Richie Spice

Richell Bonner, professionally known as Richie Spice, is a Jamaican reggae artist born on 8 September 1971 in Rock Hall, St. Andrew, Jamaica. A member of the Rastafari movement, he is renowned for songs like Brown Skin, Youth Dem Cold Rel Bad, Grooving My Girl, Earth a Run Red, Marijuana, The Plane Land, and King and Queen (a collaboration with Barbadian soca artist Alison Hinds). Music runs in his family—three of his brothers, Pliers, Spanner Banner, and Snatcha Lion, are also reggae artists. Richie Spice first gained recognition with singles like Killing a Sound and Shine, before achieving major hits from his debut album produced with Clive Hunt, including Grooving My Girl. Rising to prominence in the mid-1990s, Richie Spice performed at major reggae events such as Reggae Sunsplash, White River Reggae Bash, and Rebel Salute. He toured extensively, opening for artists like Chaka Demus, Rita Marley, and his brothers, and performed across Europe and North America. His music has also reached broader audiences, with Youth Dem Cold featured in Grand Theft Auto IV and the film Attack the Block. Additionally, a remix of his track Marijuana by Digital Mystikz brought him attention in the UK dubstep scene. Over his career, he has released multiple albums, including Book of Job (2011), Richie Spice Acoustic – Soothing Sounds (2012), and Together We Stand (2020), the latter featuring tracks like Together We Stand and Valley of Jehoshaphat (Red Hot). Beyond performing, Richie Spice runs the Bonner Cornerstone label alongside his brothers and is committed to philanthropy, supporting Food For the Poor Jamaica by donating a portion of his performance proceeds. His music is recognized for its uplifting messages, rooted in his Rastafarian beliefs and dedication to creating socially conscious reggae that resonates with fans worldwide.