Patrons at the 2024 Reggae Sumfest received a surprise like no other when legendary Singer Lauryn Hill graced the stage to perform with her son YG Marley.
Hill’s appearance left the audience at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex in Montego Bay on Friday night in awe and created a historic moment for the festival.
She performed her solo hits Ex-Factor and Lost Ones, as well as Killin’ Me Softly, Fu-Gee-La, and Ready or Not, top hits from her time with Fugees to a crowd of screams and applauses. Of course her performance would be incomplete without singing her verse on Turn Your Lights Down Low by reggae icon and her sons grandfather Bob Marley. Hill was a bonus act at the 31st staging of the festival, which spans seven days.
Though Hill joined YG on two of his most recent performances at Coachella and the BET Awards, an appearance at Reggae Sumfest was not confirmed. For years, Reggae Sumfest had tried to convince Hill to perform, but their efforts never came to fruition – until now.
“We tried to get her for many years, and just couldn’t get her to perform. Tonight is a historic event,” said Robert Russell, Reggae Sumfest’s deputy chair. “The people went crazy. We anticipated she would perform. We had information [that] she would perform. But it wasn’t confirmed so we couldn’t advertise it. I knew in my heart that she would perform. She is not going to see this crowd and not perform.”
YG opened up his set with performances of his original songs including Meant to Be and Survival and welcomed dancehall entertainer Jahshii on stage to perform his hit song, Born Fighter, and his brother, Zion Marley. He ended his set performing his mega hit Praise Jah In The Moonlight.
YG Marley’s debut single is also currently certified Gold in the United States (500,000 units) and the United Kingdom, Platinum in Canada (80,000 units) and Platinum in New Zealand (30,000 units).
