1 month ago
5
Last Wednesday was a special day for Kareem Burrell, the son of late Xterminator label CEO Philip ‘Fatis’ Burrell. It would have been his father’s 71st birthday and Remus, as he is known, took some time to reflect.
“I visited his grave and spent some quiet time reflecting. Later, I went through old photos, just sitting with memories. That day always brings a mix of emotions, but it also gives me strength and renewed purpose,” Remus told The Sunday Gleaner.
Fatis, one of reggae music’s most prolific producers, released hit songs by artistes such as Gregory Isaacs, Frankie Paul, Charlie Chaplin, Sugar Minott, Sanchez, Pinchers, Ini Kamoze, Admiral Tibet, Cocoa Tea, Beres Hammond, Johnny Osbourne, Luciano, Sizzla, Everton Blender, Ras Shiloh, Turbulence and others. His death on December 3, 2011, while a patient at The University Hospital of the West Indies, sent shock waves throughout the music industry.
Remus has followed his father’s musical steps and in 2012, to mark Fatis’s birthday, he released the Project X mixtape. The Living Heart album, with contributions from Beres Hammond, Richie Spice, and Lutan Fyah, arrived later that same year. The CEO of his own XTM. Nation label, Remus is also the assiduous keeper of the flame for his father’s rich legacy.
“The Xterminator legacy is deeply rooted in the history of Jamaican reggae and its global influence,” Remus explained. “It played a significant role in shaping the sound and spirit of the genre. Preserving and celebrating that legacy isn’t just about honouring the past, it’s about reminding the world of Jamaica’s rich cultural contribution and ensuring that the music continues to inspire future generations.”
As overseer of the meticulously curated Xterminator vault, Remus ventures inside on special occasions to select a gem to share with the world. The most recent project is a sample of Good Life, a song that Fatis produced for his bredren for life, Cocoa Tea. Titled You + Me = Good Life, it is produced by Remus and sung by Tarrus Riley and presents a tangible link of the past and the present. Released on all platforms last Friday, the track is described by Remus simply as “a love letter to reggae music”.
“With the recent passing of Cocoa Tea, it felt important to pay tribute to a true legend, someone who shared a powerful connection with my father, Philip ‘Fatis’ Burrell, the Xterminator family, as well as my family. The music they made together holds deep personal and cultural meaning. When Tarrus Riley also honoured Cocoa Tea at Reggae Sumfest, it felt like the right moment to share this tribute from our side as well which also Tarrus is a part of,” he explained.
Tarrus, the son of reggae legend, the late Jimmy Riley, shared his passion about the project and the importance of legacy.
“It’s our flame and its our legacy so we keep it burning for generations to come. You + Me = Good Life speaks to the power of togetherness and how we complement each other in relationships. And you can’t deny the sweet sound of the drum and bass making you want to just bubble with your special someone,” Tarrus shared with the The Sunday Gleaner.
“This one is about love in its purest form,” he is further quoted in a press release. “It’s a happy song. You plus me ... that’s the good life. The drum and bass make you want to just bubble with your special someone. And it’s also a little toast to the greats who came before us, Cocoa Tea and Fatis. Their music lives on through us.”
He noted that it was “amazing” to be onstage at Reggae Sumfest 2025 paying tribute to his father and Cocoa Tea, singing the song, Good Life.
In paying tribute to Cocoa Tea at his funeral in March, Remus spoke of the lessons he learned listening to hours-long conversations between his father and ‘Uncle Calvin’.
“Their relationship showed me the importance of mutual respect, loyalty, and creative trust in music. It was never just business between them it was a genuine bond rooted in love for the music and for each other as people. That kind of connection is rare, and it reminds me to build with heart, not just strategy,” the young producer told The Sunday Gleaner.
Quizzed if he thought Fatis would have been proud of the man he had become and the path he is “trodding”, Remus paused before answering.
“I’d like to believe he would be. Only he could truly say, but I know he’d be happy to see that I’m doing something I love and staying true to myself and the mission he started. I’m not just following in his footsteps, I’m carving out my own, with his legacy as my foundation,” Fatis’ son declared.
English (US) ·