In what is becoming an all too often tradition around here of sorts, today we give thanks and honour the contributions of someone who we, most unfortunately, recently lost physically. From the time Fantan Mojah made his grand arrival via his signature LARGE, anthemic brand of Roots music, he announced himself as someone who would be damn difficult to ignore over the course of the next quarter-century or so; along the way providing the genre with some of its most unforgettable tunes of the era. At the peak of his popularity, 'The Macka Tree' was one of Reggae music's most reliable hitmakers of his era and he has left us with a BEAUTIFUL body of work as he rests.
Today, just as we did with Cocoa Tea and Determine before him, we pay tribute to someone who is set to perform his first sold-out show in Zion. Signatures: Fantan Mojah
1. 'Thanks & Praise'
Here to stay. There may be (there ARE) HUNDREDS of Roots tunes with the title 'Thanks & Praise' or something very similar (i.e. 'Give Thanks & Praise', 'Thanks & Praises'...). It's a very common title and if you listen to Fantan Mojah's version of it, you won't hear a damn thing that you won't likely find on any of the others in terms of ideology. What differs it is such a POWERFUL combination of passion, energy and conviction with that SWEET AS ALL HELL riddim. Around twenty years ago, the world's leading Dancehall producer, Don Corleon, ventured out of his comfort zone and showed that his kingdom covered farrrrr more ground that just songs about girls, guns and ganja with the very well received Drop Leaf Riddim. He would do it again, almost immediately, with the Seasons Riddim which was arguably even stronger. It would carry bona fide hits from the likes of Morgan Heritage, Wayne Wonder, the aforementioned Jah Cure, Vybz Kartel, Natural Black (who scored with the single greatest song he's ever done, 'Far From Reality') and Mojah. With the exception of Natural Black and maybe Cure (whose 'Love Is' was just a damn devastating display of his most STRANGE of gifts that has ever existed) I'd CLEARLY put 'Thanks & Praise' ahead of the pack and when you REALLY dig into some of that material, that's saying ENDLESS about the nature of 'Thanks & Praise'. No it wasn't revolutionary in the slightest and it wasn't doing anything that hadn't been done countless times before (or since) but in its own UNIQUE way, 'Thanks & Praise' was magical and it still is.
2. 'Hail The King'
Take nothing at all. Let's talk about how incredibly interesting 'Hail The King' is for a minute. It'd been a minute since the last time I'd laid ears on this tune and, even after alllllll these years, I find it downright JARRING. It is such a nice song and it hits you on so many different layers. You know where I am with it in 2026?? I'm thinking about EFFORT. I'm thinking about the punchline:
"IT NO TAKE NOTHING AT ALL FI HAIL THE KING!"
Saying that to praise His Majesty requires NOTHING AT ALL from you. It won't cost you any money, you don't have to go anywhere, you don't have to break a sweat, you don't even have to talk to anyone! It is as simple for you as rising in the morning! It should be a natural process that occurs in your body and, from the standpoint that Mojah was coming from, and considering the effort and passion he put into it, he almost comes off as a bit frustrated with the masses but he's doing part. He's done his part. Now I must do mine and you must do yours.
3. 'Stronger'
Make me stronger. The title track from Mojah's second album, the Maximum Sound produced 'Stronger' (biggup Frenchie) was another sizable hit from the Macka Tree. A kind of a dual-leveled effort, 'Stronger' was both a praising tune and one which dealt with responding to negativity and those who may be working against you in a slightly more tangible sense as well. Yes. It was fairly well written but the lion's share of the appeal for 'Stronger' were the sonics. Although it didn't have the performance of some of their others, strictly as a music composition - the Jah Powers Riddim which supports here was probably one of the finest tracks Maximum Sound has EVER done and this was, FAR AND AWAY, its biggest moment (respect to Jah Mason though who did quite well with his 'Things Will Be Better').
'Stronger' was exhilarating, it was powerful and one of the STRONGEST of its time and Fantan Mojah's entire body of work.
