The Soja Grammy win has white folks so angry at the responses from Jamaicans and black people, some telling me that they sad because "we" made it about color
If it ain't color, what the fuck is it about?
White people always trying to be the victim of all things... smfh
White people are always hurt when doing black things don't give them the acceptance that they seek, I believe because their focus isn't ever about reggae, but more about defending their whiteness. Defending their automatic privilege
If it is a reggae conversation, I feel like black and white reggae people come up with the same answers to the same solutions of social justice
But we do not
NO BLACK JAMAICAN, REGGAE ARTIST WILL EVER RECEIVE WHAT WHITE SOJA RECEIVED BY WINNING A GRAMMY
That is a fact for black people, why isn't it a fact seen by all?
There is no argument at the origins of jazz, rock and roll or reggae
This is all black music
As the years progress, all parts of the world play these genre to varying degrees and many play these songs very well whether from Asia or Europe
No matter how good they play this music, it is still about learning from, and copying a black culture
The music is accepted on its merits and a hit tune touches everyone so man like Gentleman and Albarosie, who make great music don't seem to get the flack that Soja has received. Their music, feels a lot like reggae energy
The Grammys are a Caucasian controlled market, by Caucasian record labels, selling to Caucasian audiences
We as a reggae culture give the racist entity too much credence. Too much respect
Their job is to sell white bands to white audiences, which is a common sense business model to maintain profitability as their white audience is a loyal one
They will not sell a black Jamaican artist to said white audience because that white audience might reject that artist, no matter how good their work is, cause the artist is not white... they cannot relate to black interpretation of struggle
White people like to feel comfortable among themselves
They are uncomfortable hanging out where there are too many niggers
In my forty sixth year in Canada, it is clear from my journeys, a black audience dances with black audiences as whites dance with whites when it pertains to reggae music
What we are fully aware of, is that the Grammys, a white culture, will not give this kind of sales opportunity to a black band from Jamaica. They will maintain that white audience with white reggae representing them
Sure, I'm racist
What the fuck ever!!!
We "reggae people" look at Jamaica and see no growth in reggae schools, putting instruments in the hands of Jamaican children, growing the culture
We do not see any vinyl pressings plants in the country that has some of the most vinyl-recording artists; and while white men trade and sell vintage tunes and make thousands of dollars off said sales, black Jamaicans end up dying broke. The vinyl market makes millions among white and Japanese people, but the black artists? Not so much!
Outside of Rebel Salute, why aren't there more concerts held in Jamaica? Why are your biggest reggae concerts held in Europe?
It is about color
You just don't like being called on it
It is about the degradation that Jamaicans still unfortunately are subjected to by corrupt, governmental powers since 1962, as colonial lackeys forever under this abusive colonial yoke that birthed this music. Empathetic reggae fans of all colors know these abusive histories
The Grammys protect their own
They are doing business for their white markets, while in the land of reggae, we watch the constant abuse of the people of that country and no upliftment and even greater, the constant in-fighting of reggae people
The Grammys can't solve black man issues nor should they be expected to but reggae people can see the reggae issues plaguing the citizens of Jamaica, the root of reggae music and we, nuh matta what color, should be addressing this brutal and corrupt culture encouraged by Jamaica's own governments since '62
No black man, not named Marley, is palatable to white people
A suh dem set de ting
There is no question that the Marley family has exceptionally gifted artists in Ziggy, Stephen and Damian but the Grammys are still a white man ting as is the music industry really but they have ZERO credibility with me as reggae aficionados. They stink!
Yes, as a black man, I do write from a black perspective based in the consistent abuses and insults from colonizers black and white whose common agenda it is to belittle black people as is clearly evidenced through their treatment within the colony historically
One love, one heart
This is not happening in this world but getting the words out is me releasing my own cry
A single voice
Nuff black, experienced, reggae people disagree with my stance but as reggae heads, sons and daughters of the Most High, we speak the truths that we see and feel
My own narrative
Not the bullshit one that they expect me to accept
The root of reggae is Jamaica and it is being deliberately decimated by the governments of the country over several decades. Before you argue, take a look at the real histories of the babylon shutting down dances all over the island on orders by the government for over a decade now. "The root of the dancehall" is the dance itself
There are not enough music schools for Jamaican children, nor music scholarships to encourage the talent that is inherently within the people
Jamaica should be exporting reggae and benefiting from such profits but that isn't happening because of the corrupt "leaders"
Again, festivals and concerts are a natural in a place where tourists come anyway. Where are these concerts that grow the Jamaican economy?
