Born in Long Beach, raised in Compton, and descended from Samoa, J Boog has the geographical pedigree to be a hardcore gangster—but instead he’s an immaculately smooth reggae singer. Based in Hawaii since 2006, he released his debut album, Hear Me Roar, the following year, followed by a self-titled EP in 2011, and he’s built up a sizable following in the islands. On Backyard Boogie, he teams with established reggae stars like Taurus Riley, Jacob Hemphill, and Peetah Morgan, though most of the album is all J Boog doing his thing over some ultra-funky production drenched in positive vibrations. There's really not a wack song on here, with 16 tracks of smooth, feel-good music showcasing his impressive voice and songwriting. "Watch and Learn," "Let's Do It Again," "Waste of Time," and "Hawaiian Pakalolo" are highlights, and if this album’s any indication, it's only a matter of time before J Boog and his island style blows up on the mainland as well.