4. 'Tell Lie Pon Rasta'
CONSPIRACY! Frenchie & Maximum Sound were back at the helm of another sizable hit registered by the Macka Tree, the hard-to-forget 'Tell Lie Pon Rasta' which utilized their gorgeous Session Riddim (where it reigned supreme). The song found Mojah (appropriately) concerned with the image and perception of Rastafari and how the walk is so often misunderstood.
"Dem talk alotta things bout Rastafari
Bout how wi a cult, wi a Blackheart man
Dem seh Rasta mean and Rasta no clean
And how wi nuh have no self-esteem"
The song's direction has always at least somewhat reminded me of another favourite of mine, 'Rasta Still Deh Bout' by Lutan Fyah & Josie Mel and while 'Tell Lie Pon Rasta' was most certainly a bit more on the proverbial 'front foot' both songs have etched themselves in my memory for similar reasons and I'm still celebrating them both as much I possibly can!
5. 'How Can I Be Ungrateful' featuring Zareb
After all that Jah has done for me. While putting this list together, it has occurred to me that I could legitimately make a strong case that THREE tunes that're combinations between Mojah and criminally underrated, sweet singing Clarendon native Zareb (formerly Mr. Flash) (before that he was Singing Flasher) could make this list. I'm still working on it and I'd be surprised if at least two of them don't make the final cut but when I got them all together the one that I was most certain about was this complete GEM of a tune produced by Shore Jam on their LOVELY but overlooked Ruff Life Riddim (Natty King had a golden piece of tune on it as well).
"Jah give me health and strength upon di battlefield
Teach mi how to love my brother and mi sister that is real
JAH YOU FULFILL MY NEEDS SO MI NAH GO STEAL
Rastafari blessing never conceal
Di wicked dem ah pray fi mi ting pop dung a road
The Most High a mi Guidline, dat a fi mi code
Preach violence: Eye fi an eye, soul fi a soul
When dem check seh mi dun lef get a new episode"
The song's title (and chorus) spoke for itself. How in the world can be an ingrate, given everything that I have going for me in my life. There're ALWAYS people in worse situations than you, so it's important to appreciate EVERYTHING that you have going for you in your life.
6. 'Rastafari Is The Ruler' featuring Zareb
What a joy it bring. If you didn't get the message on 'How Can I Be Ungrateful', Mojah and Zareb come back with the harsher 'Rastafari Is The Ruler' to make sure everyone is clear precisely where they stand. Mojah, for his part, really stepped up the intensity on 'Rastafari Is The Ruler' but we ultimately arrived at the same point, when contrasted by Zagreb's very smooth vocals. A somewhat overlooked ultra-passionate and LOVELY tune that has stuck with me through the years and, again, one of several testaments to just how well these two worked together.
7. 'Hungry'
Open up the door! As we always do, we begin with what I think is likely Fantan Mojah's most memorable tune and it was also probably his first. The absolutely MAMMOTH 'Hungry' would not only go to signal what was coming in the way of the burgeoning vocalist but, more specifically, the work he would go on to do with Downsound Records, who lent the St. Elizabeth up and comer their reimagined Invasion Riddim, which he would return to them with a crown!
I use the word ANTHEM to describe much of Fantan Mojah's music. An anthem for me is a song with a big, bright sound that sticks in your head and you can literally picture people singing along to it, WITH PURPOSE, there's a cause behind it. That describes 'Hungry' perfectly and, all of these years on, we're still singing it.
8. 'Nuh Build Great Man' featuring Jah Cure
Babylon be still. I don't think I'm going too far at all by calling this LUSH combination with the single greatest voice ever placed in a human being better a CLASSIC. 'Nuh Build Great Man' did a heavy amount of damage in its day and its presence on a list like this of mine was a definite.
"Dem nuh build great man
Dem only kill great man
Babylon be still and no underrate man"
For my ears, 'Nuh Build Man' was a SUPPORTIVE anthem. It was about seeing people who're doing positive things (like making music, for example) and putting your backing (whatever that may mean for you) behind them. I can say that such a song, theoretically, probably isn't terribly rare in the genre but you don't usually hear them sounding like this. So while the subject matter wasn't necessarily outlandish, the QUALITY of the material most certainly was: One of THE best songs Mojah or The Cure have ever done.
