Govana and Tarrus Riley teamed up to once again to release “Special Times”, a fusion of dancehall and reggae energy that is quickly making waves online. Within 24 hours, the song produced by Chimney Records, surged to become the most searched item on Google in Jamaica “Tarrus Riley Special Times”, clocking over 50,000 views.
We caught up with Tarrus Riley for an exclusive conversation about the collaboration, the current state of Jamaican music, and why this moment feels, well—special.
“THE CHEMISTRY IS NATURAL”
When asked what it was like linking with Govana in the studio, Tarrus shared:
“It’s natural. Love for music, full of lyrics, and him have a real feel for sound. We have a similar kind of energy. A lot of artists in Jamaica have that passion, but Govana have that extra drive. He really love the music.”
That connection is audible on the track, where Govana’s sharp Spanish Town delivery balances Tarrus’ St. Thomas melodic soulfulness. The blend harks back to a time when singers and deejays regularly shared riddims, building timeless records together.
Reflecting on the old-school dancehall-reggae collabs, we asked Tarrus if that dynamic was fading. He disagreed:
“I wouldn’t say it’s missing. I’ve always done it—check my track record. I love working with DJs and other artists, and the people still love it too. It’s not gone; maybe just not done enough.”
While “Special Times” feels like a standalone celebration, especially with Tarrus celebrating his birthday season, fans are already asking for more. When teased about future release of an album, Tarrus laughed and said:
“You never know the argument, but get used to that one now. And if you want more—we have more coming.”
As the song climbed Google’s trending charts, Tarrus remained grounded:
“Yeah man, give thanks and prayers to the people. It’s a good feeling. Just like when people searching for conscious lyrics—it means something.”
