Hello Africa, the new album from Chezidek, will be released this week by Tad’s International Record. The roots singer, in a recent interview, said he considers it his strongest effort to date.
“Mi satisfied with everything about di album, every single aspect. Mi pleased with all di songs; all are pleasant to me. My favorite song on it is Try Again.”
The set is being released on July 23, a significant date in Rastafarian history. It’s the birthday of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I who many from that group consider to be God.
Hello Africa is Chezidek’s second album to be released in three months. The first, Timeless, was done with Ligerians, a French band.
On Hello Africa, he worked with some of Jamaica’s top musicians including guitarist Mitchum “Khan” Chin and keyboardist Robbie Lyn.
Two singles, Because I’m Black and March, have been released from it so far.
Over the years, Chezidek has made his name with hard-hitting albums and songs like Inna di Road and Leave The Trees. He is also known for touring areas like Europe to promote his work.
With COVID-19, going on the road to push Hello Africa is in limbo.
“Wherever there’s a calling I an’ I will go but not right now because di airports are contaminated an’ di world is polluted. So, I an’ I a stay right inna di garden wey Jah put I an’ I,” he said.
Chezidek, whose given name is Desbert Johnson, started his career as Chilla Rinch, a deejay. He is from St Ann parish on Jamaica’s North Coast, where Pan African icon Marcus Garvey, and reggae legends Bob Marley and Burning Spear were also born.
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