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Resistance

7/28/2021

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"Reggae Lane, the first roadway in the world named after reggae music" in Little Jamaica / Eglinton West, Toronto Canada

​~

Resistance

There are HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of black people that believe in a european concept of “heaven” and up on entering the Pearly Gates, if the Jesus that walks out is a black man, they will turn around and start walking in another direction, looking for the gate the white Jesus is standing in

{I laughed real hard when I wrote the above line too}

But wi know seh a true

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS

The why is fully known

I am personally as programmed as anyone else

I might have gotten past the church con yet I am still moving with the herd because it is the path we are all trudging along

I’m sure that I don’t know what is coming next but whether I agree or disagree with it, I will be staying in my place and following with the herd

Agree or disagree, we are still trudging

So what is the point?

We have zero effective tools to combat this matrix

Resistance

“The Resistance”

Why?

Why bother?

I have effectively surmised over time, that resistance works for “them” because we are occupied and suitably distracted from whatever our points are.  While we resist, we are occupied by emotion, rage, marching, terrorist activity, singing kumbaya, continuing to resist yet no real movement in the directions we truly need to be focused on

The distractions are highly effective

Creating the resistance is an effective strategy

Then again, what is resistance?

It is about pulling away from the status quo which has proven to be detrimental to folks of color and the poor which includes all colors.  The voice of the resistance is supposed to be righteous and able to right the wrongs but what is clear to me, it has not worked

Or do we need to resist differently

The resistance becomes a concept and not an organized group of people

Resistance is an individual path to a higher consciousness

Individual

Saying yes or no to situations that are obviously toxic and corrupt

Individually

No “movement” to monitor

Pipe dream

I know

Still saying it though

There are souljahs listening

The right souljahs
​
Bless up
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Reggae For Life flags ~ https://royal-tease.ca/collections/rfl
{Click on images to EXPAND}
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Colonizer Mentality in CIUT and Ken Stowar owe the Reggae Community a HUGE apology

7/25/2021

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Colonizer Mentality in CIUT and Ken Stowar owe the Reggae Community a HUGE apology
...for their treatment of Scabba G of the Morning Ride and Steady Vybz shows

AND A PUBLIC APOLOGY TO SCABBA G

Colonizer mentality 2021

CIUT needs to be investigated and charged with racism at the highest levels.  They exude the rudest colonizer mentality which is their white privilege that our reggae community has no reprieve

Ken Stowar who holds both jobs as Station Manager and radio show host, made himself judge and jury in a situation that needed someone of integrity

Colonizer Ken does not seem to possess much of this

Enough of Ken Stowar for now

Scabba G

This is who I / we need to speak about

His impact on the reggae community has served us all very well for over twenty years, playing artists’ music, hosting community driven events, LOYAL, highly dependable as his word is his bond

We within our community are aware of these qualities in him as well has his crew... Ites up mi bredda Rookie Danger

Unscrupulous Ken, with the obvious backing and confidence of CIUT {Stowar has been there some thirty years) chose to disrespect Scabba G in his “investigation”

Who did he investigate this incident with?

I’d love to interview with those other decision makers as well {not really cause it is colonizer behavior 101 but putting it out there in case someone with authority wants to follow up properly}

Who checks the checker?

Who investigates CIUT and Ken Stowar?

The reggae community needs our shows back on air, with Scabba G at the helm and for CIUT to look at this current Station Manager and recognise that his plantation behavior isn’t going to wash with this reggae generation

I am acquiring a list of email addresses of folks I think need to be aware of this situation and that can effectively correct the blatant colonizer mentality

Yes I am very angry

As I am supposed to be when someone attacks a person that I cherish as well as by a very diverse reggae community

Some of you out there know some of these people who I speak of... The ones who should give CIUT and Ken Stowar a call and investigate him and this story

No demands

Integrity

I / we seek an independent body reviewing this case!  Where do we find such people?

