The world is holding its breath today. Will he or won’t he? Join this Prezedent and become a Black “Mr President” that is. We don’t have too long to wait, the punditry is currently in overdrive. If Obama w
ins it will be a travesty of justice if he doesn’t have at least one Rastaman at the inaugural party. Right now, Reggae airwaves are awash with the sound of the Ganja tree, I mean Cocoa Tea exalting one ‘Barack Obama’ in song. It’s quite understandably currently the number one Reggae record in New York and South Florida. Beware if you try to find a song called ‘Barack Obama’ on youtube though ‘cos there are some real dodgy tracks up there perpetrating to be Reggae.
Anyway, back to the matter at hand, Barack wins and Cocoa Tea performs, is that history? Yes
and no. It’s history cos it would be the first Jamaican artist we know of at such an event but not the first Reggae artist. That honour goes to Birmingham’s finest, Steel Pulse. On Jan. 23 1993, they were personally invited to play at the inauguration celebration by the then newly elected President, Bill Clinton.
Cocoa Tea, born Colvin Scott in Clarendon Jamaica is better known for his dancehall credentials on hits like Sonia, and later ‘Grow Your Locks’. Blessed with one of the most distinctively sweet voices in Reggae, he was also part of the supergoup that helped launch Shabba Ranks into the pop stratosphere alongside the harmony group, Home T. A horse breeder and farmer as well as an artist, he also runs his own label, Roaring Lion.
Win, lose or draw we’ll be singing along with Cocoa Tea tomorrow night at the Lovers Rock Lounge – All together now “Them ah shout out – Barack- Obama, Barack- Obama, Barack – Obama Woah!!!”
On this day.....
1991 Phillip Leo’s ground-breaking ‘Hypnotic Love’ was number 1 of the UK Reggae charts. It was the best-selling single of there recorded in tandem with his childhood friend, CJ Lewis. Leo subsequently signed to EMI Records for an ill-fated time, but the then ‘side-kick’ CJ went on to become a household name with some six albums in Japan after his version of ‘Sweets For My Sweet’ shot up the world’s pop charts.
This week’s number one’s.
Beenie Man ‘Pickney Nah Hold You Down’ Caribbean Hot 30
Beres Hammond ‘I Feel Good’ – Choice FM, London/New Style, Birmingham, UK
Cocoa Tea ‘Barack Obama’ – New York/South Florida
George Nooks ‘Rest Your Love On Me – Virgin Islands
Konshenz ‘Winner’ – France
Mavado ‘So Special’ – BBC 1xtra/Jamaica Music Count Down (Dancehall) /RETV (Dancehall)
Mr Vegas ‘Mus Come A Road’ – Germany
Queen Ifrica ‘Keep It To Yourself’ – RETV (Reggae) /Jamaica Music Count Down (Reggae)
Kennedy ‘Prezedent’ Mensah
Prezedent@back2dafuture.com
www.myspace.com/bac2dafuturemusic1
Facebook: Kennedy Prezedent Mensah
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