A Matter of Time

Growing up, A Matter of Time by Protoje was a constant soundtrack in my house. My dad was (and still is) a massive reggae fan, so this album was always on rotation. At the time, I didn’t fully understand why it meant so much to him, but looking back now, it’s clear: this project wasn’t just an album—it was a moment.

Released in 2018, A Matter of Time marked a shift in modern reggae. Protoje, the son of the legendary Lorna Bennett, was already a leader in the reggae revival movement alongside artists like Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid, and Jah9. But with this album, he wasn’t just carrying the torch for reggae’s future—he was reimagining its boundaries. For my dad, who grew up on classic roots reggae, this album felt both nostalgic and new, bridging the gap between generations. For me, it was my introduction to reggae that felt alive, relevant, and deeply layered.

Protoje’s approach on this album was special. He didn’t just stick to traditional reggae sounds—he mixed dub, roots, dancehall, hip-hop, and even rock, crafting something that felt as much for the global stage as it did for Jamaican streets. Listening to it now, I get why it hit so hard for my dad. Songs like “Blood Money” didn’t just sound good; they meant something. Protoje used that rootsy, bass-heavy beat to unpack Jamaica’s tangled web of political corruption, class disparities, and systemic injustice. Even as a kid, I could feel the weight of that song, even if I didn’t fully grasp the context.

The title track, A Matter of Time, is haunting in the best way. It’s built on this hypnotic, hip-hop-inspired production that makes Protoje’s smooth delivery hit differently. It’s the kind of track that lingers long after it’s over. My dad would always crank this one up, saying it reminded him of how reggae could evolve without losing its soul.

And then there’s “Flames,” one of the two Chronixx collabs on the album. The orchestral intro blew my mind the first time I really paid attention to it. It’s like a cinematic explosion leading into the rapid-fire back-and-forth between Protoje and Chronixx. It felt epic then, and it still does now. “No Guarantee,” their other collab, is equally powerful, but it leans more into uncertainty and introspection—two themes that define the album. Mortimer also gets a standout moment on “Truth & Rights,” an upbeat track that my dad would always play on road trips, and “Camera Show” rounds things out with a throwback to modern reggae’s more playful, danceable roots.

What stands out most to me now is how intentional every song feels. Protoje didn’t just make music for the sake of it—he was building stories, challenging systems, and preserving reggae’s essence while expanding its reach. Listening to this album now as an adult, I can see how it influenced so much of my taste in music. It’s thoughtful, genre-bending, and full of depth—qualities I still look for in the music I love today.

PROTOJE - A MATTER OF TIME
RATING - 9.2/10

FAVORITE TRACK - Flames

GENRE - Raggae, Hip-Hop