Spragga Benz ready to kick off Best Weekend Ever

Veteran deejay Spragga Benz is ready to remind audiences why his music continues to resonate when he headlines Rise and Toast today, the opening event for Best Weekend Ever, at Plantation Cove in St Ann.

His performance will set the tone for the five-day destination festival and, although Spragga Benz has made few local appearances recently, he says fans can expect the same energy and authenticity that have defined his career.

“Fans can expect to hear songs from the start of my career going through all the stages of my musical journey. I’ll be digging deep in the catalogue… maybe even a few new songs as well,” he shared.

His appearance comes at an exciting point in his career, with new music on the horizon. The deejay confirmed that he is preparing to release ENDEAVORS 2.0, an expanded version of his acclaimed project, featuring collaborations with Sean Paul, J.C. Lodge, Agent Sasco, Stonebwoy, I-Wayne, Sizzla Kalonji, Tarrus Riley, Briggy Benz, Bitta Sosicka, Ashley Skerritt, Echo Minott and the late great Cocoa Tea. He also shared that “before the end of 2026, a project titled FROM 93 will be released and that will signal my revisit of original ‘90s style dancehall tracks”.

Spiritually rebellious

Even after more than 30 years in the business, Spragga Benz believes growth remains essential to longevity. “The past 30 years in the entertainment industry has made me patient and accepting yet spiritually rebellious. It has made me use my voice and platform to advocate for and vocally defend the people who have the least in life and still try to find joy in a simple life. Thirty years in the entertainment industry has taught me that it can be ‘edu-tainment’ as well.”

That philosophy has allowed him to remain relevant through every era of Jamaican entertainment, from the dominance of sound systems and traditional stage shows to today’s destination festivals that combine music with lifestyle experiences. Yet, despite the evolution of the industry, he says one thing has remained constant: his commitment to delivering memorable live performances.

“It doesn’t change my performance. I am comfortable on either recorded playback sound, live band or acoustic settings. I can adjust my performance to suit any occasion because I possess a wide variety of songs to choose from within my catalogue.”

Performing on Independence Day, Spragga Benz noted that his personal opinion is that, “Jamaica is not yet independent in the true sense of the word … but that’s for another story,” he said.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com