Jonathan Emile
Jonathan Emile is a Jamaican-Canadian singer-songwriter, composer, and cancer survivor. In 2011he garnered attention with the release of his debut EP The Lover/Fighter Document, which was followed in 2015 by the release of the companion LP of the same title, which featured artists Kendrick Lamar, Buckshot, and Murs.
Emile has been featured in major online publications such as Pitchfork, Hip Hop DX, Billboard, Fader, and Complex. Additionally, he has shared the stage with rappers Coolio in San Francisco, Nelly in Las Vegas, and Naughty By Nature and Slick Rick in New York. He has also recently collaborated with Grammy-nominated reggae singer Etana and multi-platinum reggae-fusion legend Maxi Priest.
At the age of 18, Emile was diagnosed with cancer, and for the following two years he underwent intense chemotherapy and radiation treatments to fight the disease. During this period, he used music as his personal therapy as he fought the disease. Emile’s music is defined by truth as he shares his experiences of battling cancer, addresses current affairs, and explores humanity. Through Reggae, Hip-Hop, and R&B, Emile offers an honest and unique perspective of reality without sacrificing the contemporary sounds that younger listeners crave.
The depth and relevance of his lyrics are only paralleled by his presence and understanding of today’s music trends. His devotion to creativity spawns from his quest for knowledge. His main musical influences include Bob Marley, John Lennon, Nina Simone, and Mos Def & Talib Kweli. He does not see himself as strictly a Reggae or Hip-Hop artist, but as a thinker with a knack for rhythm and rhyme. “My art, my life is not a lifestyle, it’s a philosophy that reflects truth and promotes humanism and social justice,” says Emile of his craft.
Based in Montréal, Emile recently released his first reggae album Spaces-in-Between via a partnership between his independent label MindpPeaceLove Records and Tuff Gong International, the legendary company launched by late Jamaican musical icon, Bob Marley. The album was produced by Paul Cargnello and written by Emile.