Rivas and Sangie Davis Produce and Record New Song 'Jah Praises'

After years of soaking up the reggae vibe from his home in Rochester, New York, Rivas finally got a chance to meet some of his heroes when he visited Jamaica for the first time in 2024.

Rivas (right) and Sangie Davis (Contributed photo)He returned in May to record songs with Sangie Davis, a singer-songwriter known for his work with Bob Marley, Dennis Brown and Nadine Sutherland. They recorded the song, Jah Praises, at the famed Tuff Gong International studio in Kingston.

Rivas produced the roots track and shares writing credits with Davis. They were backed by drummers from the Binghistra Movement, a traditional Rastafarian group.

“To get love and respect in Jamaica is always there for me. Just the nature of the people. To get a following and be a well-respected artiste in Jamaica would be Jah blessing for me,” said Rivas.

The dreadlocked rapper/guitarist’s family are from Puerto Rico. He was raised in a household dominated by the Latin merengue and salsa sounds, but also remembers listening to the rebel tones of Bob Marley from his Haitian neighbors.

Rivas’ interest in Jamaican culture grew in recent years when he met Dean Rhoden, a Jamaican who lives in New Jersey. Rhoden is from the August Town community in St. Andrew parish, Jamaica, and is close friends with Davis, who co-wrote Wake Up And Live, Marley’s 1979 hit song.

For Rivas, his time in Jamaica was spiritually and musically-fulfilling.

“I thought I knew how to skank (strum) on my guitar until I was playing guitar with Dexton Davis, (Sangie’s son) a former member of The Mystic Revealers (roots-reggae band) who taught me to be percussive like a drum,” he disclosed. “Now, when I’m playing reggae I’m able to hold a likkle vibes!”