Jerry Fealofani Afemata, known as J Boog, was born in 1983 in Long Beach, California, and raised in Compton. Of Samoan descent, he began his music career seriously in 2005 after meeting Fijian reggae artist George 'Fiji' Veikoso during a trip to Hawaii, leading to collaborations and his relocation there in 2006. He released his debut album Hear Me Roar in 2007, which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. Subsequent releases include the 2011 album Backyard Boogie and EP, both reaching No. 1, the 2013 EP Live Up! at No. 3, and the 2016 album Wash House Ting at No. 1, nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 2018 Grammys. J Boog's style blends reggae with R&B and rock influences, shaped by recordings in Jamaican studios like Tuff Gong and collaborations with artists such as Morgan Heritage, Richie Spice, and Snoop Dogg. He performs regularly in Hawaii and California, touring internationally across Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia, the US, and Japan, delivering authentic Polynesian-rooted reggae sets.