Yaksta Calls Out Gatekeepers, Says Jamaica Music Scene Blocks New Voices

Yaksta has turned his frustration with Jamaica’s music industry into a public warning about who gets left out, saying powerful figures and systems still limit opportunities for new voices. The roots reggae artist, Kemaul Martin, has been speaking more openly in recent weeks about authenticity, censorship and the pressure he says weighs on artistes trying to break through.

On April 7, Yaksta said he was ready to say the things others in the industry may shy away from, even if it costs him fame and popularity. He also argued that Jamaican music has become too censored by monetary gains. The same interview confirmed that Roar is part of his upcoming album The Microphone Saved Me. By April 19, he was describing the song as a response to the madness he sees around him, saying too many artistes feel pushed to conform instead of living their truth. On April 27, the message sharpened again when Roar was linked to a call for structure and authenticity in an era he sees as crowded with counterfeits.

That critique matters because other reggae voices have been naming the same barriers for months. In June 2025, emerging artiste LA Benjamin said gatekeeping had stifled talented artistes and limited his recognition, exposure and experience. On February 23, 2026, Bushman said his limited performances in Jamaica were tied to long-standing gatekeeping and industry politics. Bushman also said he had a new track with Etana that tackles social media and “evil breeding” in that space. Together, those complaints point to the same choke points many artistes keep running into: exposure, stage time, and the relationships that decide who gets heard.

The problem is especially sensitive in Kingston, where Jamaica’s music economy has long been anchored by sound systems, studios, DJs and dance venues. That concentration has always made access to the city’s networks matter, and it still shapes how quickly a new voice can move from local buzz to real traction. Reggae Month 2026, launched on January 21, underscored the same tension between tradition and renewal. More than 60 events were registered, the celebration marked the 17th anniversary of February as Reggae Month, and a Young Reggae Ambassadors event was included to spotlight younger musicians and keep the culture in “good hands.”

JaRIA, established on February 3, 2009, says it exists to represent artistes, musicians, producers and promoters while pushing for greater access to opportunities and training. Yaksta’s criticism lands in that wider debate, but his own track record gives it extra weight. In February 2025, he was already mentoring the rising duo Big 12welve and saying he wanted to help fix what he sees as the decline of conscious music. His latest outburst now reads as more than a rant. It is a reminder that in reggae, the fight is still not just about making a good song, but about getting past the gate at all.