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Reggae Music decides the fate of Reggae Lane

2/26/2021

Perception

It is ingrained in many to expect my work, network or my attention for zero cost

I can blame no one but myself for this behavior

It seems to be a prevalent thing globally

From Jamaica to North America to Europe, the genre makes probably trillions in revenue and much of this continues to be filtered free of cost

Why?

Because everything else is free

Cyaa blame folks who believe this is the norm and come into the culture and treat us the way we allow everyone else to treat us

That is totally on me

I take full responsibility for how I allow other humans to treat me

Like the time I realized that my company was being ‘pimpted’ by the Eglinton Councillor’s office, when I asked why the folks on the Reggae Lane committee were not being paid for their work

I was told, “We have no budget”

I left that committee right quick

Now, before some of you jump up and cuss the government office, MANY of you try the same bullshit... daily

We are ALL in this together!

I get it

I agree

Budgets are limited yet if we start properly valuing our thing and paying each other, even sometimes, we grow as the value grows

Respect is due

~

I use this situation because I am fully aware that it will get attention and these are MY opinions based on feel

~

A Black History Month celebration / performance yet the government office pimping Black business

Again

Colonizer /’ gentrifyer’ behavior is pretty consistent

Government has money to do their events and paying themselves and try to use the artists on the show to guilt us to support the event

Typical game we have seen forever. It isn’t new

Mi nah hunt dung nuh money

I ovastand my value

If you do not rate it for any reason, I respect that, but DO NOT CONTACT ME!

This government office wants me to post their event in MY network

I assume that they believe my network is valuable or they would not have sent I and Toronto Reggae the info a day before the event

If we weren’t valuable, why would one send the information?

Why would they not have used our services weeks ago to get it to the reggae community? Why not show respect and pay us for our network/s?

Instead, we are faced with, “a quick share to your network” a day before the event

There are folks in “this” that I will never accept money from to promote your event/s because your energy is one that reggae and RasTafari do not vibe with

It is like oil and water

If you are paying the artists properly, for that I am happy and grateful

Do not come to I about freeness

Then come tell me fuckrey about “outreach” like you sending me a flotation devise to save me from drowning or scraps of food for the poor

I suspect this will be my last correspondence with this office but sometimes Dracula need some garlic

Gentrification works cause one side has all of the money

Keep your money

Reggae Lane is still a beacon for me

I will defend my reggae cause without support from ANYONE inside or outside the genre

Reggae decides what Reggae Lane will become

Neither you nor me

Not Metrolinx, the TTC nor government officials who are all partners in the gentrification of Eglinton West aka Little Jamaica

Reggae will decide

Reggae teaches me how to treat and value myself as well as my community

The message of RasTafari flows through this music and if one ovastands what that means you can approach us for business. If you do not, pay someone else... please

Calling the spot “Reggae Lane” must also call the truth of this music

Reggae is the judge and jury

Watch de ride

#reggaeforlife #reggaelanetv

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House of Dreads ~ A Spirit of Resistance

2/25/2021

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“Resistance”

Woody King was my uncle

“City Without Pity” were some famous words spoken by Woody King, which has been used millions of times in passing conversations since and I just recently learned what he meant. The statement was made because there is an event in his life where the Spanish Town Police, beat him up and shaved his locks. The most inhumane thing the colonizer taught us is self abuse and many eager to please massa will brutalize black skin more than their own master would

They shaved Woody’s locks while he was in their custody and later, he took the Jamaican Constabulary to court and won a settlement as well as a law stating that it would be unlawful to forcibly trim RasTafari in Jamaica from that day forward

Woody King was notorious for fearlessness and consciousness hence people seeking his council included Marley, Tosh, Bunny and Skill among them as well as others whom I meet in passing in my life

All fierce and wise in their movements

None were saints yet all inspired generations of youth not only in Jamaica but also globally

Woody King instilled a sense of honor and integrity to me as a youth, not only by word but also by his deeds for many in the community to see and to experience personally

Allan “Skill” Cole was a friend of Woody’s

For me, from about 1971, when I was eleven years old, Allan Skill Cole was already a football legend and considered, arguably, Jamaica’s greatest footballer

From my experience playing at Up Park Camp, a Santos training ground, from about 1972 – 1975 as I was registered U14 – U16 I had many opportunities to watch him play among many other of Jamaica’s best. For me, I have never seen better in my time in Jamaica

I recently had the pleasure of having a short conversation with Allan about House of Dread

Allan said his was the “conscious era”

I had the distinct pleasure of speaking to Allan Skill Cole today

He has always been a source of pride for me as well as many within our era. For many of us, he was clearly the best player we have ever seen as a Jamaican. He was magical to watch as well as to play with. I was just one of the youths around him and the big ballers. I played with him for the first time at 13 – 14ish, when he was the leader of the Santos team. As a likkle yout, sometime de big man dem won’t pass de ball to yu. Allan was different. He used me as he did every other player passing the ball to me on several occasions

“He treated me like every other baller”

Huge confidence boost for a likkle yout

Allan spoke highly and respectfully about Woody at his funeral, of Woody’s impact on himself as well as others from that I believe to be the most effective era forcing babylon to make change to the global establishment. They looked and saw outwardly and recognized where their / our abusers are and held them spiritually accountable

One of the greatest things Allan was a part of in my mind, is House of Dreads team in the Jamaica Major League of Football

A team of ALL RasTafari players

I have no idea of their record {I heard a number of 100 victories to 3 losses, but don’t quote me on that} but beyond success on the field, a RasTafari team occurred within a “commonwealth’ / colonizer mentality

Allan and that team were so famous, that they sold out the stadium several times

We do need a team like that standing up in this current time and space

A spiritual upliftment of self

Those evolutionary spirits only, can wear this shirt

~

Proceeds of all purchases go to the Zero Gun Violence Movement yet if you don’t wish to purchase any of our brands feel free to donate directly to ZGVM

http://zerogunviolence-movement.com/anti-gun-violence-activism-toronto

Part of the donation is your time. Reach out to youths you may know in harm’s way and show love, wisdom, a shoulder to cry on

Individuals stepping up for our youth

~

https://royal-tease.ca/collections/rfl

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Reggae Music decides the fate of Reggae Lane

House of Dreads ~ A Spirit of Resistance

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