Yaksta x Track Starr - The Return

“The reason why I do music? I can’t give you a fabricated answer. Music is just me. It’s something that claims you before you claim it. It’s a calling, it’s purpose. It is I.”

From St. Mary’s fertile hills comes Yaksta. Born Kemaul Martin, The Bush Lawd moves with purpose, not trends. For him, music isn’t a career, it’s a calling. A frequency he’s lived in long before the spotlight found him.

Rooted in reggae tradition and shaped by the realities of Jamaican life, Yaksta found his refuge in songwriting from an early age drawn more to lyrics than to the classroom. His journey is one of quiet resilience and steady conviction, navigating the world first through work in Jamaica’s resort circuit and later through entrepreneurial pursuits.

But the pull of music never loosened. When he finally surrendered fully to the calling, everything shifted and his rise was inevitable.

His breakout single “Home” didn’t just land, it connected. Spreading rapidly across Jamaica, the track gave voice to everyday struggles with a raw honesty that resonated far beyond expectation, surpassing one million views on Facebook within months. The Bush Lawd followed with “Boogie Woogie,” a vibrant nod to 1960s Jamaican rocksteady and ska, reimagined through a modern roots lens.

By 2019, Yaksta deepened that connection with “St. Mary,” an ode to his birthplace, grounding his growing audience in his story. Then came “Ambition” in 2021, a defining moment. The anthem surged past 20 million views on YouTube, earning the [singer|songwriter|producer] international attention, including recognition from Rolling Stone, and firmly positioning him as one of Jamaica’s most compelling new voices.

That momentum carried into his debut album “22” (2023), a cohesive body of work shaped alongside a range of producers including Bush Music, Anju Blaxx, Marlon Easy, Afro Boi, E Entertainment, and Wuss Muzikk. This marked not just an arrival, but the evolution of an artiste fully stepping into his own.
Yaksta’s artistry is anchored in consciousness. His growing catalogue including “St. Mary,” “Emotions,” “Humans,” “Walk Inside My Shoes,” and “Pon di Island” reveals a consistent dedication to storytelling that challenges, uplifts, and awakens. His music navigates themes of identity, inequality, spirituality, and self-realization, delivered with a voice that is both raw and resolute.

In March 2026, he released “Roar,” a commanding statement calling for a return to truth and authenticity within music and society. The track was produced by Bush Music and Kingsway Music Group, composer Tamitamalitha. With piercing lyrics and fearless conviction, Yaksta continues to position himself not just as an artiste, but as a messenger for the times.
Beyond the stage, Yaksta lives in harmony with the land as a farmer, reinforcing his deep connection to nature and Rastafarian principles. This duality, cultivating both soil and sound, defines the essence of the Bush Lawd: grounded, conscious, and unwavering in purpose.
With his upcoming album “The Microphone Saved Me”, set for release in May 2026, Yaksta stands at the forefront of a new generation of reggae voices, one that honors the roots while boldly carrying the message forward.