Author Rohan Budhai has pulled back the curtain on Jamaica’s rich musical legacy with A Hit Mek, a 560-page publication that explores the island’s cultural and historical soundscape in unprecedented detail.

The book, a play on 007 (Shanty Town) by Desmond Dekker, examines the deeper meaning behind the phrase “A it mek”, offering context and reasoning for key developments in Jamaica’s musical evolution. It presents what Budhai describes as a largely untold story, challenging assumptions that the country’s musical history has already been fully documented.

In the foreword, music consultant Clyde McKenzie commends the work, noting that Budhai connects critical historical events with the evolution of Jamaican genres, highlighting how history shaped their direction and significance.

Spanning centuries, A Hit Mek traces Jamaica’s musical roots back to the late 15th century, beginning with Christopher Columbus’ encounter with the island’s indigenous Taíno people, whose drumming, call-and-response singing and instruments reflected strong African influences.

The publication explores the impact of Spanish and British colonialism, the transatlantic slave trade and the contributions of the Taínos, Maroons, enslaved Africans and indentured labourers. It documents the evolution of key genres including Kumina, Mento, Calypso, Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae and Dancehall, while also recognising the role of Jamaican sound system culture in shaping global music.

Budhai also highlights the contributions of diverse communities: Afro-Jamaican, Lebanese, Syrian, Chinese and Indian as well as bands, radio stations and entertainment organisations that helped propel the music forward.

The book notes that Mento was the first widely recognised local genre and the first to be recorded electronically in Jamaica, though its origins remain debated by cultural figures such as Rex Nettleford, who argued for Cuban influences.

Reggae, the island’s most globally influential genre, is explored as a fusion shaped by West African traditions, as well as R&B, jazz and soul. The book traces its far-reaching impact on subgenres such as dub, lovers rock and reggae fusion, and its influence on international styles ranging from hip-hop to electronic music.

Budhai, who began his career in music production before founding Howlers International Music, said his research revealed major gaps in existing accounts of Jamaican music. He pointed to overlooked influences, including church music introduced during colonisation and the traditions of pre-Columbian and enslaved African populations.

He began writing A Hit Mek in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and completed it in 2025. The book is now available on Amazon, with editions in Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Describing it as one of the most comprehensive works on Jamaica’s music history to date, Budhai maintains there is still more to uncover, noting that the island’s music continues to tell the story of its people, their struggles, resilience and cultural identity.