Minister Taf Gearing Up To Release ‘Bam Bam’
Dancehall diss tracks are a dime a dozen. A gospel diss track? Not so much.
British gospel deejay Minister Taf is airing out his grievances with Satan on his upcoming single Bam Bam, laced with personal experiences of the “little punk” trying to give him a “Job season” – a reference to the rich yet righteous man whose faith was wickedly tested by the devil.
“I was inspired by the fact that I really don’t like the wasteman, Satan, and frankly, I believe I can say I hate him,” Minister Taf told DancehallMag. “Having also heard the beat, I felt like this song needed to be a bit gritty or should I say aggressive, lyrical, and a catchy vibe, whilst expressing that aggression towards the little punk. It’s also personal, because in the song where I mentioned that he sets accident for me, I literally was in a car accident in Jamaica where the car was written off, and I came out unscathed.”
But it’s not all Satan slaying. Bam Bam, produced by longtime collaborator Jvmmie Jae, also gives praise to the most high for being a guiding and ever-present light.
“As a child of God, he’s always trying to stop or delay me, so, I had to let him know that I am not backing down – I am protected by God,” he said. “I am not gonna lose faith, even in the midst of the trials and tribulations, and will forever combat him with the word of God like Jesus did. Boof inna him head!”
The song is slated for release on May 26 and Minister Taf’s expects it to win souls as well as bear commercial success.
“I want it to do what God wants it to do, but if I was to add more, I would like to see it making a difference in the lives of others, opening many more doors for my ministry, seeing people doing dance challenges to it, for it to crossover in the dances in the Caribbean and worldwide secular space because soul affi save, and Jesus seh a nuh di healthy need doctor, a di sick. Naah lie, would love fi see di song buss some millions of streams and views.”
Bam Bam is the lead single from his sophomore album Different, which will premiere in June.
Though tight-lipped about album deats, he described it as his “best work to date” and hopes people will support it. Different actualised through a grant from Help Musicians, a UK-based charity which supports professional musicians throughout their careers.
Minister Taf wasn’t always singing the gospel. Given name Tafari Henry, he hails from Reserve and Duanvale in Trelawny, where he attended the Cedric Titus Comprehensive High School. He actually aspired to professional football, but would write music for fun. That would later grow into a secular career before he baptised in 2010.
Since realising his life purpose, Minister Taf has earned awards from the international gospel fraternity including the 2016 Best Gospel Reggae Act at the British Praisetek Gospel Music Awards.
He released his debut album Life in 2019 and has also dropped the EPs Diversity (2016) and Ena Minyma (A Message) (2021).