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NEWSLETTER ~ Volume 13 ~ Reggae & The UN ~ December 2018

12/4/2018

One must excuse my skepticism

I do I level best to deal in a loving path of RasTafari which is embodied in the reggae music that inspires me

Nyabinghi drums and spirit drives the core of many including me as it flows in much of the music

Reggae taught me

Reggae continues to council me with truths and rights and touches the moral compass of the planet

It always has

Always will

The reggae soldier has much more of an affinity to Haile Selassie's teachings than it does with the propaganda brought to the sheeple by mainstream media and corrupt politicians

We had a prime minister in Bustamante who reveled in murdering RasTafari

Jamaican people

Alexander Bustamante is no hero. Any leader killing his own people can't be considered as heroic

Since so called independence I don't see an independent Jamaica

We all have the same history books and information and are well aware of The World Bank, The IMF, the CIA, the volume of guns and fire arms the corruption, the ills of being a "third world country", colonial continued racism, bauxite resources stolen, beaches and hotels for white patrons yet no pay for those kept deliberately poor by these divisive powers that surround the culture

I still equate reggae as the type of valuable commodity, if protected by the government, and profits filtered to the people, it would eliminate this fictitious debt we owe to white humans

So maybe that is UNESCO 's path?

Are they protecting reggae for the people?

Are they protecting against those pirates from renaming dancehall riddims so that they never acknowledge Jamaica, Jamaican artists or Jamaican music, and go after them for stealing royalties?

"Tropical House" for instance

Is this the role of UNESCO?

Is the protection a blanket thing?

Does it go after royalties owed to veteran reggae artists?

Skepticism by Rastafari against any colonial government or their initiatives is prudence in my mind

Independence was then and still today a complete farce and completely out of anyone's hand{s} in elevating the life of the Jamaican people

I do hope that a declaration of protection for reggae by the UN finds a path to truly feeding its artists, old and young and further protecting the home of reggae

I'm not trying to throw shade on a possibly really good thing, I just don't know how to push past my skepticism

Time

Time will always be the qualifier

#reggaeforlife

RasTafari ~ Jamaica ~ Reggae Music

I was 3 years old when this photograph was taken

I somewhat recollect the fear that I had for RasTafari people from then till many years later. They were “dirty rasta” aka “dutty rasta” and “black heart people” and if I saw a RasTaman walk towards me on the sidewalk, I would cross the street {like many others in my formative years}

They were described to me as scary people

As I grew into adolescence, the perception changed as I played ball with RasTafari people and some of my favorite reggae stars, Bob Marley, Big Youth, Jacob Miller, Yabby Yout, Burning Spear and others were RasTafari people. I noticed their consciousness was different not only than my family but also different than the racist rhetoric of the so called middle class

I preferred Bob’s and Jacob’s messages more than the uppity, colonialist horseshit conversations that I was sometimes forced to listen to

Equality for all people

Equal Rights and Justice for all humans

Sell out colonialists don’t like that kind of talk as all seek “station” in life. All seeking the attention from buckingham

Sadly that behavior still rules today. This isn’t just ancient history

This photograph hurts my soul

RasTafari has paid great prices to achieve respect of spiritual humans globally because many sacrificed their lives, without violent retaliation, for their beliefs and doctrines and still praise Haile Selassie I

RasTafari is one of the most respected things about Jamaica and many are still frowned upon today by the bourgeois, wannabe, black, brown and white colonialist Jamaican

This photograph depicts black people, Jamaican people, treating another Jamaican the way the white colonist treated black people as slaves

Jamaicans were encouraged to do that abusive behavior by the Prime Minister at the time, Alexander Bustamante

This photo is taken one year after “independence”

Jamaica has succeeded in putting black colonists in place to carry on the work of their white masters from buckingham

Jamaican black men, police were ordered to kill and abuse other Jamaican black people, RasTafari people and they did it gladly

I find myself staring at this photograph, saddened at the knowledge that NOTHING has changed from that time till this very day

The man considered as “the king of reggae”, Bob Marley, could not get his music played on mainstream radio in Jamaica because of his conversion to RasTafari. It got so difficult that he left the country to go live in the US. This story is well known, yet probably glossed over by Bob’s eventual success

Look / stare at that photo long enough and ovastand that black Jamaicans were killing black Jamaicans

The photo don’t lie

I think of my uncle Woody King when I see this picture. He was beaten and shaved by Jamaican police

He took them to their courts and sued them, and won, making it illegal to trim RasTafari in Jamaica

Legally

Illegal tings gwaan all de while

Still

They act like, “that was then and this is now” yet NONE of their behavior has ever changed

