If you’re a fan of James Bond movies then you were probably stoked for No Time To Die, and if you’re from the Caribbean, it’s possible that you’re prone to a tinge of pride! You see, the soundtrack for the latest addition, the 25th installment to the widely popular franchise, has a bit of Caribbean flavor! Viewers of the film will hear Teacha Dee’s Rastafari Way, Shaggy and Noah Powa’s collaborated single Money Up, and Buju Banton’s Champion. Additionally, they’d hear Jah Buzz’s Love In The Arena and Sister Nancy‘s Bam Bam.

Jamaica has played an enormous role in the franchise as Ian Fleming wrote all the James Bond novels cozied up in Goldeneye Villa which today operates as a luxury resort. With some scenes being shot in Jamaica, according to the plot: Bond is said to be laying low on the island, though, sooner than he’d ever dream to hope, he was being yanked away from it all. This includes his home which is on the edge of a lagoon.

These songs represent a journey through time in Jamaica’s musical landscape. Starting with the Rockers era, the pre-runner for dancehall music is Jah Buzz’s Love In The Arena (1978) and Sister Nancy‘s Bam Bam (1982) which is featured in many other films, and advertisements, making it the most sampled reggae song of all time. From the early dancehall period is Buju Banton’s classic ‘Champion’ (1995); recorded in his prime is one of the most celebrated songs in dancehall. Buju’s music has also been featured in the soundtracks for ‘Bad Boys For Life, ‘The Chi’, Breaking Bad’, and the ‘Blue Story. And from the modern dancehall are Teacha Dee’s Rastafari Way (2016),  and Shaggy and Noah Powa’s collaborated single Money Up (2019). Shaggy is not new to this as his music is in the soundtracks of the movies Holes, She’s the Man, and Game Over Man.

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