Soldiers of Jah Army

Originating from Arlington, Virginia, the eight-piece reggae ensemble SOJA, also known as Soldiers of Jah Army, blends the rock-infused style of Rebelution with the traditional approach of groups such as Midnite. High school friends and local performers established the band in 1997, leading to their initial recording, the SOJA EP, in 2000. The full-length Peace in a Time of War came out two years afterward, succeeded by its dub counterpart, Dub in a Time of War, in 2004. In 2006, Get Wiser made its appearance, and a complete live rendition of the record occurred in their hometown, documented on the DVD Get Wiser Live released the same year. Born in Babylon hit stores in 2009, incorporating contributions from German reggae vocalist Gentleman and Rebelution members, while Live in Hawaii also emerged that year. Transitioning to the ATO label, they issued Strength to Survive in 2012, which reached the top of Billboard's Reggae Album chart. ATO followed up two years later with Amid the Noise and Haste, featuring appearances by Damian Marley, Michael Franti, and Collie Buddz.