Missy Elliott, Vybz Kartel & More React to Hurricane Melissa Devastating Jamaica & Cuba: ‘Prayers Up for Everyone’

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, a devastating Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Jamaica (Oct. 28) and Cuba (Oct. 29) earlier this week, several musicians have offered words of support and shared resources to help rebuilding efforts.

The storm made landfall in New Hope, Westmoreland, Jamaica on Tuesday, marking the strongest storm in the island’s history. Hurricane Melissa surpassed 1988’s low-end Category 4 Hurricane Gilbert as the strongest such storm to hit the island. On Wednesday, the hurricane hit Cuba’s southeastern province of Santiago de Cuba. Hurricane Melissa has since continued its journey across the North Atlantic Ocean, bringing copious rain and intense wind to the Northeastern United States. On Thursday (Oct. 30), The New York Times reported over 20 deaths in Haiti, five in Jamaica and one in the Dominican Republic.

On Thursday, dancehall queen Spice shared a photoset chronicling the wreckage on her official Instagram page. “Together we gonna build back stronger,” she wrote in a caption highlighting her Grace Hamilton Foundation. “Even if it’s as small as [manpower] to help us for even a day, please reach out and let’s build together as a team!” Her frequent collaborator, King of Dancehall Vybz Kartel, also took to Instagram, reminding his followers, “This is not about politics, it’s about Jamaica. So, help if you can, and pray if you can’t, but keep your politics to yourself.”

Missy Elliott, who collaborated with Kartel on 2005’s “Bad Man,” wrote, “Prayers up for everyone in Jamaica,” on X, followed by several Jamaican flag and prayer hands emojis. When reminded to also pray for those in need in Cuba and Haiti, Eliott responded, “Absolutely.”

More of the island’s biggest stars sprang into action to assist aid efforts. Dancehall icon Beenie Man assembled a team to deliver supplies to hospitals in St. Elizabeth; “Bruk Off Yuh Back” singer Konshens shared an informative video directing social media users to government-approved aid channels, and Shaggy posted infographics explaining the collection process for those donating supplies from the Kingston area. Last week, shortly after the release of his long-awaited Exile LP, Grammy-nominated reggae star Chronixx dedicated an acoustic rendition of the aptly titled “Hurricane” to his beloved home country. “Stand firm, Jamaica,” he captioned the video.

According to Rolling Stone, the Catherine Hall Sports Complex, a Jamaican stadium that hosts the annual Reggae Sumfest music festival, is in the midst of rebuilding after being completely submerged in water. In addition, the Jamrock Reggae Cruise, an annual ship-set festival co-founded by Damian Marley, had to be rerouted to Cozumel, Mexico. Notably, all of the Marley properties in Jamaica, particularly the Bob Marley Museum, have been temporarily repurposed as relief centers for those in need of aid, food, and supplies.

Silent Addy, one of the producers of “Shake It to the Max,” the year’s biggest crossover dancehall hit, processed his emotions in an Instagram Story. “Finally heading home and really taking in everything Hurricane Melissa did to Jamaica,” he wrote. “It’s been hard to even pause and process… just ready to be home with my family and rebuild.”

Meek Mill also sent “prayers to Jamaica” via X, while RiotUSA, Ice Spice’s go-to producer, revealed that he was actually on the island when Hurricane Melissa hit. “I’m alive. I’m safe! [Fighting] to get off the island,” he wrote. “This is the most traumatic experience ever.”

Sevana, who starred in 2024’s Bob Marley: One Love film, lamented, “My beloved country. God know.” Grammy-nominated dancehall-pop star Shenseea expressed similar sentiments, writing “Praying for everyone on my island right now… We’re strong people and we’ll get through this together,” in a now-expired Instagram Story. On X, Armanii, who recently performed at Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Live concert, wrote, “And once Jamaicans come together we are unstoppable! We will rebuild 10 times stronger, prayers up!”

As Jamaica, Cuba and several other Caribbean nations begin to pick up the pieces, residents across the islands have highlighted World Food Programme, Project HOPE, GiveDirectly, American Friends of Jamaica, Friends of Caritas Cuba, and the Jamaican government’s official hurricane relief portal as verified channels of support.