Tarrus Riley Samples Cocoa Tea Classic in New Track ‘You + Me = Good Life’

Reggae star Tarrus Riley pays tribute to the late great Cocoa Tea and Fatis Burrell in his new release, produced by Kareem “Remus” Burrell for XTM.Nation. “It’s a respectful nod to the ones who inspired and taught us through their music,” Riley shared

Tarrus Riley paying tribute to the late greats (Photo: Jamar Cleary)

Fresh off his stellar performance at Reggae Sumfest, reggae luminary Tarrus Riley is gearing up to drop his latest single, “You + Me = Good Life,” a heartfelt love anthem produced by Kareem “Remus” Burrell for XTM.Nation.

The track samples Cocoa Tea’s 1994 classic “Good Life,” originally produced byRemus’ father, Philip “Fatis” Burrell of Xterminator Productions. With both Fatis (who passed in 2011) and Cocoa Tea (who transitioned in March 2025) no longer with us, the single serves not only as a romantic anthem but also as a poignant tribute to two towering figures who helped shape reggae’s enduring legacy.

Tarrus Riley’s vocal delivers with smooth, heartfelt vocals, weaving lines like “Let me love you, come my way” and “Someone like you needs someone like me” into a soulful, catchy melody. The track captures the sweetness of true love while nodding to reggae’s golden era.

“This song is about love in its purest form,” says Riley. “But at the same time, it’s a respectful nod to the ones who inspired and taught us through their music, Cocoa Tea and Fatis.”

The riddim was crafted by artist and producer Runkus, with additional instrumentation by Wade Johnson on keyboards and Lamont ‘Monty’ Savory on guitars and Vocoder adlibs add a soft, futuristic flavor, while Veer Dhaniram brings the elements together in a crisp, warm mix.

During his standout Sumfest performance, Tarrus Riley honored reggae legends with a heartfelt tribute, including a moving rendition of Cocoa Tea’s original “Good Life” that gave fans a powerful moment of remembrance.