today’s musical landscape, Protoje, is currently touring the U.S. on his Lost In Time Tour with support from Jesse Royal and Lila Iké.
Track Listing:
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The Charm
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Hills
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Family Ft. Jesse Royal
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Incient Stepping
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Dreamy Eyes
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Ten Cane Row Ft. Jorja Smith
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Late At Night Ft. Lila Iké
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Love For Me
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Here Comes The Morning
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Heavy Load Ft. Samory I
Remaining U.S. Tour Dates:
Wed/Sep-21 in Indianapolis, IN @ Vogue ^*
Thu/Sep-22 in Chicago, IL @ Concord ^*
Fri/Sep-23 in Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck ^*
Sun/Sep-25 in Denver, CO @ Cervantes ^*
Tue/Sep-27 in Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell ^*
Thu/Sep-29 in Arcata, CA @ Arcata Theatre Lounge ^*
Fri/Sept-30 in Reno, NV @ Virginia Street Brewhouse ^*
Sat/Oct-01 in Ventura, CA @ Ventura Music Hall ^*
Mon/Oct-03 in Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades ^*
Tue/Oct-04 in Berkeley, CA @ The UC Theatre ^*
Wed/Oct-05 in Los Angeles, CA @ Novo ^*
Fri/Oct-07 in San Diego, CA @ Beach House ^*
Sat/Oct-08 in Las Vegas, NV @ Reggae Rise Up
^ Jesse Royal
* Lila Iké
