Shaggy, Sean Paul & Kes Lead ‘Jamaica Strong’ Benefit Concert for Hurricane Melissa Relief
In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which recently struck Jamaica as the strongest storm in the island’s history, the Caribbean music community has rallied together to support relief efforts for the affected areas. Led by renowned artists Sean Paul, Shaggy, and Kes, a massive benefit concert titled “Jamaica Strong” has been organized to raise funds and awareness for those impacted by the disaster. Scheduled for December 12 at the UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York, the concert aims to unite the Caribbean diaspora and provide much-needed assistance to the devastated regions of Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, where the storm has claimed over 75 lives and caused widespread destruction.
The concert not only features performances from heavyweights like Chronic Law, T.O.K, Tessanne Chin, and Ky-Mani Marley, but it also embodies a larger movement of solidarity among Caribbean artists. George Crooks, the organizer of the event, emphasized the significance of the concert, stating, “This is more than a concert — it’s a movement.” Prominent Jamaican artists have actively documented their personal relief efforts on social media, showcasing the dire conditions and the resilience of their communities. Shaggy, in a recent interview, recounted his harrowing experience navigating through the wreckage to deliver aid, highlighting the urgent need for support in areas that have become uninhabitable.
The UBS Arena has proven to be an ideal venue for this cause, given its history of hosting successful Caribbean-themed events that resonate with the local community. As Jamaica continues to rebuild from the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, the concert not only serves as a platform for raising funds but also as a moment of collective healing and celebration of Caribbean culture. Additionally, the upcoming Grammy nominations for reggae artists from Jamaica, including Vybz Kartel and Lila Iké, further underscore the island’s rich musical legacy, providing a glimmer of hope amidst the challenges faced. The Jamaica Strong benefit concert is poised to be a pivotal event, bringing together artists and fans alike to support a worthy cause and uplift the spirit of Jamaica in its time of need.
When Hurricane Melissa made history as the strongest storm ever to make landfall in Jamaica, the island nation’s biggest stars immediately sprang into action to help provide relief to their home’s most devastated areas. Now, led by Sean Paul, Shaggy and Kes, several of the Caribbean’s brightest stars have teamed up for a massive benefit concert to further support relief efforts.
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Announced Wednesday (Nov. 12), the Jamaica Strong benefit concert will take place Dec. 12 at UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York. At press time, additional confirmed performers include Chronic Law, T.O.K, Tessane Chin, Aidonia, Inner Circle, Ky-Mani Marley, Teejay, Richie Stephens, Gramps Morgan, and Mikey Spice, with more artists yet to be announced. Pre-sale begins on Thursday (Nov. 13) at 10 a.m. E.T., while general on-sale kicks off on Friday (Nov. 14).
“This is more than a concert — it’s a movement,” Jammins Events organizer George Crooks said in a statement.
With a death toll of over 75 across the Caribbean, Hurricane Melissa significantly impacted the region, particularly Jamaica, Cuba and parts of Haiti. Jamaican superstars like
Shenseea
,
Beenie Man
,
Sean Paul
and
Spice
have all documented their respective relief efforts via their social media channels.
Earlier this month, Shaggy
spoke with
Billboard
about the destruction he witnessed in the days immediately following Melissa’s landfall. “We got [to Jamaica] early enough to reach the people, because it took me around six hours to get from Kingston to St. Elizabeth in Black River, which is normally a two-and-a-half-hour drive at most,” the reggae icon said. “We had to chop [tree] limbs down, move things out the way, and drive through high puddles of [runoff], so we got there in the middle of the night. At that point, all we could do was pass water out, so we had to regroup and drive six hours back to Kingston. The next day, we went to the Junction side of St. Elizabeth, which took us four hours. The square itself was shut down. It was ground zero because it wasn’t livable anymore. Nobody could stay there.”
UBS Arena is a worthy venue for the benefit concert, given its connection to New York’s Caribbean diaspora. This spring,
Billboard
reported
that, in under a year, New York’s UBS Arena hosted five $1 million-grossing Caribbean-headlined shows across four different genres. From Buju Banton and Carimi to Machel Montano and Beres Hammond, the rhythms of reggae, dancehall, konpa, and soca ricocheted across the arena in 2025.
As Jamaica continues to rebuild, its people can find a moment of solace in the 2026 Grammy nominations. At the upcoming ceremony, all five nominees for best reggae album — Vybz Kartel, Lila Iké, Mortimer, Jesse Royal and Keznamdi — hail from Jamrock.
Check out the official Jamaica Strong benefit concert announcement below.
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