Third World

The long-running reggae group Third World earned global acclaim in the late ’70s and ’80s for their savvy works of reggae fusion that blended roots rhythms with disco, soul and hip-hop. The band got their start in Kingston in 1973 when Michael “Ibo” Cooper and Steven “Cat” Coore decamped from Inner Circle to form a new group with bassist Richard Daley and a handful of other collaborators. Within months Third World were opening for the Jackson 5 at Jamaica’s National Stadium, and soon after the band signed to Island Records and embarked on a European tour with Bob Marley & The Wailers. Although they were at first focused on a roots sound, Third World’s big break came in 1978 with the eclectic album Journey to Addis, featuring a steamy, drum-break-laden cover of the O’Jays’ “Now That We Found Love” that seized on the American disco craze and later inspired rapper Heavy D. The band have been touring and recording at a steady pace ever since, earning several Grammy nominations along the way and landing more crossover hits (including 1989’s reggae-rap classic “Forbidden Love”). Third World have seen several lineup changes over the years, but the musicians make clear they’re still full of ideas on their sunny 2019 album, More Work to Be Done.