~

Steele - Sweet Reggae Music


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Farmer's Market On REGGAE LANE ~ Music Opinion of The Day

7/15/2021

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Come and join a vibrant energy with organic food on Reggae Lane, in the parking lot. listed, at 1530 Eglinton Ave West
Music opinion of the day

My idrin Derrick Hawthorne, a performer producer, Montreal to Toronto posted a comment about Drake, The Weekend and Justin Bieber being global stars and for the artists in the Canadian reggae scene to step up their / our respective game/s... I paraphrase

I could not have agreed more

In Jamaica, I have mentioned this before, when a performer stinks on a show and an audience member or two ask you to leave {cuum aff de stage} the stage, please do so as quickly as you can.  It is widely known that bottles or stones will rain down on said performer should they tarry too long

Real story

Here in Canada, due to more stringent laws, and political correctness, many performers here do not get stoned and audiences have to endure shitty talent, FOR HOURS, at certain shows, till the headliners come on

Many of these folks complain the most about how much the music industry fights them down

Wrong people have the wrong attitudes, holding back the reggae music community

My favorite analogy is folks having a license to drive a car.  It does not make everyone a good driver?  We all don’t have the same rates of insurance if one is a bad or a good driver?

Being an artist does not ensure that you will be successful.  Not everybody a go buss.  It isn’t possible

Yes, Canada has MANY racist obstacles from the CRTC to CBC, to major record labels blocking black culture.  I have witnessed this for forty-five years now

Yet what have we done for self within this time?

I’m sure some committees were started, meetings were had but to date we have never found a route to selling our music outside of Canada by ourselves.  We have NEVER seen sustained success in selling our music

YES THE SYSTEM IS AGAINST US.  IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST US!!!!

I too have complained in the past of all of the reasons that we are blocked but as time has passed, I have taken on a far more proactive role because I am also aware of some truly talented folks that live and perform here also

Many of the good to great performers  need to be showcased better than we currently do and we do need more musically educated, tenacious individuals who ovastand the work this takes to elevate self and the community

~
​
Music Feature:

One of the real good bands in de place is The Memberz crew.  Many more videos will include Reggae Lane in their video but I believe The Memberz were the first

This tune "Kings Highway" is a driving chune speaking prophetically of the times we currently find ourselves
Reggae Lane Merch purchased online here
​https://royal-tease.ca/collections/rfl
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Canadian Reggae Band Roll Call ~ Jojo Bennett ~ Tonya P

7/13/2021

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Richard Brown drumming with IBADAN at the Bamboo 2002
Once upon a time, Canada was full of reggae bands

Tatix, Sweet Sensation / Sensation Band, High Energy, Ruffins,  The Memberz, The Dub Chronicles, The Fugitive Minds, The Dream Band, Iauwata Band, The Human Rights, Truth & Rights, Messenjah, 20th Century Rebels, Fujahtive, Mad Riddim, The Sattalites, Vibes Band, Warrior Love Band, House of David Gang, Foundation Steppas, Bredrin Dub, The Responsibles, Culture Shock, Irie Band, Ital Groove, Live Stock, Hit Squad, Reggae Cowboys, Bard From The Club, Selassie I Power, Super 8 Band, Blak Ayan, IBADAN, Lazo, Jason Wilson and Tabarruk, Rosco & The Rebellion, Jackie Mittoo Quartet, Jah Cutta, Willi Williams, Leroy Sibbles, The Determination, Andru Branch and Half-Way-Tree, The Cougars, Bloodfire, Joshua, Ishan People, Sun Force, Boncongonistas, Woman A Run Tings,  Kirk Diamond & The Movement of Ahryel, Kidd Rasta & The Peacemakers, Natty Posse, Unique Vibes, Jah’Mila, Boomgaia Band, Mountain Edge, Hardcore Band, Exco Levi & High Priest, Le Dub Sac, Rebel Alliance, The Arsenals, LeeJahn, Freedom Fighters, Awanjah, Aggravators, Wadada, Sound Dimension, Inward,  Kali & Dub Inc, Rebelstoke, MRD3, East Van All Stars, Purple Soul, Natural Flavas, Mostly Marley, Boomdaddy, Tasman Jude, Soul Survivors, Ultra Flex Crew, The Resinators, Souljah Fyah, Fulla Sound, The Skanksters, Riddim Forward, Mad Riddim, Errol Blackwood & Injah, Idlers, Iwongo Jahfire, Strugglaz, Earth Roots & Water, IBO,Eclipse Band, Bobcaygeon Marley ...

