FULL BIOGRAPHY
ROOTS REGGAE FROM HAWAI'I
From a multigenerational musical family in Kailua to national tour support, Pacific festival stages and a wide-ranging creative role with Maoli, The MAADKiNG has built his career on both sides of the stage—as a self-directed roots-reggae artist and a trusted musician, producer, engineer and musical leader behind established acts.
SiNGER • SONGWRiTER • GUITARIST • BASSIST • PRODUCER • AUDIO ENGINEER
FRONTMAN
TOURING MUSICIAN
PRODUCER & ENGINEER
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
"MUSIC, ART,
AND
DETERMINATION."
Born and raised in Kailua on Oʻahu, Asaiah Scott, known professionally as The MAADKiNG, is a Hawaiʻi-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer and audio engineer creating roots reggae shaped by Jamaican tradition, Black American music and the cultural perspective of the islands.
Origins
His father, Dion “Boogie” Scott, has been an active blues musician in Hawaiʻi throughout Asaiah’s life, including opening for B.B. King at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. Growing up around working musicians gave Scott an early understanding that music was not only a form of expression, but a discipline, profession and generational calling.
Scott began performing in talent shows and school assemblies around age 13 and was playing paid engagements by 16. By his late teens and early twenties, he had established himself as a bassist for Herbnculture, beginning a career largely spent strengthening the work of other artists. Over the years, he contributed as an instrumentalist, vocalist, producer and creative problem-solver to projects including Remedy Vibes, The City Boys, the Paul Izak Trio, The Vitals 808, Irie Love and Maoli.
A MULTIGENERATIONAL MUSICAL LINEAGE
Scott comes from a multigenerational musical family. His grandfather, Ronald “Ronnie” Scott, performed with The Quin-Tones, the York, Pennsylvania doo-wop group behind the 1958 national hit “Down the Aisle of Love.” The record reached No. 18 on the Billboard chart, sold more than 800,000 copies and led to appearances on American Bandstand and at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, where the group received a standing ovation while sharing the bill with The Coasters, The Chantels, The Spaniels and The Olympics. The Quin-Tones were inducted into the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame in 2023.
Since 1958
BECOMING THE MAADKiNG
In 2017, Scott created The MAADKiNG as the first serious artist project built entirely around his own creative direction. The name was initially inspired by Gregory Isaacs, known throughout reggae as the “Cool Ruler,” before the acronym "Music, Art And Determination" gave the identity its deeper meaning. After years of entering established projects and helping elevate the music of others, The MAADKiNG became the vehicle through which Scott could combine his songwriting, musicianship, production instincts and worldview into one self-directed body of work.
SOUND & MESSAGE
The MAADKiNG describes his sound as roots reggae from Hawaiʻi. His island upbringing is inseparable from the music, but its foundation reaches directly into Jamaican roots reggae, lovers rock, dancehall and sound-system culture. His influences include Bob Marley, Gregory Isaacs, Aswad, Steel Pulse, Maxi Priest, Buju Banton, Shabba Ranks, Born Jamericans and Mad Lion. Hip-hop sampling and drum language, punk’s social urgency, Black soul, and smooth R&B vocal phrasing broaden the music without weakening its reggae foundation.
Consciousness is the connective thread running through his catalog. His songs move between love, justice, faith, spiritual awareness, accountability and the social systems that shape people’s lives. Romantic records such as “All Ways” and “Dreaming” sit beside the politically and spiritually charged “Caesar’s Things” and “The KiNG’s Decree,” while “I Just Called to Say I Love You” reflects the warmer soul and R&B dimension of his influence. Rather than separating accessible music from message-driven work, The MAADKiNG treats both as essential parts of the same artistic identity.
MAOLI: STAGE & STUDIO
Scott’s working relationship with Maoli began in 2021, when he served as the group’s rhythm guitarist and contributed to a pivotal period in its touring and recording career. His role extended far beyond the stage. During the development of the "Maoli Music Overload" project, Scott handled vocal production and engineering across 13+ tracks, personally recording, editing, tuning and processing the vocals from tracking through delivery. He also produced developmental demos for the project and co-wrote “Lemon with My Tito.”
Scott contributed extensively to the project’s visual campaign through directing, editing, camera operation, playback and aerial cinematography. His work included directing and editing “Whiskey Doesn’t Work,” contributing camera and editing work to “Little More Tequila,” and operating the drone for “We Open” and additional official videos. His working relationship with Maoli is what initially brought him to Maui, where he established the next phase of his career as an independent artist, producer, engineer and professional live musician.
In 2021, while serving as Maoli’s rhythm guitarist, The MAADKiNG also held the direct-support position throughout "The Breakthrough Tour". He opened every completed date with his original set before returning to the stage as Maoli’s rhythm guitarist and performing guitar during Fiji’s sets. The dual role demonstrated his ability to lead his own concert presentation while remaining a trusted touring musician behind two established Pacific-reggae artists. In 2023, The MAADKiNG returned to the Maoli touring package exclusively as an opening artist. Performing as The MAADKiNG featuring Dorian Green, he opened 14 dates of the "Maoli Music Overload Tour" across the western United States. The act appeared immediately before Cas Haley during the first half of the run and before New Zealand reggae group L.A.B. during the second. Green performed three of his original songs accompanied by Scott before The MAADKiNG continued with the remainder of his original set.
RHYTHM GUiTAR • VOCAL PRODUCTiON • ENGiNEERiNG • SONGWRiTiNG • ViSUAL PRODUCTiON
LIVE & TOURING
2014
HERBNCULTURE
Scott joined Herbnculture as bassist in 2014, marking his transition from teenage performances into serious professional musicianship. The group performed at venues including The Republik in Honolulu and developed a recorded catalog that reached listeners beyond Hawaiʻi.
