One of the Bible’s most quoted scriptures, Psalm 24, verse 1 reminds the reader that, “The Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof”. It had a profound impact on Rivas, a rapper/guitarist from Rochester, New York.

“I felt a sudden realisation of me as a creation. I must give Jah praises in every situation and season,” he said.

Jah Praises is the name of the song Rivas recorded with veteran singer-songwriter Sangie Davis. Released in late August, it was recorded at Tuff Gong International studios in Kingston last May.

It was Rivas’ second visit to Jamaica. His first trip was in 2024 when he met Davis through a mutual friend.

“My first impression of Jamaica felt like home. I am a Puerto Rican and being in Jamaica felt similar in a sense of island beauty and nice vibes,” he said. “The people of Jamaica were very nice and helpful. It felt amazing to be in the homeland of reggae music and Rastafari.”

Rivas drafted the initial phase of Jah Praises, with Davis completing the song while in New York last year en route to Ethiopia. Four months ago, they went to Tuff Gong with drummers from the Binghistra Movement and recorded the American’s first single with Jamaican musicians.

The recording session was a coming-of-age for Rivas who saw very little reggae in Rochester, a city widely recognised as the birthplace of American photography.

“I am a Puerto Rican and grew up in a culturally-diverse area of my town. I used to wake up to my Dad playing Merengue and Salsa music every Saturday morning,” Rivas recalled. “My Haitian neighbours used to blast Bob Marley really loud.”

In Jamaica, he found a mentor in Davis, a senior member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel who co-wrote Bob Marley’s Wake Up And Live and Girlie Girlie by Sophia George.

Prior to Jah Praises, Rivas released several songs including Righteous and Still Waters.

Howard Campbell