The reggae fraternity and wider Jamaican community are grappling with shock and sorrow following the brutal killing of Jabari “Baba Skeng” Johnson, the son of reggae artist Jah Mason.
Johnson was gunned down on Monday in an execution-style murder that unfolded in real time during a livestream on TikTok.
The horrifying incident occurred in the vicinity of a Shop on Red Hills Road in St. Andrew. According to reports, Johnson was actively engaging followers on TikTok when a hooded man approached him from behind and fired, hitting him in the back of the head.
Johnson’s death marks the fourth high-profile killing of a Jamaican TikTok figure in recent months, part of a troubling trend involving young digital personalities targeted in violent attacks. In the last year, Marlon “41 Busshead” Samuels was shot and killed in Montego Bay in December 2024. Xavier “Niah Gang” Fogah, 23, was murdered on Panton Lane in St. Catherine in early December, while Keauno “Popsy” Watson, also 23, was slain by armed assailants in September 2024.
The heartbreaking incident occurred just days after Jah Mason celebrated his mother’s birthday on April 20. The reggae artist, whose real name is Andre Johnson, has not yet issued a public statement but is said to be devastated by the loss.
Johnson’s killing has further increased tensions in the Red Hills Road area, which has recently seen a spike in violence — most notably the fatal police shooting of alleged gang leader Shaquille “Dawg Teeth” Dawkins, also known as “Triple Chain,” just days prior.
Jah Mason is best known for reggae staples such as “My Princess Gone,” “Love Is Amazing,” “Mi Chalwa,” and “Most Royal.” He rose to prominence in the late 1990s, riding the wave of conscious roots reggae alongside figures like Sizzla, Capleton, and Anthony B.
With more than 15 albums to his credit, Jah Mason has cemented himself as a prolific and passionate voice in the genre, known for delivering spiritually infused messages with lyrical fire and conviction. His 2006 album “Princess Gone…The Saga Bed” became a fan favorite in Europe and Africa, earning critical acclaim and radio rotation across international reggae circles.
