Reggae royalty runs deep Ronaldo “Azizzi Romeo” Smith, son of the legendary Max Romeo, has just released his new single “Thanks and Praises,” and it’s now available across all digital streaming platforms.
The announcement came directly from Max Romeo himself via Facebook, which says something about the family pride behind this release.
The track was produced by Steven Jess Borth II of Recall Reality Records, a name worth watching if this collaboration is any indication of the label’s direction.
Production choices always shape how a new artist gets received, and the pairing here will likely draw early scrutiny from reggae heads curious whether Azizzi is carving his own lane or leaning on his father’s legacy.
That question legacy versus identity tends to follow any artist born into a musical family, and Azizzi is no exception.
Fans of Max Romeo will come in with expectations shaped by decades of roots reggae, conscious lyrics, and that unmistakable vocal authority his father built a career on.
Whether “Thanks and Praises” meets those expectations or deliberately steps away from them is exactly the kind of tension that makes a debut moment like this interesting.
The title itself, “Thanks and Praises,” leans into a familiar spiritual register that reggae listeners will recognize immediately it’s language rooted in Rastafari tradition and gratitude, which could signal where Azizzi’s artistry is anchored.
Or it could be the starting point of something that evolves well beyond what the title suggests. Either way, it’s a deliberate choice for a first impression.
Max Romeo sharing the news himself on social media adds a layer of context that a standard press release wouldn’t this feels personal, not just promotional.
The reggae community tends to respond to that kind of authenticity, and the fact that the announcement came from a father rather than a publicist will likely land differently with longtime fans of the Romeo name.
Thanks and Praises” is out now on all major streaming platforms, and the conversation around where Azizzi takes things next is just getting started.
