Former Söhne Mannheims rapper Marlon B. James shot dead in Jamaica at age 60

Fatal shooting in Saint Mary parish

Gunmen opened fire at a bar in the coastal village of Robin's Bay in northern Jamaica on Wednesday, 9 September, killing three men. The shooting occurred at around 16:40 local time when a vehicle pulled up to the venue. At least one armed assailant exited the car and fired multiple rounds at the people inside before escaping from the scene. The victims were transported to a nearby hospital, where medical staff pronounced all three dead. The deceased were identified by local authorities and media as 60-year-old musician and businessman Marlon B. James, a 42-year-old mason, and a 22-year-old man. Jamaica's Major Investigation Division has taken charge of the inquiry, though police have not established a motive for the killings.

Band tributes and memorial plans

A spokesperson for Söhne Mannheims confirmed on Friday, 11 September, that family members had verified James's death. The German music collective published a black-and-white photograph of the artist on social media alongside lyrics from their 2008 track "Das hat die Welt noch nicht gesehen". The group announced that they would dedicate an upcoming piano concert in Graz, Austria, to their late bandmate. A band spokesperson described the group's reaction in a public statement.

The band is incredibly sad.

Fellow musicians also shared condolences across social networks following the announcement. German reggae musician Gentleman posted a tribute message wishing James peace, while German journalist Tobias Huch had earlier circulated initial reports from the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner.

Career from Frankfurt to Söhne Mannheims

James began his musical career in the Frankfurt hip-hop and reggae scene during the early 1990s. In 1991, he released the solo single "Da La De La (Africa Center of the World)" through the Hansa record label, produced by Kerim Saka and Mike Wonder at Frank Farian's studio in Rosbach. He later recorded tracks with the Frankfurt label Ruff-N-Raw and collaborated with artists connected to Moses Pelham's 3P label, including an appearance on an album by German rapper Sabrina Setlur. In 1999, James joined the newly founded collective Söhne Mannheims, which had been established by Xavier Naidoo and other Mannheim musicians. He contributed vocals to three tracks on the group's 2000 debut album Zion and brought Jamaican Patois and reggae elements to the band's sound. He also earned songwriting credits on prominent releases, including the 2008 song "Das hat die Welt noch nicht gesehen" and the 2009 album Iz On.

Relocation to Jamaica and investigation

Following the departures of founding members Xavier Naidoo and Michael Herberger between 2017 and 2018, James initially assisted in reorganizing the group. Starting in 2017, he gradually stepped back from touring and active studio recording to relocate permanently to Jamaica. James established and operated the bar in Robin's Bay, a location referenced as early as 2001 in a track by Frankfurt rapper D-Flame recalling a 1994 journey to the island. Investigators from the Jamaican police continue to process evidence from the crime scene, while no arrests have been announced as of Friday.