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Posted by Dave
Rap News Network
9/9/2005 1:57:49 PM
Hailed by the New York Times as “the world’s greatest dancehall-reggae boy band,” T.O.K. (Alex, Flexx, Bay-C and Craigy T.) depart from their signature dancehall style to share a message against poverty and violence in their new single “Footprints” from their new album, Unknown Language. Inspired by the power of the words in the original “Footprints,” poem written in 1936 by Mary Stevens, T.O.K.’s updated version is relevant to what’s happening in the world today, not only in Iraq but in our own backyard with the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.
Written originally as a tribute to Alex’s own brother who was killed by a stray bullet, the lyrics speak out against poverty, violence, and homelessness and have been embraced as a song of healing from tragedy. “After my brother was killed, I needed an outlet to express how I felt and I turned to music.” Once Alex teamed up with his group members, the song took on a more universal message. Its heartfelt lyrics are intended to inspire, uplift, renew and connect people across culture, race, sex, age, and ethnicity. That was made evident at a recent T.O.K. performance at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom where the entire sold-out crowd sang the lyrics in unison. “It’s not meant to be a sad song. It’s meant to comfort, console, and encourage people through tragedy,” explains Craigy-T. “Ultimately the message that we want to send in ‘Footprints’ is that you’re never alone, there’s always someone to help pull you through even the most difficult time.”
Although T.O.K. calls their new album, Unknown Language, the sentiments shared on their hit single “Footprints,” aren’t so foreign. “We felt strongly that we needed to share the message in Footprints so that others can gain strength from it in their time of need,” adds Bay-C. “This song helped us when we lost Alex’s brother and my cousin, so we knew that it could touch people all over the world.” Flexx adds, “At the end of the all this, I want people to know that God is with them!”
T.O.K. combines sweet melodic crooning with dancehall reggae for sound that unique and powerful! Their debut album My Crew, My Dawgs (2001), gave the world its first taste of the group who the The New York Times calls Jamaica’s #1 Dancehall Group. T.O.K. has appeared on MTV’s “New Faces” and on the very first season of BET’s “106 & Park.” Their video, “Gal You Lead,” was listed in Blender Magazine’s “Top Songs of 2004,” selected for MTV2’s “New Faces Of MTV2,”and debuted on MTV’s “Direct Effect.” The song was also nominated for the 2004 Vibe Awards in the Boomshot Award category.
“Footprints,” is in rotation on over 30 radio stations across the nation. It’s #1 song on New York’s Power 105.1’s Countdown and is one of the top most played record on HOT 97.1 (WQHT-FM) where it peaked at #1 on Funkmaster Flex’s Top 8 at 8 Countdown. The video for “Footprints,” has been serviced to BET and MTV.
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