COCOA TEA REVIVES A TIMELESS RIDDIM WITH ‘SHE LOVES ME NOW’ ALTERNATE MIXES
Cocoa Tea’s She Loves Me Now (Alternate Mixes) breathes new life into one of reggae’s most celebrated instrumentals. If Jamaica ever needed a national anthem, Real Rock would be a strong contender.
Originally composed in 1967 at Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One, the riddim became a cornerstone of reggae, inspiring vocal versions from legends like Sugar Minott, Dennis Brown, and Willie Williams.
By the early ’90s, when dancehall was charging forward with hard-edged bashment and ragga, producer Phillip ‘Fatis’ Burrell of Xterminator Records decided to revisit the past.
His version of Real Rock featured Cocoa Tea’s unmistakable honeyed vocals, recorded at Music Works Studio alongside Sly & Robbie and the Firehouse Crew. First released in 1993, She Loves Me Now captured the essence of vintage reggae with a modern edge.
SOME RIDDIMS NEVER FADE—THEY JUST KEEP FINDING NEW WAYS TO MOVE THE CROWD
Now, VP Records is bringing alternate mixes of the track to streaming platforms for the first time. Set for release on Valentine’s Day 2025, the extended single includes the vocal cut, a disco mix, and a deep, atmospheric dub laced with echoing bells and cavernous reverb.
Cocoa Tea has remained one of reggae’s most captivating voices, and this release only adds to his enduring legacy. Some riddims never fade—they just keep finding new ways to move the crowd.
ABOUT COCOA TEA
Cocoa Tea’s unmistakable voice has been a staple in reggae since the mid-’80s. With hits like Rikers Island, Young Lover, and Rocking Dolly, he blends smooth vocals with socially conscious lyrics.
Over the years, he’s worked with top labels like VP Records and Greensleeves while also launching his own, Roaring Lion. Always evolving, he’s collaborated with new-generation artists like Koffee.
Though recently hospitalised, his influence in reggae remains as strong as ever.
