Jah Boy (real name Kirwan Hatigeva), is a reggae singer and songwriter from the Solomon Islands. Born (20 June 1992) and raised in the capital Honiara, Jah Boy's music varies from Island Reggae to Jawaiian, Pop and R&B. He is best known for his reggae cover versions of Justin Bieber's hit song Love Yourself and Charlie Puth's One Call Away hit that both got over a million views each on YouTube[1]. He released an EP album titled Hope For Tomorrow in 2011 and has sold a 20 original song album titled Luv n Life that was mastered by Universal Studios's UMS in the United States[2].

He has made stage and recording collaborations with artists such as New Zealand rapper Scribe, Jamaican singer Conkarah, Australian rapper Fortafy, Sydney-based singer Sammielz, and Papua New Guinea's O-Shen and Justin Wellington[3]. He is currently on his Pacific tour through Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia[4].

Jah Boy is the only Solomon Islands musician to have made hits in Hawaii reaching number one in early 2016 with his original song Good Vibes featuring Samielz.

Hatigeva was born on 20 June 1992 in Honiara, Solomon Islands. His father comes from the Solomon Islands' Polynesian province Rennell and Bellona while his mother also from Rennell and Bellona is half Malaita (Melanesian). Music has been an influence to Hatigeva since early childhood as his father, a mechanic but also a musician, played the lead guitar for a family band. From his mother's side Hatigeva is also closely related to well known Solomon Islands musicians Sharzy and Dezine. Hatigeva grew fond of music during his father's band practice sessions and nightclub gigs where he would help out setting up their equipment. It was then Hatigeva started to learn to play the guitar and drums.

At the age of 15 Hatigeva joined a young reggae boy band called the Urban Rhymes that made radio hits in Honiara for their songs Oh Gela and Chika. The other two band members would later rise up to become well known duo band Dezine. Hatigeva decided to go solo a year later in 2009 and started to use the stage name Jah Boy. He decided to drop out of high school and pursue music full time with little help and resources he had. Over the course Hatigeva's stage name Jah Boy gradually became a popular hit on the radios leading him to manager James Moor who would sign him to the music label Rebelle Inc.[5].

Jah Boy rose to recognition in 2009 at the age of 17 with his first music single called Murderer and became an instant hit on radio stations in the Solomon Islands. Over the years that followed Hatigeva released many more singles after signing with an independent Honiara-based music label Rebelle Inc. in 2011 that helped expand his fan base in the Pacific region with notable songs Baby Love, Alone (featuring Steeno and Blanc O), Gimme Gimme and the Solomon Islands national futsal team Kurukuru's theme song Hope For Tomorrow[6][7].

With the help of Reblle Inc. Hatigeva delivered two albums and hit singles that earned him awards by the Solomon Islands' national radio broadcaster Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation's 2011 Wantok FM Solo Artist Award and People's Choice Award. He was again award in 2012 for Solo Artist of the Year Award. He writes most of his songs in English and Pijin and few times in his native Rennell and Bellona language.

Rebelle Inc. posted a video of Jah Boy's reggae cover of Justin Bieber's song Love Yourself on YouTube in April 2016 that was filmed by Australian-based video producers Torn Parachute. The video reached over a million views by June and is Jah Boy's biggest exposure. A similar reggae version cover of Charlie Puth's One Call Away followed suit and exceeded the million mark on YouTube. Jah Boy told a newspaper reporter in Honiara that the exposure was what he had always wanted and marks the start of a new height for his career[8].

http://www.rebelleinc.com/ Rebelle Inc.

• http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=317970
• http://www.musicxray.com/xrays/1100113
• http://theislandsun.com/jah-boy-hits-million-mark-youtube-justin-bieber-cover/
• http://www.solomonstarnews.com/features/local-entertainment/11157-jahboy-s-png-tour-amazes-fans
• http://www.solomonstarnews.com/features/local-entertainment/9230-conkarah-impressed-at-his-pacific-popularity
• http://www.futsalplanet.com/news/news-01.asp?id=14654