It’s not often that dancehall music’s greatest duos collaborate in song. Chaka Demus and Pliers and Tanto Metro and Devonte break that mold with ‘Jealous’, a four-the-hard-way track released on May 15 through Tuff Gong International.
Chaka Demus co-produced the single with British producer Jazzwad. He said ‘Jealous’ came about like many of the songs he has recorded throughout his 40-year career.
“I love the ability to take an idea from my head and put it into exactly what I envision it, without any creative compromise. That’s Chaka Demus,” he explained.
It was his idea to reach out to Tanto Metro & Devonte, best known for the 1997 monster hit, ‘Everyone Falls in Love’. They agreed to the all-star collaboration, and with Brian and Tony Gold providing harmonies, ‘Jealous’ was recorded.
‘Jealous’ is the precursor to ‘One Family Umbrella’, Chaka Demus’ upcoming album which is tentatively scheduled for release in 2026. The veteran toaster describes it as, “A mix of reggae and dancehall and a little bit more.”
From the Waterhouse community in Kingston, Jamaica, Chaka Demus started his career on hometown sound systems. His big break came in 1986 with ‘One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer’, a ‘combination’ with Admiral Bailey produced by Lloyd “King Jammy” James.
Chaka Demus’ career soared in the early 1990s when he linked with Pliers for the massive
‘Tease Me’ album which produced six songs that made the British national chart. They include ‘Murder She Wrote’, ‘Tease Me’, ‘She Don’t Let Nobody’ and ‘Twist and Shout’.
