Richie Stephens ‘Big up Kamala Harris’ song goes viral
Published:Monday | September 16, 2024 | 12:07 AMAnthony Turner/Gleaner Writer
Award-winning singer, Richie Stephens, is on cloud nine since receiving news that his newly minted single titled Big Up Kamala Harris has racked up an impressive 450,000 views/plays, 3,600 shares and 1,500 comments on Facebook since it was posted by social media influencer Sherry Southe-Tyme on August 28.
“I respect the brilliance of US Vice President Kamala Harris, which is why I recorded the track,” Stephens shared.
“VP Harris is articulate, she is knowledgeable on topics relating to immigration, housing, taxes, climate and abortion. She is the most qualified person for the job,” he added.
Harris, the daughter of Jamaic-born Donald Harris, rose through the California political and law enforcement ranks to become the first female vice president in US history.
A CNN poll determined that registered voters who watched last Tuesday’s presidential debate, determined that she outperformed former President Trump, the candidate she will face in the US presidential elections on November 5.
Speaking about the success of the song, Stephens shared, “The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and the best thing is it has happened organically. Radio jocks and social media influencers in the USA, ran with it because they can relate to the message. It helps that the ska beat is infectious and what’s beautiful, it is not just Jamaicans who love the song, Americans are intrigued,” the singer informed.
Southe-Tyme, who first posted the tribute song on her Facebook reel said she was startled when the post started racking up thousands of plays daily.
“I was very surprised at the response that the song received after I posted on Facebook groups including the popular ‘The ReidOut with Joy Reid (MSNBC),” Southe-Tyme said.
“I also tagged various Democratic representatives, including Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, whose mother, Jamaican born Una Clarke is the first Caribbean woman elected to the New York City’s legislature. The comments are mainly positive with many persons saying that this is the song that they would like to hear when she ]Harris] wins.”
Stephens recently dropped a new album titled The Soul of Richie Stephens.
“This project is the manifestation of several requests I have gotten over the years from both my fans and colleagues within the industry so I am extremely proud of it. Among the popular songs are Heartbeat, B assline Wine, Run Away and All I Need,” Stephens shared.