5 best Cocoa Tea songs to pay tribute to the late Jamaican singer

Cocoa Tea, whose real name was Calvin George Scott, was a Jamaican reggae vocalist who had a smooth voice and socially conscious lyrics. He sang for many decades in the reggae genre, releasing numerous hits that caught the eye of fans around the world.

His music typically addressed love, religion, and social justice, and he was a much esteemed artist in the category. Cocoa Tea passed away on March 11, 2025, aged 65, in a Florida hospital after suffering cardiac arrest.

He had been battling lymphoma since 2019 and was also suffering from pneumonia for the past six months. In honor of his heritage, here are five popular songs that bear testimony to his contributions to reggae music.

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Rocking Dolly

Released in 1991, Rocking Dolly was one of Cocoa Tea's early hits that launched his career. The tune has a hook that is easily remembered and smooth vocal delivery, qualities that would become trademarks of his style.

The song was popular because of its lively melody, thus making it a common selection for reggae fans. Its sound is representative of the dancehall genre of the period, blending the traditional reggae instruments with a modern touch. Rocking Dolly has remained a hit song in his repertoire over the years and continues to be performed at reggae festivals.

I Lost My Sonia

Yet another hit from the early days of Cocoa Tea, I Lost My Sonia, is a lost love song. The lyrics tell of the emotional pain of losing someone precious, something that captivated so many fans.

The song is indicative of his skill at conveying heartfelt messages using straightforward yet successful songwriting. It was popular in the mid-1990s and part of his success in the reggae genre, offering songs that mixed storytelling with melodic rhythms. The song is still regarded as one of his better love songs.

Rikers Island

Released in 1990, Rikers Island speaks to the harsh reality of being incarcerated, specifically the hardships of those within the prison system. The lyrics of the song speak to the hardships of life in prison, making it one of Cocoa Tea's more socially aware songs.

It was noticed for its critique of the justice system and struck a chord with listeners who were familiar with such matters. The rhythm and melody of the song are still captivating, but its message also indicates the artist's interest in using music to discuss wider social issues. Rikers Island has been mentioned over time about reggae's use in social activism.

Hurry Up & Come

The song is a reflection of Cocoa Tea's affinity for Rastafarian beliefs. The song contains lyrics that reflect spiritual commitment and belief, themes that were common in his work. The sound of the track is in line with classic reggae and features solid basslines and rhythmic guitar lines.

Its themes of spirituality and endurance made the song significant in reggae. Most of Cocoa Tea's tunes had allusions to his spirituality, and Hurry Up & Come is a prime example of how he utilized music as a vehicle for spiritual topics.

Barack Obama

In 2008, Cocoa Tea released Barack Obama, a pro-Obama song during the U.S. presidential campaign. The song gained international popularity since it captured hope for Obama's election. The song conveyed a message of change, which represented wider political sentiment at the time.

This demonstrated Cocoa Tea's readiness to discuss contemporary issues via music. Though it was uncharacteristic for his typical focus on love and religion, Barack Obama demonstrated how well he could evolve his songwriting to express issues of our time.

Cocoa Tea's body of work dealt with a diversity of subjects ranging from personal anecdotal experiences to social and political matters. Being able to match smooth vocals with thought-provoking lyrics, he was able to maintain an important place within the genre of reggae music for decades.

These five songs reveal various facets of his work and demonstrate his diversity as an artist. His death left his music in the minds of fans who enjoy reggae's narrative and rhythmic essence. Through love songs, commentary on society, or spiritual musing, Cocoa Tea's body of work is still relevant.

Edited by Sangeeta Mathew

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