5. Roman Stewart – “Rice and Peas”
“Rice and Peas” was a type of homecoming record for Roman Stewart, who returned to Jamaica in 1979 after migrating to New York in 1976, linking up with producer Linval Thompson in his homeland. The result was more than a banner anthem for the international dish that serves all economic classes of Jamaica, and its tourists. Stewart also shares the personal meaning of rice and peas, describing how it fed him and his family of four in the ghetto. The dish’s nourishment is stretched to multiple servings because it is cooked with coconut milk. It can fill an empty stomach on its own, or supplement a dish as a side. As DJ Gravy, co-founder of the famed Rice and Peas party series (and LargeUp) says: “Roman was definitely right that it’s the perfect poor people food and that people all over the world love it.” —Richard “Treats” Dryden