Reggae Singer Chuck Fenda Releases New Album & Preps For European Tour

Reggae artiste Chuck Fenda is busy promoting the release of his sixth studio album, 'Concrete Jungle', which will be released last Friday.

"We just want to reach the people on a spiritual level with this album. That's why it is called Concrete Jungle, to reflect the struggles of the inner city. The album is stylistically different from my others in that it uses elements of lover's rock, R&B and even dancehall. It's just a nice mix," he said.

The album will be distributed digitally by the Miami-based Zojak Worldwide platform.

It has collaborations with a US-based R&B artiste Somong (who is signed to Ja Rule), and high-profile potential chart-riders such as That Place, featuring fellow superstar Etana, and the controversial Natty Dread, featuring Sasha, which explores the religious themes that differentiate Rastafarianism and Christianity.

"The physical copy of the album will be available in November and will have a bonus track, the dancehall song, Nah Stray," he said.

Fenda first grabbed public attention during his time at King Jammy's studio with dancehall singles such as Mi See It Clear and Badda Badda. In 2000, he joined the Fifth Element Records family, where he switched gears and embraced his spiritual side, and became famous for tunes like the number-one Life Ruff Out Deh, I Swear and Can't Stop Try from his commercially successful 2005 Better Days album on the Fifth Element label.

Chuck Fenda is hoping that this album will help cement his legacy as one of his generation's top reggae acts.

"The work continues. I want to take it to the level of a Bob Marley or a Burning Spear and other icons," the artiste, born Leshorn Whitehead, said.

He is scheduled to embark on a European tour early 2017 to promote the album, and there are plans for a West Coast run in December, as well as gigs in Africa next year.