World of Jamaican Music

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An illustrated map of the creators of Jamaican music and how they are connected.

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Chronixx

Artist. Revival

Active
2012-present
Sunrise
October 10, 1992, Spanish Town, Jamaica
Also known as
The Chronicler, The Chronicle

Jamar Rolando McNaughton records as Chronixx and has been hailed as the leader of the reggae revival, the movement that returned roots subject matter and live instrumentation to Jamaican music after two decades of digital dancehall.

His father performed as Chronicle, which is where the name comes from, and McNaughton grew up in studios. He was writing songs as a child and producing as a teenager, working initially behind the scenes for other artists.

"Here Comes Trouble" (2013) was the record that established him, and the Dread and Terrible EP (2014) confirmed it. His subjects are African consciousness, Babylon, and, on "Likes," the emptiness of social media approval.

Chronology (2017) was nominated for the Grammy for Best Reggae Album. Dave Simpson of the Guardian heard "joyous, syrupy tones" on an album that fused roots and lovers rock with dancehall, rap, R&B, and EDM. Erik Magni of United Reggae found it less rootsy than he expected, with a string orchestra on several cuts, and concluded that it "expands the roots reggae horizon." Chronixx himself has said he prefers the term "black experimental music." He performs with the Zinc Fence Redemption band and has toured internationally throughout.

The Gleaner lists him with Protoje, Iba Mahr, Jesse Royal, Kabaka Pyramid, and Jah9 as the artists credited with reggae's rebirth, though one of its sources traces the movement to No Maddz before him.

Last updated November 4, 2026

Connections

Notes

  1. The Gleaner called him "one of the major forces in the Reggae Revival Movement" in 2013, and in 2018 listed him with Protoje, Iba Mahr, Jesse Royal, Kabaka Pyramid, and Jah9 as the artists credited with leading reggae's "rebirth." Davina Henry, "US, UK Tours Open Chronixx's Eyes," Jamaica Gleaner, November 6, 2013, http://old.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20131106/ent/ent2.html; Shereita Grizzle, "Reggae Revival Strong," Jamaica Gleaner, December 16, 2018, http://past.jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20181216/reggae-revival-strong.
  2. Krista Henry reports that his father, the singer Chronicle, took him to the studio, where he grew up around Burro Banton, Norris Man, and Gregory Isaacs. Krista Henry, "Chronixx Begins Doing His Part," Jamaica Gleaner, January 15, 2012, http://old.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120115/ent/ent5.html. Wikipedia says his stage name replaced "Little Chronicle." "Chronixx," Wikipedia, accessed October 1, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronixx.
  3. Krista Henry reports that he wrote his first song, "Rice Grain," at five, recorded an unreleased gospel song at eleven, sang backing vocals for Jermaine Edwards and Lutan Fyah, and by sixteen was building rhythms for Konshens and Munga Honorable, including the Freezer rhythm for Icebox Records. K. Henry, "Chronixx Begins Doing His Part."
  4. Wikipedia lists "Smile Jamaica" and "Here Comes Trouble" as his 2013 hits and says Dread & Terrible, released on April 1, 2014, topped Billboard's Top Reggae Albums chart. "Chronixx," Wikipedia.
  5. The nomination came at the 60th Grammy Awards in 2018. "Chronixx," Wikipedia. Grizzle's 2018 Gleaner report cites it among the reggae revival's Grammy nominations. Grizzle, "Reggae Revival Strong."
  6. Dave Simpson, "Chronixx: Chronology Review," Guardian, via inkl, accessed November 4, 2026, https://www.inkl.com/news/chronixx-chronology-review-joyous-reggae-forget-your-troubles-and-skank; Erik Magni, "Chronixx: Chronology," United Reggae, July 14, 2017, https://unitedreggae.com/articles/n2219/071417/chronixx-chronology.
  7. "It's Not Just Reggae, Says Chronixx: Call It Black Experimental Music," NPR, August 21, 2017, https://www.npr.org/2017/08/21/542628389/it-s-not-just-reggae-says-chronixx-call-it-black-experimental-music.
  8. The Gleaner spells the band "Zincfence Redemption Band" and reports his first US promotional tour and a UK tour in 2013. D. Henry, "US, UK Tours." His early collaborator was Romaine "Teflon" Arnett of ZincFence Recordz. K. Henry, "Chronixx Begins Doing His Part."
  9. The Gleaner's 2018 report names Protoje and Jesse Royal among the revival's leaders but not Koffee, and one of its sources traces the movement to No Maddz before Protoje and Chronixx. Grizzle, "Reggae Revival Strong."

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