Prince Fatty & Shniece McMenamin covers Tom Browne’s classic

For many Jamaicans, any reference, to their homeland, in a song is celebrated no matter how it comes about. For awhile, “Jamaica funk, that’s what it is” was an intro that got all the people present, at the various discotheques that dotted the island, on the dance floor. It mattered little that the original song ‘Funkin For Jamaica (N.Y)’ was made with respect to Jamaica, Queens in New York City and not the island nation in the Caribbean sea, Jamaicans and their diaspora still laid claim to the song. ‘Funkin For Jamaica (N.Y)’ was extremely popular in its heyday, hitting number one on the US billboard R & B chart and made the Top 10 on the UK singles chart. The song has the distinction of being one of the most used melodies in history with artistes such as The Evasions, N.W.A, EPMD, Snoop Dogg, Keith Murray, Smooth, Erykah Badu, Shaquille O’ Neal, The Black Eyed Peas,Johnny Kemp, Tone Loc and Mariah Carey all sampling the song in some form.

Hot on the heels of their collaboration on Prince Fatty’s rework of Kraftwerk’s ‘The Model,’ Shniece McMenamin is joining forces with the producer once more, as this dynamic duo team up for another reggae masterclass. ‘Funkin’ For Jamaica’ reworks Tom Browne’s 1980 release with a never-before heard dub overhaul and it’s set for release on the 7^th August.

To say Prince Fatty and Shniece McMenamin have been keeping themselves busy over the last few months would be an understatement. Fatty produced Shniece’s debut EP ‘Disco Deception,’ which received high praise from the likes of Mojo, Record Collector, Louder Than War and many more. The pair first collaborated on Prince Fatty’s 2019 album ‘In The Viper’s Shadow,’ on the track ‘Deep Sleep,’ and since then, the rest is history.

Laying down the effortlessly smooth foundations, the rock steady rhythms and punchy bassline lock the groove in perfectly. Featuring keyboard stabs, a whole host of delay and beautifully crafted percussive fills, Shniece’s vocals are allowed to shine in a truly euphoric record that grooves relentlessly from the get-go. On the release Prince Fatty added:

“Funkin’ for Jamaica (N.Y.)’ by Jazz Trumpeter Tom Browne is stone cold classic. Number one for one month in the RnB Billboard chart back in the early 80s.

Could a Jazz trumpeter do this now? Somehow, I think not. I have always admired the great reggae versions of soul songs and wanted to find one that hadn’t been done. Is this possible I said to myself? unless I am mistaken this the only reggae cut of Funkin’ for Jamaica (N.Y.) out there.

The final missing ingredient was the vocal, it had to be someone tough and with a delivery to match the original. No easy feat in my opinion. A well-timed entrance to the studio session by Shniece McMenamin and the deal was sealed.”

Between them, Prince Fatty and Shniece McMenamin have worked alongside some of music’s most respected names. Their collaborative efforts span from Blur’s Graham Coxon to Lily Allen, Hollie Cook, The Skints and Mungo’s Hi-Fi. They’ve also received heavy radio support from David Rodigan, Craig Charles, Don Letts and many more, time and time again.