T.O.K. ADD

T.O.K.’s story has been defined by persistence and evolution: From high school choirmates to R&B cover band; from harmonic soul quartet to hardcore dancehall pioneers; from a group on a hiatus to one staging its reunion, thirty years after its inception.

Following the release of their recent single, “NPLH (Home),” there’s more on the horizon for the group that The New York Times once described as “the world’s greatest reggae-dancehall boyband.”

T.O.K. – an acronym for “Touch of Klass” – began in Kingston, Jamaica in the early 1990s. For years, the members Alistaire "Alex" McCalla, Roshaun "Bay-C" Clarke, Craig "Craigy T" Thompson, and Xavier "Flexx" Davidson cut their teeth at live performances around the island – at high school parties, hotel shows, and in 1992’s nationally-televised Tastee Talent Content – before they recorded their debut single.

By that point, they had opened themselves up to more influences than just the American R&B that they had been known for: most consequentially, the island’s homegrown sounds. “We’re Jamaican. That has to come out in the music, and that’s what happened, gradually,” Flexx once explained.

During the mid-to-late-90s, T.O.K. bounced around local record labels cutting singles, but making no major impact. That changed when they began working with Richard “Shams” Browne, the engineer at the Main Street label, who convinced them to join him in his venture, High Profile. On their second release together, “Hardcore Lover,” featuring Lady Saw, the collaboration bore fruit, breaking the group to new fans across the dancehall scene. During this period, T.O.K. continued to refine its musical style. They could still harmonize, and occasionally would on tracks, but the influence of hardcore dancehall on their sound was unmistakable. Their music boasted infectious melodies, hard-hitting lyrics, and a clear balance of each of the members’ unique strengths. They also now seamlessly switched between singing and deejaying (rapping) while cycling through topics of relationships, partying, social issues, and personal experiences.

In 2001, they released My Crew, My Dogs, their debut album, through VP Records, their record label for over a decade. Songs like “Money 2 Burn” and “Shake Your Bam Bam” pushed the group to broader audiences, though it was 2005’s Unknown Language that turned them into international sensations. Boasting the tracks “Gal You Ah Lead” and “Footprints,” which peaked at #85 and #93 on the Hot 100, respectively, the album marked a turning point for the group.

For the next decade, T.O.K. built off that momentum: They toured Africa, Europe, and Latin America; launched their own festivals and events; and achieved gold and platinum record sales in Japan. In 2007, during the height of the ringtone era, “Guardian Angel” broke out as the number one single in Japanese territory, prompting the release of their third studio album, “Our World,” in 2009, followed by the “Best of T.O.K.'' special edition album release in Japan. T.O.K. maintained its dominance into the next decade, collaborating with Major Lazer on the single “Shell It Down” in 2013. In 2015, the group put their music on pause, choosing instead to pursue solo endeavors. Since then, Bay-C, Flexx, and Alex have released solo albums: Bay-C with Holy Temple (2018) and King Bass (2022); Flexx (now as Double X) with I Am Double X (2017); and Alex with Next Levelution.

Now, the group is back together, signifying the next step in their evolution with the name change from “Touch of Klass” to “Tribe of Kings.” The single “NPLH (Home),” dedicated to their fans and produced by Richard “Shams the Producer” Browne, their original producer and manager, cemented their return in February of 2023.

More music is expected soon, and T.O.K.. is looking forward to reconnecting with fans worldwide in 2023 and 2024 as they gear up to embark on their next world tour.