8 hours ago
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Reggae singer Kenne Blessin is getting major props for his revisited version of Barrington Levy’s Vice Versa Love – the 1990s reggae favourite celebrated for its gentle groove and message of reciprocal love.
"The response has been pleasantly surprising. People really appreciate the fact that I chose that song, and they keep telling me it is time for this legendary song right now because of the turmoil in the world today," he said.
The singer has succeeded in introducing the song to younger listeners while preserving the warmth that made the original such an enduring masterpiece. The remake appears on his latest album, Caught My Attention, a 14-track project centered on themes of love, self-awareness and unity. On the album, the singer leans into a polished but organic sound, balancing contemporary production with the emotional directness associated with roots reggae.
The tracks include traditional love songs like the romantic Wanna Be With You and Spread the Love which addresses themes of nature and universal love. Kenne Blessin said that the inspiration to sing Vice Versa just came to him naturally during the album's production.
"I was playing a riddim, and it just kept coming at me and I love a natural feeling and that made it magical," he said.
Born in Kingston and raised in St. Thomas, Kenne Blessin was shaped by a broad musical upbringing. He grew up listening to Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals, Sizzla and Beenie Man, while also absorbing American hip-hop influences like Snoop Dogg. Later, while living in Antigua and performing in a band, he developed an appreciation for soca and rock music, influences that would eventually broaden the texture of his recordings and live performances.
His musical journey began in Jamaica but accelerated in Antigua after he won the Caribbean Star Search competition on Gem FM. The victory led to his breakout soca single, My Love Will Never Die, a song that first gained traction in Trinidad before finding audiences across the Caribbean and beyond.
Over the years, Kenne Blessin has built a reputation as both a songwriter and an interpreter of familiar material, known for what fans often describe as his “smooth vocal delivery”. His collaborations have stretched across genres and generations, sharing stages with artistes ranging from Sean Paul to reggae veteran Freddie McGregor, while also working alongside soca and rock bands internationally.
Now based in Atlanta, the singer has continued to revisit popular songs through reggae lens. Among his better-known covers are interpretations of Holding Back the Years, produced by Hugh Campbell, and Ed Sheeran’s Perfect. More recently, he recorded a reggae version of Elton John’s Nikita and contributed to the Blue Flame Riddim project alongside artistes including Anthony Malvo and Delly Ranx.
He has performed in countries such as Switzerland, England, Germany, Antigua, Trinidad, St. Kitts, and St. Maarten. Interestingly, he is yet to grace the stages in his native country, a development which he hopes to remedy in the near future.
"I am really looking forward to showing what I can do on a stage in Jamaica, and with how things are shaping up in 2026, that will be soon," he said confidently.
English (US) ·