Jamaica’s women artists are finally receiving their just due. But it’s been a long road to get there. Shuga knows this struggle all too well. A former background singer for Tanya Stephens, she first gained her own notice as the winner of TV talent show Digicel Rising Stars in 2009. In the years since, she’s put in work, consistently releasing quality music while fighting for recognition in what, until now, has been largely a man’s world.
For her latest release, the Montego Bay-born vocalist shines her light back onto the pioneering first ladies of reggae, the I Threes. Reuniting two-thirds of the group, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt — the third and best-known member of the group, Rita Marley, has not performed or recorded new music in many years – to sing alongside her, “Tribute to the I Threes” honors not only this iconic trio, but sisterhood overall.
Following up on the heels of the recent single release, Shuga today shares the video for “Tribute to the I Threes. Watch the exclusive premiere here:
“Working with Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths on set was a dream come true,” Shuga tells us by email. “They have years of experience on stage with Bob Marley doing the ‘I-Three Rock’ and I got a chance to rock with them which was super cool. It was a day filled with laughter as Marcia Griffiths is not just a reggae queen but also a comedian, she had the entire set cracking up. And every chance Auntie Judy got she would go to each individual on set and tell them about her love for God. They were very easy to work with and I will forever cherish that experience.”