Pinnacle land is nearly non-existent today

Sad

RasTafari has opened so many doors for the world community at large that it is I belief that Jamaica needs this spiritual guidance from RasTafari to help to quell the violence and murder in the country and build an economic community for this island nation

Yet yu dun know, politics and morality cyaa gree

A so

Click the LINK to see the Youtube channel for Feel Reggae discussions and performances

Also see GROUP on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/feelreggae/?ref=br_rs for info, correspondence and performances

* * * * * *

Big shout to Toronto Reggae YYZ for holding down the vibes year in year out. Big love Jason McLean

Reggae For Life merchandise delivered directly to your door {North America only}

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NEWSLETTER ~ Volume 12 ~ Feel Reggae ~ Carl Harvey ~ November 2018

11/30/2018

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Big day for Feel Reggae having this idrin Carl Harvey coming to speak of this time of reggae that he is still living and experiencing

The thing most known of Carl today is that he has been on tour with Toots Hibbert for over forty {40} years now

Toots & The Maytals

40 years

Member of the original funkmiesters, Crack Of Dawn with his brother, Rupert Harvey as well as others, a producer of five {5} of Messenjah's albums, both these bands signed to major record labels, firsts in Canadian music history, deserves props for said feats

I asked Carl why he nor Rupert are never contacted by companies like the CBC based on these outstanding accomplishments and his answer was, "I don't know. They never have and I don't care much because they don't butter my bread"

One of music's and reggae's top Canadian performers with zero regard to the CBC just like the rest of us

A known guitar impresario of global notoriety and in the past 40 years or so, the CBC and others don't acknowledge him

Interestingly, Carl is one of very few here in Canada who performed and recorded with the late, great Jackie Mittoo yet the CBC knows nothing of him but does features on Jackie

This is another example of why colonizer, white media in Canada are not our 'experts' on reggae. They don't know shit

I speak ill of them with no apology yet I move forward creating our own path

Our Feel Reggae conversation touched on many progressive thoughts and the one we kept coming back to is a "Reggae Society" where there is a place for live, reggae musicians to come and jam / perform weekly

This is the path of Feel Reggae where we do encourage folks in the audience to come jam at the end of the session

That offer still stands

Every week

David Kingston, a wealth of reggae knowledge shared his music and thoughts. This man is a walking reggae encyclopedia, supremely generous with his knowledge. As previously mentioned, Kingston was on air, every Friday night on CKLN 88.1FM for over a decade, bringing this music. His knowledge is vast!

Big love goes out to, five {5} time Juno Award winner, Exco Levi for the strength

I asked him what brought him out this time and said simply "Carl". They had never met before

Exco brought his experiences as a long time performer in the Canadian reggae scene as well as an international artist who has toured Europe and the Americas

A wealth of knowledge was shared

Reggae in Canada is a path by the people in the genre

The establishment has no interest in ever supporting the genre so reggae will always have a different set of challenges yet we seem to have the soldiers in place to deal with this next phase of growing internationally as well as monetizing the genre better than we have in past years

Thanks for the input Exco has given, who himself is eternally grateful for said establishment in his career to date with the programs that have aided his music as well as his travel for reggae. Factor and Socan grants have aided Exco fiscally and those programs are for anyone who wishes to seek them

Contradictory

No

Those who live it know it

The thing is, I am fully aware of the talent available here in Canada. They have proven it time and again and the fact that reggae isn't monetized better is TOTALLY on myself and many others in the genre. My mantra is to say "fuck you" to these bigoted morons yet they are not all alike. There are those with a sense of honor and fair play and a large audience in Canada who are more than ready to listen to this music. I will always focus on the positive. It is how I know how to win

Feel Reggae December will be Saturday, 22nd

Carl here relaying snippets of his life as a musician in Toronto's music scene

Here Exco Levi, 5 time Juno award winner, break out into a nostalgic tune made famous by Max Romeo, "Chase The Devil".

Exco is another of those who ovastand the need for unity and came to support the Feel Reggae initiative as well as the meet guitar legend, Carl Harvey. Jeremy Rempel of Fugitive Minds, jamming along as well

Undeniable talent and versatility on display as Carl rips into Jimi Hendricks's "Voodoo Child"

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NEWSLETTER ~ Volume 11 ~ November 2018

11/17/2018

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https://www.cbc.ca/television/fromthevaults/jackie-mittoo-and-the-golden-age-of-canadian-reggae-1.4903386?fbclid=IwAR3yGxp3IrnmzIW-60jU7Xt-30WJfw0_RLSK0wmHVKSkvvbIy4Xe0dA0WQ8

Canadian Reggae is always Golden

CBC did a lovely piece on the genius that is Jackie Mittoo

"Jackie Mitto and the golden age of Canadian reggae"

Really?

