Queen Omega

b. Jean Osbourne, 31 August 1981, Trinidad, West Indies. In her early schooldays Queen Omega initially performed calypso at various talent contests, but in her teenage years she began providing backing vocals for a number of Trinidad’s leading soca stars. Her debut as a soloist was a dancehall soca fusion, ‘Fire’, which was followed by the Rastafarian-influenced ‘Babylon Bus’. While Trinidad is celebrated for carnival, calypso and soca the island’s younger generation embraced the music of Jamaica. The popularity of ragga on the islands resulted in appearances from artists such as, Anthony B. , Bushman and Determine. The visiting Jamaicans were supported by Queen Omega and her association led to ragga recording sessions with Doctor Marshall who produced ‘Warning’ and ‘Highest High’. The songs were assured hits when the producer overdubbed lyrics from Capleton and Sizzla. The dread DJs accepted her pseudonym Queen Omega as an acknowledgement of her Rastafarian ideals (Omega is described as the Ethiopian woman who was arguably the queen of the world).

In the new millennium Queen Omega recorded with Tony Rebel in Jamaica. He produced the uncharacteristic ‘Love Yah’, which was relegated to the b-side of ‘Big It Up Fah’. While on the island she met the indomitable Mickey D who introduced her to Trevor ‘Juggling’ T. who produced her self-titled debut. The release featured contributions from the Ruff Cut Band, Anthony B. and Archie Wonder.