Jamaican DJ Kovert dies at 19 following car crash

Popular disc jock, DJ Kovert, real name Matthew Nelson, has died. The 19-year-old passed away at the University of the Hospital of the West Indies on Saturday, following complications from a motor vehicle crash which took place a few days earlier on the Washington Boulevard in St Andrew. DJ Kovert, who was one of the shining lights in the new generation of music connoisseurs, had been playing music professionally since 2024 when he won the SunCity High School DJ Competition. A former student at Ardenne High, he was a first-year management studies student at the University of the West Indies, Mona. He also co-promoted a bi-weekly series over the summer called FWD. News of his passing has rocked the entertainment fraternity. Several of his musical peers took to social media to share their condolences.

DJ Kovert (right) with DJ Zacky in happy times.

In an interview with Observer Online on Saturday night, DJ Russ Buss shared his fondest memory of his late colleague. “My fondest memory by far of Kovert, was the first time seeing him playing in the SunCity High School DJ competition during the preliminary rounds, and I listened to his transitions and how he played; I knew he would have won," said Russ Buss. "I was impressed the first time that I saw him play. He reminded me so much of myself when I started playing music, how much he loved it, his humility and he had a lot of manners. He loved the craft and had such a bright future ahead of him.” DJ Zacky, a close friend of DJ Kovert, shared his condolences and reflected on their friendship in a detailed post on Instagram. “One DM turned us from strangers to brothers. From practice sessions to site visits, to bookings and even just going out for drinks, you became more than a friend to me. Every Friday, you would call me and say "Wah time yah play tonight", and once I told you, it was always “Live, me a fwd.” Every room you waked into, you lit it up, and that’s something I’ll never forget," DJ Zacky wrote, adding "One thing I’ll always remember about you is how you always found the positive in every situation, even when we were late for bookings. No matter what was happening, you always found a way to make the best of it. That’s the kind of person you were, and I’ll truly miss that about you.”

DJ Taz (left) and DJ Kovert

In an emotional post on Instagram, DJ TZ recalled when he learnt about DJ Kovert’s crash. “I saw you the night of and we did a laugh and a run bare jokes a Ribbiz, to then get a call in the morning seh yuh crash bro. Mnk (Mi nuh know) how fi function rn bro. You was one of the realest, happiest, talented and down to earth niggas I’ve ever met," the post read. "You was my brother and I got so much love for you gang. I promise to keep your name and legacy alive and to take you with me everywhere I go. I promise to never let you be forgotten and to keep going and to push through bcs ik that is what you would want. Love you family and rest easy.” Meanwhile, DJ JJ Deadlock wrote on his whatsapp status, “Dawg Kovert sooo humble and jovial. We had this event together and my laptop wasn’t connecting and he easily gave me his laptop to DJ half of my set.” Others who commented publicly include Fyahman, DJ Hibby, DJ Alpha C and emerging recording artiste Kong Magic.