2 months ago
22
“Your father would have been proud,” Jerome Hamilton of Headline Entertainment whispered to Kareem ‘Remus’ Burrell as he embraced him after the XTM. Nation producer paid glowing tribute to Cocoa Tea at the thanksgiving service on Sunday at The Verandah in Clarendon Park.
Kareem, the son of prolific Xterminator producer, the late Phillip ‘Fatis’ Burrell, was thrust into the spotlight when his own father passed nearly 14 years ago, and he has built on his father’s legacy commendably.
On Sunday, a confident, well-spoken Burrell lifted the spirit of guests at the funeral as he spoke with candour — and a bit of humour — about the great friendship that his father and Cocoa Tea enjoyed, having shared a mutual passion for politics, sports, music and racehorses.
“The friendship between Cocoa Tea and my father naturally extended to our families. My mother, Donna, and Aunty Reds [Cocoa Tea’s wife], shared a close bond, just as Fatis and Cocoa Tea did. Our homes were open to each other, and the love and respect we had went beyond mere friendship, it was a family,” Kareem said.
A “testament to this connection” was when he and Yackeisha, Cocoa Tea’s daughter, both attended The University of the West Indies. “... whenever she wanted a change of scene, our house was her home ... no notice was needed, no questions were asked, it was just understood.”
In his household, it was the norm to hear his father and “Uncle Colvin” talking on the phone, at any hour of the day or night, and “their conversations always felt like a masterclass in history, sports, and life itself”.
“They spent countless hours passionately discussing world affairs as if they were advisers to world leaders. From Barack Obama, George Bush and Osama, to Putin and Kim Jong-il, they would analyse global politics as if they were in the room with these figures. Sports was another topic of endless debate, from Ronaldinho ... the Jordan and Pippen era to Kobe and Shaq. You would hear them say, ‘Me tell you a dat him a go do!’ or the other in response, ‘Me know a dat him a go do!’”
RACEHORSE DISCUSSIONS
“They spoke about horse racing as if it were fine art, analysing every detail, every move, and every race. On race days, when they won, the joy was immeasurable; when they lost, well, let’s just say it was best to steer clear for a while!” Burrell said, eliciting chuckles from the audience.
He shared that he was impressed with the confidence with which Cocoa Tea carried himself, his unwavering spirituality, and his deeply rooted Rastafarian faith.
“Cocoa Tea’s music reflected his commitment to righteousness, justice, and upliftment and beyond that, he was a man of principle. His contribution to music is eternal. His voice, his message, and his presence blessed us with classics like Hurry Up & Come, She Loves Me Now, Grow Your Locks, Feel the Power, Israel’s King, Good Life, and Mrs Good Looking, just to name a few that he and my father worked on together. His music wasn’t just entertainment; it was a message, a mission, a movement,” the young producer said.
He shared an anecdote about a conversation with Cocoa Tea and a young artiste, who told the legendary singer that he wanted to “buss like him”.
“Cocoa Tea simply laughed and said, ‘Buss? I never wanted to buss, mi want slow leak.’ And that’s exactly what he did ... his music, his wisdom, and his spirit seeped into our lives and will continue to inspire generations to come,” Burrell said quietly.
Colvin ‘Cocoa Tea’ Scott, 65, passed away on March 11 at a hospital in Florida after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his widow Malvia, eight children and grandchildren.
English (US) ·