9. 'Vampire'
Rubber tire. London Individuals pulled in a load of big names for their gorgeous Billion Riddim, including Fantan Mojah who, arguably, gave them their single biggest track altogether. I think this one just may be the most unlikely of my entire list but I've always LOVED 'Vampire'. There're certain songs on which the artist almost sounds like... they are OVERWHELMED with just... disgust. That was this song. Mojah comes off like certain people's behaviour is SO DAMN NASTY that it has led him to make 'Vampire' with such a brilliant level of passion. It isn't messy or overdone at all. 'Vampire' hit every mark for me and has, quietly, become one of Mojah's strongest selections altogether for me.
10. 'Most High Jah'
Deliver me. The infamous Flava McGregor was at the height of his powers when he delivered to the world the biologically perfect Rub-A-Dub Riddim (THAT THING WAS FLAWLESS ON A MOLECULAR LEVEL!). The track would give life to a number of hits from the likes of Etana, I-Octane, Morgan Heritage, Capleton, Richie Spice and Ginjah ["NEVER LOST MY WAYYYYYYYY!"] [BOOM!] but, to my opinion, it was Mojah taking top honours with the HALTING 'Most High Jah'. Not only was it the best song on the Rub-A-Dub but it's also my favourite song that he's ever done. Period! 'Most High Jah' featured a version of Fantan Mojah that came off as highly emotional (he sounded like he was going through some things when he recorded it) at times but not to, obviously, the detriment of the tune's quality - it enhanced it! Listening to it now, of course, 'Most High Jah' has an even greater significance for what has happened and it hits me even harder in 2026.
11. 'Authentic Love' featuring Zareb
What I'm searching for. I told you this might happen. After considering everything, you will find THREE tunes featuring Mojah alongside Zareb on this list and for good reason. The final of the trio also just happened to be the title track for the singer's (very overlooked but SOLID) debut album from nearly twenty years ago now. 'Authentic Love' was just a GORGEOUS love song across a cut of the Hard Drugs Riddim. Love songs can be sorta odd and you won't find the ranks of these posts full of them but there is definitely something to be said when someone gets it RIGHT. 'Authentic Love' was beautiful and ENTERTAINING. It wasn't some sappy 'oh baby I love you forever' type of track and, at least for me, stands as a signature for both Mojah and Zareb.
It's too bad that we'll never get them back together again but what they've left us with as a a pair (and there're other tunes they've done) (check 'Good Meditation' - also a big tune) stands as some of the best work of both and unforgettable in my mind.
12. 'Rasta Got Soul'
"Many are gone but not forgotten"
...how damn fitting is this song now. 'Rasta Got Soul' was Fantan Mojah's tribute to this wonderful artform and those who came before and paved the way allowing individuals like himself to soar as they did and still are and now... he's joined them!
"No, you caan influence mi fi go do another ting
FROM MI BORN A REGGAE MUSIC MI AH SING
Some don't know di history and don't know di ting
Big mouth dem nuh stop labbering
Nuff nah show respect to di elder dem
Wi haffi crown dem heights, dem a di great legends
YOU CAN'T COME TELL MI SEH YOU A DI MAN WHEN REGGAE MUSIC YUH NUH OVERSTAND
And nuff a dem nuh know bout di music
Dem just ah hustle and to try fi abuse it
Dem nuh sew no seed!
Dem waan fi reap and ah sell wi out cheap
Respect to di youths dem weh buss from di ghetto
Cross di world, dem mad Reggae music ah echo [ECHO]
Nuff a dem a bandwagonist
Dem caan follow this
Listen di lion, wi ah roar!
RASTA GOT SOUL
REGGAE MUSIC ROCKING MY BONE"
Sometimes you get a certain feeling that the person singing the song had a REALLY good time singing that particular song; I get THAT feeling from Fantan Mojah on 'Rasta Got Soul'. If you were to ask him, I think he'd call it one of his favourite songs from his career and it resonated with the people, scoring as one of his biggest hits to the surprise of absolutely no one.
Thank you for your contributions to this wonderful artform, Fantan Mojah and REST EASY!
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