Kingston, Jamaica: – 5th Element Records’ artiste Richie Spice is currently touring the US to promote his second album. On Tuesday February 20, 5th Element Records in association with VP Records released ‘In the Streets to Africa’ to rave reviews. The March 2007 issue of Playboy Magazine gave it 4 stars saying, “…Spice offers an exception to the slackness and hyperactivity of dancehall. One of the best roots releases in years.”
Promoting ‘In the Streets to Africa’ Spice performed at Zanzibar in Washington DC to a crowd of over 1000 on Friday February 16 and the Raggamuffin Festival on Long Beach in Los Angeles, California for over 10,000 people the following day. At the Raggamuffic Festival the crowd delighted as Spice crooned out such hits as ‘Blood Again’, ‘Earth Ah Run Read’, ‘Brown Skin’, ‘Groovin My Girl’, ‘In the Streets’, ‘High Grade’ and ‘Marijuana’. The crowd insisted on an encore and Spice came back and completed ‘Marijuana’ and finished with ‘Take It Easy’.
On Tuesday, February 20, Spice had an in store appearance at the FYE in Torrence, LA. Where hundreds of fans waited patiently for a chance to have Spice sign their copy of ‘In the Streets to Africa’. Spice then travels to New York for more in store promotions and to appear at Irie Jam (23 Feb) and Caribbean Culture Week (24 Feb). He then jets off to Grenada to perform at Tempo’s ‘Got Tempo’ at the drive in cinema on March 3rd.
‘In the Streets to Africa’ has a life affirming, empowering tone, which is established on the opening track ‘Get Up’ which urges listeners to “rise…stand up…clean up your heart and come.” Spice then follows with ‘Open The Door’ produced by New York Hot 97’s Bobby Konders. Track 3:’Youth Dem Cold’ peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in 2005. Track 4: ‘Babylon a Gwaan’, Track 5: ‘Digital Ways’ featuring Culture, Track 6: ‘Sunny Day’, Track 7: ‘Baby Face’ featuring Spanner Banner and Pliers, Track 8: ‘Uptown Girl’, Track 9: Spice’s current hit ‘Brown Skin’ produced by Donovan ‘Don Corleon’ Bennett, Track 10 : the classic ‘Groovin My Girl’, Track 11: ‘High Grade’, Track 12: ‘Mind Off Of Me’, Track 13: ‘Take It Easy’, Track 14: ‘Can’t Stop Loving Jah’, Track 15: ‘Motherland Calling’.
The title of the album highlights the struggles as well as the business options that are available within the African continent. Spice plans to tour Africa for the first time in 2007. The righteous artiste will be back home March 11.
