Alborosie’s ‘Kingston Town’ Surpasses 100 Million Streams on Spotify

Reggae artist Alborosie has achieved a significant milestone with his track “Kingston Town” surpassing 100 million plays on Spotify. The achievement, announced on Monday, marks the first time the Italian-Jamaican musician has reached such streaming numbers on the platform.

Reflecting on the milestone, Alborosie, whose real name is Alberto D’Ascola, expressed gratitude for the support he’s received throughout his career. “I’m very happy about ‘Kingston Town’ reaching this milestone,” he shared in a statement to DancehallMag. “I work hard alongside my team, alongside my musicians to travel the world and spread the message. I’m very blessed and I want to say thanks to everybody. So, we keep going, keep pushing until we reach 200 million (laughs).”

“Kingston Town” first appeared on Alborosie’s 2008 debut album ‘Soul Pirate’, a self-produced project that helped establish him as a key figure in the global reggae scene. The track paints a vivid picture of life in Jamaica’s capital city, touching on themes such as poverty, crime, social inequality, and the heavy presence of law enforcement. Alborosie’s use of local slang and detailed imagery creates an immersive experience, transporting listeners to the streets of Kingston.

The song blends traditional reggae elements with modern production techniques, including a sample from Scientist’s dub track “When I Love.” This fusion of old and new helped to give “Kingston Town” a timeless quality, resonating with both reggae purists and contemporary listeners alike.

In addition to its success on Spotify, the official music video for “Kingston Town” has garnered over 87 million views on YouTube, further cementing the track’s enduring popularity. It was one of several standout tracks on Soul Pirate, which also featured hits like “Still Blazing,” “Herbalist,” “Rastafari Anthem,” and a remake of Bob Marley’s “Natural Mystic,” which Alborosie recorded with Ky-Mani Marley.

Following the success of Soul Pirate, Alborosie continued to make waves with his second album, Escape from Babylon, released in 2009. His contribution to the genre was recognized in 2011 when he won the MOBO Award for Best Reggae Act, solidifying his place among reggae’s modern-day stars.

Since then, Alborosie has released several more albums, including his most recent, Destiny (2023), as well as For The Culture (2021), Unbreakable: Alborosie Meets The Wailers United (2018), Freedom & Fyah (2016), and Sound The System (2013). Each release showcases his continued evolution as an artist and his dedication to keeping reggae’s message alive.

As Alborosie celebrates the success of “Kingston Town,” his focus remains on the future, continuing to spread reggae’s roots across the globe and pushing boundaries in his music. With a growing fan base and millions of streams, he shows no signs of slowing down.