Cocoa Tea - Biological Warfare

A new album by Cocoa Tea is always a cause for celebration in my book, the man has been around for a very long time and is still sounding fresh like few. When he drops something new one always wonder what sorta album it will be, either a soundbwoi/love song album or a more rootsy/dealing whit social issues one. I prefer the later even though it really don't matter, a Cocoa Tea album is always good to me.

This is however one of his rootsier ones, not any "my sound a deh numbah one" kinda songs on here, it's more about poor people suffering, the new world order, immigration and the injustices of the Babylon shitstim. You can tell Cocoa Tea is smart and knows allot, he keeps himself updated on what goes on in the world. Sometimes roots reggae are too general in criticizing Babylon and it's the same old rehashed words over and over again. Not whit Cocoa, you can tell he has observed and identified specific issues. But enough, let's get to the songs of this album;

First up is "Poverty" who is about how poverty is the source to most of the ills in the society and that we must eradicate poverty if we really want a better world and that we all should have some compassion and help those in need if we can. Sometimes some Reggae is called "Sufferahs music" but despite the subject this shure is not, the riddim is very upbeat and the song has a positive vibe to it. I dunno if this makes sense but it has a typical Cocoa Tea feel to it. Next up is"Blood and fyah" who deals whit "the new world order", for those who dunno about the subject, you need to read up on it, it's a very real threat and really scary once you know some bout it. Seriously, this is Satan in full effect and we need to educate our minds. It's a real mellow and smooth track on an extremely imp. subject.

It's not like things ease up whit next track, "Biological warfare" (Cocoa Tea means business on this cd and deals whit some heavy stuff) who is kinda self explanatory as far as the subject goes. Once again, the backing is smooth and easy on the listener to balance up the heavy subject. After that things ease up a little whit "Let the dancehall" who is a call for peace to the "Rudebwoi's" who populate the dancehall circuits, it's not a soundbwoi track but still as close as you gonna get on this album. It has a classical music feel to it whit the riddim built around a short sequence of violins playing.

the only love song on the album is "Too far from home" and it has way more substance than your average "I love you" song and deals whit Cocoa falling in love whit this Italian woman and how he has a hard time dealing whit being away from Jamaica to be whit her. As a foreigner leaving home to live whit the woman of my dreams i can relate to this song even though i don't feel like "....I'm too far from home". Bottom line, i like this song and glimpse of Cocoa Tea's private life.

There's 1 song on here whit a kinda "cross-over" feel, where Cocoa tea aims to win over the Urban/R&B/Hip hop market, "Rise up". I don't care for it too much but I'm at the same time not holding it against Cocoa, id love to see him blow up in the states and climb the charts as long as he keeps on making his usual songs he's always made. And, the lyrics shure ain't watered down, being another poor people's anthem telling them to "Rise up". The title "poor people defenda" may be taken by Chuck Fenda but Cocoa Tea is the original, he's been on the poor people's side, defending their interests for over 20 years now.

There is a coupla tracks i have not brought up in this review but do not make no mistake and think that they are not good, this is an very strong album, no "filler" songs and stellar performances throughout. If you're looking for something new and unique, never done before though, this is not the album. Cocoa Tea found his style years ago and has stuck whit it, why fix something that is not broke? I would be seriously disappointed if he ever changed his style, his tracks are timeless and his style perfected.