SINGER Anthony Cruz was in the departure area at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Sunday when a panel discussion on CNN got his attention.

“Dem a talk ’bout the legalisation a marijuana, an’ mi seh, ‘look at dat, mi have a weed song out deh now’,” said Cruz.

A Pound a Day is the name of that “weed song”. It is the lead track from Cruzin, Cruz’s EP which was released Tuesday by Tad’s International Record.

It is done to the beat of John Holt’s classic 1983 weed song, Police In Helicopter, produced by Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes.

The six songs on the mini-set were actually recorded eight years ago with producer Tad Dawkins Jnr.

Cruz is relieved they have finally been released.

“Mi really excited ’bout it ’cause wi spend a lotta time on it. The song dem stan’ up; dem still relevant,” he said.

While A Pound a Day is an homage to the benefits of ganja, another track, Money Worries, bemoans Jamaica’s perennial economic struggles.

News For You, Another Lonely Day, Mother & Daughter and The Next Time, which complete Cruzin, honour the lovers’ rock flavour for which Cruz is best known.

A nephew of roots singer Garnet Silk, Cruz (given name Rowan Smith) is from Manchester. His hit songs include Half Way Tree and Tear it Up.

— Howard Campbell