Prophet Benjamin: Rastaman ready for soca big stage
Source :
Trinidad Guardian Thursday, February 9, 2012
Bobie-lee Dixon
He first penetrated the local entertainment scene in 2005 singing Pretty Boy Fella. The song, reggae influenced, was an instant hit and dominated local urban frequencies for quite some time, making the then 25-year-old Point Fortin resident a seemingly overnight success. With follow ups like Delilah On The Loose, Rude Boy Rudy, Usual Suspect and Love But Na Blind among others, Devon “Prophet Benjamin” Samuel, proved to all he was no one-hit wonder. This year he’s got them talking again with his notorious Throw Wine soca smasher. The song which he describes as “just a fun song,” is receiving love from every corner of the soca arena.
So well received, it has also earned him a place in the finals of the Digicel International Power Soca Monarch Competition. Yep, this rastaman who is of the Bobo Shanti Order will get loose come February 17, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. “This song was just designed to be a fun song for the singer and listeners. It was to bring a joy and I think I accomplished that because everywhere I go people stop me to share their feelings about the song,” disclosed Samuel. It might be the first time the 33-year-old father of three is in any final revolving around soca, but Throw Wine is not his first attempt at the genre. Samuel has had a couple—one being a collaboration with Bunji Garlin titled Ah Want To Bun A Fire, the other called Fire Finger. Both were also successful.
Spreading his message
Addressing the talk by some that Bobo Shanti should not sing soca, Samuel said people are entitled to their own opinions, but it’s just their opinion. “I don’t believe anyone should make decisions for anybody on what they should or should not do. My leader is Christ and if He say go ahead then rasta hold back for nobody.” He said he entered the competition because he felt it was the only opportunity he had to bring across the message he intends to. “People love the song but they have formed their own opinions of it. But all I can say the story will be told through my performance at the finals.”
