Jabari 'Jubi' Gray - reggae ragga dancehall new artiste

Jubi (pronounced jew-bee), is a Jamaican-American hip-hop/reggae artist from New York.

Though a citizen of the United States, Jubi spent part of his childhood in Jamaica until he returned to the US to complete grade school.

Born into a large and extended family of Jamaican immigrants, Jubi's passion for music came at an early age listening to his father's record collection and even meeting the late, great Bob Marley in Kingston.

"I used to listen to his albums at home so to meet him in person was an experience that always stayed with me," recalls Jubi.

Although his love for reggae was instilled at an early age, as he became more assimilated into American culture, Jubi gravitated towards hip-hop in its so called 'Golden Era' during the late 80's and early 90's.

The culture was so compelling that in high school he found himself free-styling in ciphers and performing with friends in showcases. What set Jubi apart from his peers was his distinctive delivery of Jamaican patois and slang.

After receiving his undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Sociology from Occidental College he returned to New York City and pursued a law degree at Fordham University.

As he completed his course of study, Jubi recorded extensively in the studio with hip-hop artists and producers to refine his style and sound.

He currently juggles his work as an actor and model with his career as a recording artist.

Jubi's many hours in the studio have been fruitful. In addition to scores of songs, he has produced two Cds: RapJ Volume 1 and RapJ Volume 2. RapJ is the term he coined for his style which combines the best elements of dancehall reggae and hip-hop into one cohesive genre.

He states that Volume 2 is a complete album that demonstrates his versatility as a lyricist. RapJ has the best of everything people want in Reggae and Hip Hop.

Clearly, Jubi's music is part of the new era of Caribbean pop music breaking down barriers between people of different backgrounds on the dance floor.

Ultimately, Jubi stands apart from his peers not only for his education, professionalism, and striking presence, but also for his easy to understand, hybrid brand of music.

In his own words, "I'm blessed that my music has allowed me to travel the world from Asia to Africa and the Americas." With determination like that and the drive to follow, he is one to watch!