Cocoa Tea Live In Jamaica (1999)

Calvin George Scott (September 3, 1959 – March 11, 2025), better known as Cocoa Tea, was a Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter.

Born in the fishing village of Rocky Point, Clarendon Parish, Jamaica, Cocoa Tea was one of the most popular singers in Jamaica from the 1980s onwards, achieving significant worldwide success in the reggae world.

In 1990 he released the hit "Rikers Island" on the Mr Doo imprint, inspired by John Holt's 1977 song "Up Park Camp", with re-worked lyrics referencing the Rikers Island prison in New York City as a warning to young Jamaican immigrants of the time. He also voiced a version in combination with Nardo Ranks titled "Me No Like Rikers Island".

His success continued into the 1990s, with songs such as "Bust Outta Hell" for Junjo, "Tune In" for Jammys, as well as working with new producers such as Philip "Fatis" Burrell on "Good Life" and "She Loves Me Now", and Bobby 'Digital' Dixon for "Moving On", "Heathen" and "No Threat". Many of these productions found their way onto albums released by international labels such as VP Records, Greensleeves and Ras Records. By this stage he had established himself as one of the top singers in the reggae world, and remained a favorite with fans, performing at almost every Reggae Sunsplash.

In 1997 he launched his own label, Roaring Lion Records, which achieved a good deal of success, releasing songs by some of the top artists on the island including Buju Banton, Louie Culture, Capleton, Cutty Ranks, Sizzla and of course "Sweet Sweet" Cocoa Tea himself. He gained notoriety in March 2008 after releasing a song titled "Barack Obama" on the label in support of the US presidential candidate of the same name. Cocoa Tea's song "Jah Made Them That Way" from his 1984 album Rocking Dolly, interpolates "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson and "Answer Mi Question" by Dillinger.

He initiated the annual New Year's Eve events Dancehall Jam Jam in 2003; which ran until 2009. 

He died on 11 March 2025 of cardiac arrest.

Rest in power Cocoa Tea...

This episode is just a sample of the magic he created whenever he performed. 

• Backing Band – The Caution Band

PASS IT ON!!!

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