This isn't the responsibility of Soja for those hurt by black man's response
This is an overall "reggae responsibility"
The racist color thing is real and black man is expected to accept it
I won't
The Soja win brings this response. It is about color on the Grammy side protecting Caucasian profits yet for this black man, I'm talking about elevating the "root" of this culture
We, black people, know that we do not have the opportunities that Soja have. If black people know this, shouldn't we all know this?
If you touch reggae, the "Reggae defender" that I am will rise and speak truths whitey won't print in their media
One love, one heart, one destiny is a common phrase used by all but we are nowhere close
I listened to the Soja, Grammy winning album, "Born in Babylon" and liked it. Big love to the band and their music
Fuck the Grammys
I'm still adamant about the other points in this piece. Elevate the root of reggae that is in Jamaica so that we may elevate the music as well as the psyche of the planet. This is what Jamaicans were born to do. We must put a stop to the corrupt, governmental, colonial lackeys from blocking and abusing Jamaican citizens. The black colonizer is far more abusive than his white master and punish the population on the island mercilessly while a white band win a "reggae" award
I feel like we as reggae people need to examine and elevate the whole game cause this matrix leaves many, many queries to Jamaican / reggae abuse. Everyone, including I, need to rise
Nah sah, mi nah accept dat a rass claat
Grammy clown dem a mek dem Grammy money
Reggae needs and wants a more humane route for the root
When I speak of "root", I'm speaking of soulhahs like Benjy Myaz, one of our most gifted musicians, jazz, R&B, reggae, dancehall, whatever you need
Says 6 hours / day, including performance and rehearsal, 6 days / week for 12 years!!!! He worked the plantation for 12 years at hotel gigs
He played with Toots, Sly & Robbie, Jimmy Cliff and a host of many
Between the plantation work, writing his own tunes, producing in the studio and performing, I'm not sure I know of a more knowledgeable candidate who feels this music, who is a better "root"
There are more, just like Benji on the island, that we need to shine to the world as the root of this great music
Protect the roots of the reggae tree
If we don't all see this, that is my definition of "the problem"
The culture is being deliberately decimated
We do not need the Jamaican government to protect reggae
Reggae has its people
You are it's people
Give the root the same opportunity to earn like the leaves and branches is my idea of the fucking problem
Not that Soja is white
Reggae souljahs must protect the reggae root
Honor the root properly and the tree will flourish
That's my argument
If it ain't color, what the fuck is it about?
White people always trying to be the victim of all things... smfh
White people are always hurt when doing black things don't give them the acceptance that they seek, I believe because their focus isn't ever about reggae, but more about defending their whiteness. Defending their automatic privilege
If it is a reggae conversation, I feel like black and white reggae people come up with the same answers to the same solutions of social justice
But we do not
NO BLACK JAMAICAN, REGGAE ARTIST WILL EVER RECEIVE WHAT WHITE SOJA RECEIVED BY WINNING A GRAMMY
That is a fact for black people, why isn't it a fact seen by all?
There is no argument at the origins of jazz, rock and roll or reggae
This is all black music
As the years progress, all parts of the world play these genre to varying degrees and many play these songs very well whether from Asia or Europe
No matter how good they play this music, it is still about learning from, and copying a black culture
The music is accepted on its merits and a hit tune touches everyone so man like Gentleman and Albarosie, who make great music don't seem to get the flack that Soja has received. Their music, feels a lot like reggae energy
The Grammys are a Caucasian controlled market, by Caucasian record labels, selling to Caucasian audiences
We as a reggae culture give the racist entity too much credence. Too much respect
Their job is to sell white bands to white audiences, which is a common sense business model to maintain profitability as their white audience is a loyal one
They will not sell a black Jamaican artist to said white audience because that white audience might reject that artist, no matter how good their work is, cause the artist is not white... they cannot relate to black interpretation of struggle
White people like to feel comfortable among themselves
They are uncomfortable hanging out where there are too many niggers
In my forty sixth year in Canada, it is clear from my journeys, a black audience dances with black audiences as whites dance with whites when it pertains to reggae music
What we are fully aware of, is that the Grammys, a white culture, will not give this kind of sales opportunity to a black band from Jamaica. They will maintain that white audience with white reggae representing them
Sure, I'm racist
What the fuck ever!!!
We "reggae people" look at Jamaica and see no growth in reggae schools, putting instruments in the hands of Jamaican children, growing the culture
We do not see any vinyl pressings plants in the country that has some of the most vinyl-recording artists; and while white men trade and sell vintage tunes and make thousands of dollars off said sales, black Jamaicans end up dying broke. The vinyl market makes millions among white and Japanese people, but the black artists? Not so much!
