Chuck Fenda still blazing

Fresh from his 'Culture in The City' live performance in Bronx, New York, last Sunday, firebrand Rastafarian artiste Chuck Fenda believes that he is still as hot as any contemporary dancehall deejay.

The show, a promotion of the Fifth Element Records family, who spearheaded the careers of artistes such as Chuck Fenda, Richie Spice, Anthony Cruz and Etana, garnered a good turnout at Mingles Ultra Lounge. Richie Spice was first out of the blocks performing at least five of his hits, including Ghetto Girl and Marijuana. Then, clad in a full-white outfit, Chuck Fenda emerged, performing perennial favourite Gash Dem. He also appealed to lovers with Coming Home Tonight, which had patrons singing every word. Chuck Fenda expressed excitement about his performance.

"The response of the crowd is a clear indication that I am still hot as a dancehall deejay. I am also in demand, and that the people love Chuck Fenda because he is blazing what they want to hear, which is respecting human lives," he said.

"I felt great every minute on stage that night. It was as if I could not do anything wrong; the people were virtually eating out of my hands, and you could hear men and women singing every single line of my songs."

The veteran artiste said that he prepared for the show the same way he does for other shows - by meditating and praying, "because we need the Almighty to guide us".

"There were no challenges. I had a duty to perform. So if there were any challenges, these were to get the message across to my fans, and I certainly did a fantastic job. This performance is memorable, like so many I had done over the years. You will always have ladies wanting to pull you off the stage, wanting to bring you home, even insisting on having something you are wearing as a souvenir," he shared.

"There was even a female fan who took my jacket and never returned it. It's all part of showmanship," he added.

He recently released his album Eternal Fire, from which he said the first single, Heartless, is fast becoming an anthem.

"I hope that local promoters will be influenced by the responses I am getting abroad as I continue to take positive music in the dancehall," he said.