Singer Joseph ‘Hot Ras’ Smith recently dropped his single “Immunity Plus Soca Equals Dang Time”, which stresses on the importance of persons being immunized with the COVID vaccine. The song is in the running for a spot in the Soca Monarch finals.
“Immunity Plus Soca Equals Dang Time” simply means that if everyone gets immunized against COVID then Guyana can go back to partying and celebrating.
It was a scare that brought about the writing of the song. Earlier this month, Hot Ras was involved in an accident. However, prior to the accident he had contacted an APNU Member of Parliament (name mentioned) to create a flyer for him as he was hosting a party.
According to the singer, what he really wanted was a party setting for his upcoming Dancehall song “Leprechaun” and he had invited workmates and close friends.
He said the MP sabotaged his party, claiming that after the MP collected his money for the flyer, he contacted the police who waited until the day of the event before shutting down the party. Hot Ras said he believed the incident was politically motivated because the venue for his party was at the residence of a PPP/C supporter in Berbice.
Asked how sure he was it was the MP who called the police, the singer said he learnt from a reliable source who had overheard the MP making plans to have the party shut down. However, Hot Ras was not at the party when it was shut down by police; he was hospitalized.
On the night prior to the event, he was on his way back from Skeldon as the passenger in the backseat of a car when it ended up in a crash with another car at Number Seventy-Two Village. As a result, he was unconscious for almost a day. He sustained head injuries and a fractured shoulder. He is currently wearing a neck brace and will continue to do so for another two weeks.
The singer, who is a forest ranger, was unable to work for almost all of February but will be back to work on Monday.
According to the singer the party was nonetheless hosted by friends while he was in the hospital. Being in the hospital, Hot Ras said, was an eye opener for him regarding the virus. Doctors and nurses, despite wearing face masks, gowns and gloves, took extra care not to come into direct contact with him while tending to him. This made him understand how contagious the virus is and the serious nature of it. It was at this point that he realized how risky the party was in terms of exposure to the virus for those who attended.
This new awareness has led to Hot Ras putting all parties on hold. The video for the “Leprechaun” song will now feature him and another artiste singing and is set to be out in April.
Meanwhile, a video will also be created for “Immunity Plus Soca Equals Dang Time” using old party clips as well as photos relating to COVID and should be released this weekend.
The Soca Monarch Competition is slated for March and Hot Ras is among a number of artistes hoping to participate. All interested participants are required to audition; ten will be selected to compete. The Soca Monarch Competition will be done virtually.
“I’m always excited to be onstage. I must thank the minister of Culture, Youth and Sports for not cancelling the Soca Monarch. This is when people truly unite. Until we get full immunity, or the vaccines are 90%, that’s when we will be able to party,” said Hot Ras.
“Immunity Plus Soca Equals Dang Time” is currently being aired on Vybz 100.1 FM and on Little Rock radio station. The video for the song will be released on the artiste’s YouTube channel, Haat Ras.