Outside of Rebel Salute, why aren't there more concerts held in Jamaica? Why are your biggest reggae concerts held in Europe?
It is about color
You just don't like being called on it
It is about the degradation that Jamaicans still unfortunately are subjected to by corrupt, governmental powers since 1962, as colonial lackeys forever under this abusive colonial yoke that birthed this music. Empathetic reggae fans of all colors know these abusive histories
The Grammys protect their own
They are doing business for their white markets, while in the land of reggae, we watch the constant abuse of the people of that country and no upliftment and even greater, the constant in-fighting of reggae people
The Grammys can't solve black man issues nor should they be expected to but reggae people can see the reggae issues plaguing the citizens of Jamaica, the root of reggae music and we, nuh matta what color, should be addressing this brutal and corrupt culture encouraged by Jamaica's own governments since '62
No black man, not named Marley, is palatable to white people
A suh dem set de ting
There is no question that the Marley family has exceptionally gifted artists in Ziggy, Stephen and Damian but the Grammys are still a white man ting as is the music industry really but they have ZERO credibility with me as reggae aficionados. They stink!
Yes, as a black man, I do write from a black perspective based in the consistent abuses and insults from colonizers black and white whose common agenda it is to belittle black people as is clearly evidenced through their treatment within the colony historically
One love, one heart
This is not happening in this world but getting the words out is me releasing my own cry
A single voice
Nuff black, experienced, reggae people disagree with my stance but as reggae heads, sons and daughters of the Most High, we speak the truths that we see and feel
My own narrative
Not the bullshit one that they expect me to accept
The root of reggae is Jamaica and it is being deliberately decimated by the governments of the country over several decades. Before you argue, take a look at the real histories of the babylon shutting down dances all over the island on orders by the government for over a decade now. "The root of the dancehall" is the dance itself
There are not enough music schools for Jamaican children, nor music scholarships to encourage the talent that is inherently within the people
Jamaica should be exporting reggae and benefiting from such profits but that isn't happening because of the corrupt "leaders"
Again, festivals and concerts are a natural in a place where tourists come anyway. Where are these concerts that grow the Jamaican economy?
This isn't the responsibility of Soja for those hurt by black man's response
This is an overall "reggae responsibility"
The racist color thing is real and black man is expected to accept it
I won't
The Soja win brings this response. It is about color on the Grammy side protecting Caucasian profits yet for this black man, I'm talking about elevating the "root" of this culture
We, black people, know that we do not have the opportunities that Soja have. If black people know this, shouldn't we all know this?
If you touch reggae, the "Reggae defender" that I am will rise and speak truths whitey won't print in their media
One love, one heart, one destiny is a common phrase used by all but we are nowhere close
I listened to the Soja, Grammy winning album, "Born in Babylon" and liked it. Big love to the band and their music
Fuck the Grammys
I'm still adamant about the other points in this piece. Elevate the root of reggae that is in Jamaica so that we may elevate the music as well as the psyche of the planet. This is what Jamaicans were born to do. We must put a stop to the corrupt, governmental, colonial lackeys from blocking and abusing Jamaican citizens. The black colonizer is far more abusive than his white master and punish the population on the island mercilessly while a white band win a "reggae" award
I feel like we as reggae people need to examine and elevate the whole game cause this matrix leaves many, many queries to Jamaican / reggae abuse. Everyone, including I, need to rise
Nah sah, mi nah accept dat a rass claat
Grammy clown dem a mek dem Grammy money
Reggae needs and wants a more humane route for the root
When I speak of "root", I'm speaking of soulhahs like Benjy Myaz, one of our most gifted musicians, jazz, R&B, reggae, dancehall, whatever you need
Says 6 hours / day, including performance and rehearsal, 6 days / week for 12 years!!!! He worked the plantation for 12 years at hotel gigs
He played with Toots, Sly & Robbie, Jimmy Cliff and a host of many
Between the plantation work, writing his own tunes, producing in the studio and performing, I'm not sure I know of a more knowledgeable candidate who feels this music, who is a better "root"
There are more, just like Benji on the island, that we need to shine to the world as the root of this great music
Protect the roots of the reggae tree
If we don't all see this, that is my definition of "the problem"
The culture is being deliberately decimated
We do not need the Jamaican government to protect reggae
Reggae has its people
You are it's people
Give the root the same opportunity to earn like the leaves and branches is my idea of the fucking problem
Not that Soja is white
Reggae souljahs must protect the reggae root
Honor the root properly and the tree will flourish
That's my argument
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