Denise Belfon added to Rum Island Festival lineup after Drake sample reignites interest in classic hit.
Soca veteran Denise Belfon has been added to the lineup for the inaugural Rum Island Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, as renewed international attention shines a spotlight on her 1998 hit Work (Put Yuh Back In It).
The Trinidad & Tobago artist recently made headlines after the track was sampled by Drake on BBW, from his surprise album Maid of Honour. The exposure has introduced Belfon’s music to a new generation of listeners and highlighted the continued influence of soca on mainstream music.
Belfon, widely known as “Saucy Wow”, is set to perform at the festival on Saturday 11 July at Piedmont Park. Organisers say the event will celebrate Caribbean music, food, fashion and culture, and has gained momentum following a recent appearance on Atlanta News First programme ATL Live.
For more than three decades, Belfon has been a familiar presence on the Carnival circuit, building a reputation for energetic performances and crowd favourites that have stood the test of time. While Work (Put Yuh Back In It) remains her most internationally recognised recording, her catalogue also includes hits such as KaKa Lay Lay, Hard Wuk, Wining Queen, Boss Lady, Indian Man, Chuku Chuku and Wanti.
The recent Drake sample has brought fresh attention to one of soca’s best-known anthems, nearly 30 years after its original release. Belfon’s appearance at Rum Island Festival comes as interest in her music continues to grow, reinforcing her status as one of Trinidad & Tobago’s most enduring soca performers.