2016
REMEDY VIBES
Following the release of Remedy Vibes’ debut single, “Free Falling,” Asaiah Scott was recruited to play bass for the release show and subsequently joined the band permanently. He later transitioned into the role of lead vocalist and guitarist, helping guide a reconfigured lineup and establish the group’s evolving sound.
During Scott’s tenure, Remedy Vibes opened for Ekolu at The Korner Room, appeared at The Republik alongside Mike Love and Mahkess, performed with Maoli at the Pagoda Ballroom and took the stage at Blue Note Hawaiʻi. The band also recorded an unreleased EP with Kapena DeLima at BuPrint Studio.
2018
The VITALS
Scott has been an official member of The Vitals 808 since 2018, contributing guitar and lead vocals. His work with the group has included performances throughout Hawaiʻi, the continental United States and the Pacific, including Indigo Music Festival in Guam, the Hawaiʻi’s Finest Anniversary Bash at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Blue Note Hawaiʻi, Sugarshack Sessions and HI*Sessions.
2020
PAUL IZAK
Scott joined fellow Kailua native Paul Izak’s trio as bassist in 2020 and remains part of the group. Their work has included regular Hawaiʻi performances and a 2023 continental U.S. run featuring East Coast dates, Floyd Yoga Jam in Virginia, Hawk and Hawthorne in North Carolina, and Shangri-La Music Festival at Harmony Park in Minnesota.
2023
IRIE LOVE
Since 2023, Scott has worked closely with international reggae artist and fellow Kailua native Irie Love. In addition to serving as her guitarist, he has assembled backing bands, booked engagements, coordinated performances and taken on musical-director responsibilities.
Their work together has included Blue Note Hawaiʻi appearances, the Reflections album release, promotional television performances, Waimea Town Celebration on Kauaʻi and holiday festival engagements at Lānaʻi City Bar and Grill.
2024
CLINTON FEARON
In 2024, Scott was selected to play lead guitar for legendary Jamaican roots-reggae artist Clinton Fearon at Hawaiian Brian’s Slack Key Lounge in Honolulu.
As a founding member, bassist, vocalist and songwriter for The Gladiators, and later through a widely respected solo career, Fearon helped shape the sound and language of roots reggae across generations. Performing behind an artist of his stature placed Scott in direct musical conversation with the Jamaican lineage at the foundation of his own work.
Selected credits
Beyond his long-term roles with established artists and bands, Scott has earned additional recognition across Hawaiʻi’s live and broadcast music scene. He opened alongside his father, blues guitarist Dion “Boogie” Scott, for Fantastic Negrito at Blue Note Hawaiʻi, connecting his own career to the musical lineage that shaped him.
He has also opened solo for Likkle Jordee at Capitol Modern in Honolulu and appeared twice on Miss Lulu’s international reggae radio program, where he discussed his music, creative process and independent releases with listeners beyond Hawaiʻi.
PRODUCTION & MUSICIANSHIP
In the studio, guitar remains Scott’s primary instrument and bass his second, but his production work regularly requires him to move between keyboards, programmed drums, live percussion and occasional brass or saxophone parts. He produced and mixed his cover of Stevie Wonder's “I Just Called to Say I Love You” and “The KiNG’s Decree.” He also produced “All Ways” and created its initial mix, while Noah Cronin of Sea Major Seven completed the final mix and master. “Caesar’s Things” was produced by Cronin, while the "Platinum EP" with Aries J was produced by DJ Osnizzle. Scott also appears as a featured artist on Sidney Spencer’s “Irie Town,” and Pana's "Hibiscus EP."
HAWAI'I LIVE EXPERIENCE
Outside the touring circuit, The MAADKiNG has spent several years maintaining recurring weekly engagements throughout Maui’s resort and live-music market. His current relationships include Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort; Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort; Duke’s Beach House at Honua Kai Resort; and Maui Brewing Co. at Outrigger Kāʻanapali Beach Resort. These engagements have provided the commercial foundation for his independent releases while refining a live presentation capable of serving luxury hospitality environments, private events, national tour support and festival stages.
His available live formats range from improvisational solo performances built around acoustic guitar and live looping to acoustic duo, trio, DJ-backed and full-band configurations. Resort and restaurant engagements draw from an extensive repertoire, while concert and festival performances place the emphasis on original music, full arrangements and direct audience engagement.
CURRENT CHAPTER
Released independently through MAADMEDiA Inc., as of 2026 The MAADKiNG’s catalog has generated more than 221,000 global streams across 128 countries, as reported through TuneCore. His core releases include “All Ways,” “The KiNG’s Decree,” “Caesar’s Things,” “Dreaming” and “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” with additional collaborations including the "Platinum EP" and Sidney Spencer’s “Irie Town.”
THE ALL WAYS EP
He is currently developing the "ALL WAYS EP", a conceptual project tracing the emotional life cycle of a romantic relationship. The record moves from toxic attraction and separation through self-respect, accountability and the uncertainty of new love, toward lasting commitment and the exhaustion of fighting for a connection that is not equally valued.
Singles will be released as they are completed, with the full project targeted for the first quarter of 2027.
The MAADKiNG’s career has grown through developing his own catalog as a frontman while contributing as a trusted musician, producer, engineer and musical leader behind established artists. That range allows him to move between intimate rooms, resort residencies, national touring packages and full-scale festival performances without losing the roots, message or identity at the center of the music.
