Kes and the Band are at it again with a hot and spicy track titled “Cocoa Tea,” perfectly timed for the recent weather surges in the Caribbean region. This is Kes’ first song since his collaboration with dancehall legend Sean Paul for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Official Anthem, released in May. It also follows his long-awaited studio album Man with No Door, which featured the hit single “Tack Back” boasting over 3 million YouTube views.
Adding to his track record of timeless hits, the band dropped the sizzling song “Cocoa Tea” on November 14, 2024. The record was complemented by a lyric video posted to Kes the Band’s YouTube channel. Interestingly, the video showcased the staple Caribbean beverage, which—much like the song—is known for bringing warm and cozy vibes on a cold, rainy day.
The lyric video served as a do-it-yourself Caribbean food edition. For those wanting to learn how to make authentic Caribbean-style cocoa tea from scratch, this video is a must-watch. It highlights traditional Caribbean cooking techniques and ingredients, including a calabash pot, handheld grater, strainer, and well-known ingredients like cocoa, sugar, nutmeg, bay leaf, and cinnamon.
Released just three weeks ago, the video has already garnered impressive metrics: over 2 million views, 800+ comments, and 24,000 likes on YouTube. The track is gaining momentum with over 90,000 daily views and is projected to hit 3 million views before year’s end. It’s poised to join “Miracle,” “Banga,” and “Fuh Spite” as one of his most viral hits of the year.
Credit goes to the creative team behind the hit, including Jus Bus, Jono Hirst, and Ellen Wood, who handled the artwork, lyrics, and visuals. Popular Soca producer Tano produced the song and co-wrote the lyrics alongside Kes and up-and-coming Soca artist Mical Teja. Tano’s collaborative history is notable, having previously worked with these artists on hit projects like “DNA,” “Runaway,” “Tack Back,” “Miracle,” and “Jub Jub.”
The writers’ impressive talent shines through lyrics that personify and romanticize a cup of cocoa tea. Lines like “Darling, heat meh up, only you alone could put fire back in meh soul” and “Way yuh tun it up mek it smooth again” create vivid imagery for fans. The full lyric video and song are available on your favorite streaming platforms.
