Irie Love

Irie Love Taylor, born July 7, 1982, is an American R&B and reggae singer and songwriter. She first gained public recognition in 1999 as a finalist in the "Brown Bags to Stardom" competition held in Honolulu, Hawaii. Following the contest, she was signed to Quiet Storm Records by judge John Iervolino, who featured her as the sole new artist on the world music compilation Roots Music Volume 2: Private Beach Party and utilized her image to promote the release.

Love is of Hawaiian, Jamaican, Dutch, English, and Native American descent. Her father is a former NFL linebacker, and she is a descendant of Robert Love, the founder of Love's Bakery in Hawaii. In 2000, she relocated to Los Angeles, California, to pursue studies in music and business at Azusa Pacific University.

In 2002, Love secured a role as a backup vocalist for the artist Pink, touring in this capacity before continuing her backup vocal work over the next three years for artists such as Dave Hollister and Chaka Khan. She moved to Kingston, Jamaica, in 2006 to focus on a solo career in reggae music, eventually becoming one of twelve finalists in the Irie FM Red Stripe Big Break Competition.

Love was introduced to the reggae group Morgan Heritage in December 2006 at East Fest in St. Thomas, Jamaica. In April 2007, the group signed her to their production company, Gedion Music. She subsequently performed as their opening act alongside their younger brother Laza and sang backup vocals for Morgan Heritage on tours spanning the United States, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Europe, and the UK.

In October 2008, Love released her debut EP, titled Ehiku, accompanied by a launch event in Waikiki, Hawaii. She followed this with the January 2009 Japanese release of her first international album, The Life of Love. Additionally, her music was included on compilation albums such as The Biggest Reggae One-Drop Anthems 2008, Coconut Island Vol.1, and Unseen Famili Compilation Vol.1.

Love collaborated with producers and mentors including Salaam Remi, Lee Francis, and George 'Fiji' Veikoso on a Hawaiian reggae album for 2012. Her single "My Love," produced by Lee Francis, and her single "It Is Wut It Is," featuring Fiji, both reached the No. 1 position on the Hawaiian Reggae Charts. The latter track was also selected for Hawaiian Airlines' inflight entertainment programming.