Some of the biggest names in reggae and Caribbean music are coming together in New York City for a significant fundraising effort to help Jamaica recover from Hurricane Melissa.
The Jamaica Strong Relief Concert is scheduled for Friday, December 12, at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, with organizers aiming to raise $1 million to support recovery and rebuilding efforts across the island.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Jamaica’s official Hurricane Relief & Recovery Fund and other registered charitable organizations assisting families impacted by the storm.
“This is New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania — the whole USA coming together,” said Kacy Rankine, co-producer of the concert and CEO of Roadblock Radio, in comments to Caribbean Life. “We’re going to send something big to Jamaica.”
Rankine’s remarks echoed those made by Jammins Entertainment CEO George Crooks during the recent Jamaica Strong relief radiothon in Queens, where he emphasized the scale of the goal. “That is the minimum we’re looking for at this event,” Crooks said.
The concert lineup brings together a wide range of reggae, dancehall, and gospel talent. GRAMMY winner Shaggy and international hitmaker Sean Paul will headline the event, joined by Kes, Inner Circle, Ky-Mani Marley, Aidonia, Chronic Law, T.O.K., Gramps Morgan, Richie Stephens, Mikey Spice, I-Octane, Marcia Griffiths, and gospel singer Kevin Downwell.
Tessanne Chin, winner of The Voice Season 5, is also slated to perform. Rankine noted that Chin previously performed at the White House during the Obama administration.
Shaggy has been particularly active in raising awareness around the ongoing fallout from Hurricane Melissa, warning that the situation on the ground remains severe.
Speaking with TMZ, he said that an estimated 60–70% of the island is still without electricity or water, with full recovery potentially stretching into early 2026. Many of the hardest-hit areas were key tourism hubs, he added, while residents often lack insurance to rebuild their homes.
In addition to partnering with SiriusXM, iHeart, and Audacy on the Jamaica Strong effort, Shaggy will also perform music tied to his upcoming album Lottery, set for release in February 2026.