Richie Spice

Most reggae fans became acquainted with Richie Spice in 2004 when his single “Earth A Run Red” began its ascent on the charts, first in Jamaica, then internationally, ultimately emerging as one of the years biggest hits despite being more than four years old! At that time, Spice was a lone reggae soldier armed with an arsenal of well-crafted, lyrically uplifting tunes, but without supporting troops, he found it difficult to advance towards the professional frontline. “The songs were there but they weren’t getting any promotion,” Spice recalls, “and with just me going out there singing them, it was like one man against the world.”

After signing with 5th Element, Spice’s career grew and it wasn’t long before he became one of the most sought after artists for stage shows across the island. Additional hit tunes including the ominous “Folly Living (Blood Again)”, the haunting “Ghetto Girl,” Spice’s debut album for 5th Element Records “Spice In Your Life” which earned unanimous critical praise. The New York Times named “Spice In Your Life” one the best reggae releases of 2004; the Los Angeles Times broadened the accolades, citing it as one of the year’s ten best albums of any musical genre and in Jamaica, The Observer newspaper honUored Spice as artist and vocalist of the year.

Spice’s career has continued to soar as a result of his enthralling live performances (Billboard Magazine ranked him among the top six performers at Reggae Sunsplash 2006) and a succession of hits that have resided in the upper tiers of the reggae charts.

Spice’s appealing brand of roots reggae is characterized by smoothly crooned, impassioned vocals that lovingly caress, as he does on his current romantic boom shot “Brown Skin”, or just as convincingly, deliver the militancy of a righteous rebel warrior on “Open the Door”, or the aura of ancestral mysticism that defines “Motherland Calling”. Guided by the principles of his Rastafarian way of life, Spice’s lyrics rail against injustices and the plight of the oppressed, implore assistance for the youth and extend maximum respect to the ladies. “My responsibility is to use the talent that God gave me as an instrument to uplift people who are facing the struggle worldwide and let them feel happy in themselves,” Spice explains. “It is all about righteousness, and endorsing the love of the people, good over evil and life over death.”