Story of the Song: Former IMF chief gives 'Rikers Island' new life

The first time the youth, come a New York

Them tellin' you, you mustn't skylark

Learn a trade or go to school,

And don't you turn yourself in a fool.

But now him gone a Rikers Island

He never want go a Rikers Island

Him used to walk and screw up him face

But now him spending 'nuff time up-state

Dey used to tell 'im, understand

But now dem find him with a M-1

Inna 'im pocket, him have a million

So, now him gone, a Rikers Island

He never want go a Rikers Island

But now him gone a Rikers Island"

- Cocoa Tea, Rikers Island

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Sixteen years after his song Rikers Island received album title track billing, Cocoa Tea told The Sunday Gleaner that he is getting reports that it has got a surge of airplay in France. This is after International Monetary Fund (IMF) boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn was transferred to the notorious island prison - which the song is about and named after - on May 16.

Strauss-Kahn is charged with sexually assaulting and trying to rape a housekeeper.

Cocoa Tea said he had received reports that Rikers Island is receiving heavy rotation in France as it is relevant to the situation. Strauss-Kahn was due out on bail on Friday.

"Sometimes you do a tune and not right away it go on, but once the tune is saying something that is relevant ... . And it is just because this man in the prison there," Cocoa Tea said.

It is not that Rikers Island was not popular previously before the Frenchman's unintended boost. It was a hit record 16 years ago and is still a strong part of Cocoa Tea's live set. He said the song was recorded in 1994 for the Mister Do label, based in Brooklyn, New York, and recorded at Phillip Smart's studio in Long Island.

It did not take long for Cocoa Tea to write Rikers Island, as he put pen to paper in the studio when he heard the rhythm, which had already been done. He referenced an already popular song by John Holt, Up Park Camp, and took stock of the situation with some Jamaicans in the United States (US) at the time.

Advice to youths

"In them time, you had Spanglers, Shower, Cocaine Cowboys and all them ting deh. It was like advice to all the youths who come to America, say don't t'ink is only that you can do to make money. Even for people who not so straight, they can still go school," Cocoa Tea said.

Putting the song together was not a problem as Cocoa Tea said he is known for being spontaneous onstage. "More time we build tune off the crowd. A me joy fe do dem ting deh," he said.

The immediate reaction after he first sang Rikers Island was promising, as Cocoa Tea said "them go crazy in the studio and say is a hit tune, no doubt about it".

The prediction was accurate, as Rikers Island went on to top the charts in New York, Cocoa Tea said.

And it has remained popular in his live set, which Cocoa Tea said starts with the Rastaman Chant, moves into Buss Out a Hell and then Rikers Island.

"There is no way me can do a set without Rikers Island in it. It is one of my permanent song in my set."

There has been a lasting impact in the US as well, Cocoa Tea said "most people get familiar with me in America because of it. That was the real break, the ice-breaker". He first performed it at the Apollo Theatre and said "is like four, five time me have to wheel it up".