From National Honour to New Album: Capleton Readies ‘Heights of Fire’ — “This Album Is My Heartfelt Gift to My People”

After being honoured at Jamaica’s recent Grand Gala 2025 in celebration of the country’s 63rd Independence alongside Beres Hammond and Leroy Sibbles for their role in promoting the nation’s music and culture globally, reggae torchbearer Capleton is showing no signs of slowing down. The artist, affectionately known as King Shango, is preparing to release his highly anticipated album Heights of Fire—a project he says embodies his “relentless, fiery spirit” while delivering a message of inspiration and hope.

Capleton, who has long balanced his fiery stage presence with messages of upliftment, explained the album’s intent: “This album reflects my vision of the world and the changes occurring around us. I aspire to offer listeners a source of inspiration and uplifting music that will guide them through life’s challenges, instilling hope for brighter days ahead and reinforcing the message that crime is not the answer.” Produced by indie powerhouse Evidence Music, the record unites him with reggae royalty, including Dennis Brown, Stephen Marley, and Damian “Junior Gong” Marley, blending his signature energy with timeless artistry.

Among the standout tracks are “Behave Yourself” and “Red Again”, songs that stay true to Capleton’s tradition of coupling hard-hitting rhythms with socially conscious themes. The artist also praised studio engineer Mixing Finger, who he credits with tirelessly shaping the sound that brings Heights of Fire to life. “This album is my heartfelt gift to my people,” he added, underscoring the project’s deeper spiritual and cultural purpose.

The release marks another milestone in a career spanning more than three decades, with over 15 studio albums to his name. From the prophetic tones of Prophecy (1995) to the Grammy-nominated More Fire (2000) and Still Blazin’ (2002), Capleton has consistently proven himself as one of reggae’s most steadfast voices. Songs like Jah Jah City, Who Dem?, and Cooyah Cooyah established his place as both a hitmaker and a messenger, a reputation Heights of Fire looks set to reinforce.

For Capleton, the timing couldn’t be more fitting. Honoured at home while preparing to share new music with the world, he stands as living proof of the very message he champions: that reggae icons should be celebrated while they are alive, carrying the fire of the music forward for generations to come.

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