Tarrus Riley

Omar “Tarrus” Riley, CD (born April 26, 1979, in the Bronx, New York), is a Jamaican-American reggae singer, songwriter, and member of the Rastafari movement. Raised in Jamaica and the son of veteran reggae singer Jimmy Riley, Tarrus made his recording debut as a teenager and released his first album, Challenges, in 2004. Known for his rich vocals and conscious lyrics, he quickly rose to prominence in the reggae scene, earning numerous accolades, including Best Singer, Male Vocalist, Cultural Artist, and Song of the Year from respected award bodies such as the Youth View Awards, EME Awards, and Reggae Academy Awards. His hit “She’s Royal” earned him CVM TV’s award for “Most Admired Song in the Past 15 Years” in 2009. That same year, he released his third album, Contagious, featuring standout tracks like “Start Anew” and “Good Girl Gone Bad,” featuring Konshens. Riley continued to build his legacy with hits like “Protect the People” and “Shaka Zulu Pickney,” the latter of which sparked a youth-focused Black History education initiative on Jamaica’s Irie FM. In 2012, he released Mecoustic, an acoustic album followed by a European tour with his Blak Soil band. Two years later, he collaborated with legendary producer Dean Fraser on Love Situation, a rocksteady-inspired album that debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. Riley also achieved international recognition through his feature on Major Lazer’s 2015 hit “Powerful” with Ellie Goulding. In 2020, he scored one of his biggest Caribbean hits with “Lighter,” a collaboration with Rvssian and dancehall star Shenseea. Tarrus Riley remains a leading voice in modern reggae, known for blending soulful melodies with socially conscious messages and for his powerful presence on stages across the globe.