Apologies if I have missed any bands because I know that there are more as well as a debt of gratitude to all of the suggestions for I n I reggae family

Reggae bands out of Canada

When the racism of the culture blocks the reggae music to the people, the people create their own

Did you see any of them live?

Are you aware of Canada’s very rich reggae band history?

I love live reggae music!

I love listening to and dancing with others who love that live energy

I love dub!

I love dancehall!

I love when a great DJ / Selecta blazes tunes all night to 6:00 and 7:00am next morning

Yet live music is a special energy

Canada has that rich history and one that I would love to maintain

Most of the bands mentioned are a distant memory yet a few musicians are holding the fort today but are becoming a dying breed

Dinosaurs we are

So be it

Live music is still my vibe so I will keep beating the dead horse and hope we encourage or better yet inspire a next generation of players of instruments

Our history is pretty awesome... we should preserve it don’t you think?

I n I goal as a reggae souljah is to continue this love of live, even with the challenges babylon brings before us

Reggae Lane ought to be a / the conduit to reach our reggae family globally and encourage and inspire another generation of players of instruments

~

Side note, I asked about the MASSIVE blue police presence at the Farmer’s Market on Reggae Lane last week and why they thought it needed to look and feel like a SWAT raid.  Someone listened... not a SINGLE blue uniform was seen there yesterday

Yes, they are still around, but in plain clothes and respectful
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With Jemeni of G 98.7FM on REGGAE LANE at the weekly Farmer's Market
Blessed earthstrong to Tonya P today... Concrete Rose selection "Can't Get Enough"
A quick collage tribute to Jojo Bennett of the Sattalites, a REGGAE LANE and foremost Canadian reggae legend, on his earthstrong today
This week's restaurant feature comes out of Pickering, Ontario
Mr. Delicious Restaurant
519 Liverpool Road
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This newsletter sponsored by Easy Going Towing
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CRW Newsletter July 2021 ~ Reggae Lane Grows

7/10/2021

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For Reggae merch above, purchase online: https://royal-tease.ca/collections/rfl

~

Reggae Lane pays homage, and rightly so, to Canadian reggae practitioners from a glorious reggae past yet it also pays homage to people like me, who have served the reggae community as a fan, sometimes promoter, sometimes writer and many other hats

There are many like me in Canada who live a reggae existence and Reggae Lane pays homage to all who live it

It feels special to be on Reggae Lane

It is a special place

I feel like it is a conduit to finally breaking the glass ceiling this culture has on reggae music, opening up reggae and so called urban music to a global stage

Reggae Lane allows those who live the culture to rally around this reggae expression and connect to wider market base as opposed to racism we face here in Canada

Reggae Lane is ruled by reggae

Go down to the laneway at any time, snap a pic and post it with the hash tag #reggaelane
​
Grow de vibez



Pics below from the weekly Farmers Market on Reggae Lane, 1530 Eglinton Avenue West
Belinda Brady pays homage to her iconic father, Carl Brady, a founding member of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires along with many of the Brady clan in this month's feature tune and video, "Family Love" 
This week's restaurant feature comes out of Pickering, Ontario
Mr. Delicious Restaurant
519 Liverpool Road
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This newsletter sponsored by Easy Going Towing​
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Last year we celebrated the earthstrong of Emperor Haile Selassie I on Reggae Lane

Since it was named in 2015, the city totally neglected the laneway, allowing it to become a public washroom for street people

I am certainly not angry at the street folks who truly have no place to go and I do hope the magic of the laneway will become a beacon to help these people, but I / we could not allow humans to defecate in front of the image of H.I.M. so we went down to the parking lot and laneway to have a quiet celebration in His name

Some believe in doing so, it brought hope and respect back to Reggae Lane 

This was the desired effect

"Reggae Lane is the first roadway in the world named after Reggae Music"

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