Raggamuffin: Boog-y down to da beat

Hawaiian reggae star J-Boog was a late announcement to the line-up of Raggamuffin 2012. No stranger to New Zealand, he is looking forward to coming back for the January 28 event at the Rotorua International Stadium - despite the smell. Kristin Macfarlane has a chat to him ahead of the 12-hour music festival

The last time J Boog was in New Zealand he had a few distinctive memories about his experience - the smell of sulphur in Rotorua and enjoying the traditional Maori feast, the hangi.

The Hawaiian reggae star, who has dominated the airwaves with his hit Let's Do It Again, also featured on the track This Is Love, by Monsta, which spent 11 weeks on the New Zealand top 40 singles chart. He performed gigs in Rotorua and other parts of New Zealand as part of his Sweet Summer Tour early last year.

He enjoyed his time in New Zealand and is looking forward to being back when he performs as part of the Raggamuffin 2012 line-up at the Rotorua International Stadium next Saturday - and is hoping to sink his teeth into another hangi.

"We can't wait to come up there."

The festival also features Ali Campbell, Spawnbreezie, Jamaican superstars of reggae and dub Sly and Robbie, hip-hop trailblazers Arrested Development, Billy Ocean and Big Mountain. Chad Chambers, winner of Maori Television's Homai Te Pakipaki will join other New Zealand performers Kora and Three Houses Down on the main stage. A second stage will feature the winner of Pacifica Beats, Kiwi artists NRG Rising, Foundation, Soljah, Tomorrow People, Cornerstone Roots, House of Shem and international artist Nkulee Dube.

He can't wait to share the stage with some of reggae's legendary artists at the reggae festival and is promising an amazing show for his Raggamuffin audience. He also can't wait to see former UB40 frontman Ali Campbell perform.

"It's just going to be a crazy night."

J Boog says his set will include songs he has performed before, songs from his new album and some "surprises".

"It's going to be a crazy, crazy show."

Having been to Rotorua before, J Boog strongly remembers the "smell of sulphur".

Having worked at a refinery in the past, he was pretty familiar with the scent, he told The Daily Post while laughing.

"In the morning it really hits you ... We couldn't run away from it."

He's expecting to be greeted with the same scent when he arrives in the city head of next week's show, too.

"The smell will be out there."

One of the things he didn't get to do while in Rotorua was enjoy one of the hot pools the city is known all over the world for - but he is hoping to make sure he does that this time around.

J Boog is also wanting to enjoy another hangi while here as he has fond memories of his last one, especially the chicken.

"We want to make sure we get another hangi from the people," he said.

"I'm thinking about it now."

He's encouraging members of the public to turn out to Raggamuffin 2012 to enjoy a "great" show.

"Just come out and have a great time."

When The Daily Post spoke to J Boog from Los Angeles, he had just done a show at The House of Blues with "a whole lot of people" and "special guests". Those special guests including star of That 70s Show Wilmer Valderrama, who had left the Golden Globe awards to be there.

So far, his career highlight has been travelling and performing in Europe but he has a goal he wants to reach and is working towards it, he says.

"We're just taking it step by step."

"I want a Grammy."