How inaccurate

Jackie was great and forever will be great... and golden too

CBC could use a conversation with those within the reggae community sometimes

There are and have been many golden occurrences within the reggae scene in Canada

They went through their archives to dig up performances with Jackie and Lord Tanamo, 2 original members of the legendary Skatalites, the foundation band of ska back in the 1960s in Jamaica

That Jackie Mittoo talent was quite unique and of virtuoso quality and deserves even greater accolades for said genius

Yet there is more

Bob Marley may well be considered as "the king of reggae" based on his vast accomplishments, body of work and talent but reggae has many, many, many, other sons and daughters. It ain't just about Bob

Reggae is a voice

A spiritual frequency that reaches conscious souls globally

It is not only about a single person

It is always a blessing to see the past honored as this doc has done for Jackie yet I wonder when the CBC or any other Canadian program will take the time to tell the world about The Sattalites, Messenjah, Exco Levi, Blessed, Ammoye, Tasha Tee, Kirk Diamond, Lazo, Jones and Jones, concerts at The Opera House, more about Jason Wilson or Carl Harvey who has toured with Toots Hibbert for the last 40 or so years

I managed IBADAN for over a decade and had many golden moments at Lee's Palace, The Bamboo, The El Mocambo, The Opera House and many other spots

CHRY 105.5, CKLN 88.1 with only CIUT 89.5 remaining of community radio through the 80s and the 90s. These were golden years for reggae as well. The radio personalities were as significant as many of the artists within the genre

Continue to support CIUT for many things including reggae. Patrick Roots and DB Hawkes have been at it, on air, probably 30 years each, spinning reggae music from vinyl / cassette to laptop

Point the lights and the cameras towards some of the people above. One will find lots of gold there

Too often reggae is viewed as nostalgia when we, Canada, have had this vibe, ongoing daily for over 50 years now

Daily

When is it given its value or it's due within its own time?

Where there is an ability to earn as opposed to token documentaries years after the artists are dead and buried?

I am proud to see Joe Issacs, Carol Brown, Jay Douglas, Jason Wilson, Lord Tanamo, Willi Williams and film of the reggae past. A source of pride for me as well as all who have lived it

Yet if the talent is good enough to be glorified, why is it so difficult to invest in the genre and pay its participants

Sad

Always accolades then excuses then always excluded from the fiscal table

Pride to watch heroes, friends, contemporaries on screen in our living rooms yet there is no fiscal value to this genre inna Canada

Back in the day the excuse was, "reggae is indigenous to Jamaica, so it can't get support here". You could hear that from grant applications to radio people to music heads, booking agencies, major and minor record labels across the industry

Lots of accolades yet loads of exclusion

That is a truth about reggae Canada

Always grateful for the pat on the head yet being paid for ones talent and work is far more rewarding in my eyes

Before you go with another age old story / myth, "we have no budget", please remember that in 2017, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra was awarded $7.5 MILLION grant for ONE celebration in Canada 150

One celebration

Reggae Canada received... Wait for it...

Zilch

I take this opportunity to speak on those who still do it today, continually at the highest level

Tokenism is one of the strategies of our colonial masters inna Canada

Track the royalty payments of some of those performing today or over the years and I bet you the least amount of royalties paid to Canadian performing reggae artists, come from Canada

The least amount

How come?

We still only talking about the late, great, Jackie Mittoo

There are others

There is much more to reggae music than one person

Yet always proud of Jackie... and Bob

BUJU

Thoughts on Buju Banton’s release from a decade of incarceration

What is your excitement level, 1 – 10, 10 being the most excited and 1 being the least?

Which artist {s} would like to see him do collaborations with? Beres? Damian and Stephen? Chronixx? Beenie Man and Bounty?

I hope and prayer is that Buju finds some levels of peace and harmony within and that this harrowing experiences has not darkened his spirit. I hope is that Buju will shine that light from within as only he has

Buju’s light

Reggae For Life

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NEWSLETTER ~ Morant Bay Rebellion ~November 2018

11/6/2018

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Morant Bay Rebellion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morant_Bay_rebellion

“The Morant Bay rebellion (11 October 1865) began with a protest march to the courthouse by hundreds of people led by preacher Paul Bogle in Morant Bay, Jamaica. Some were armed with sticks and stones. After seven men were shot and killed by the volunteer militia, the protesters attacked and burned the court house and nearby buildings. A total of 25 people died. Over the next two days, peasants rose up across St. Thomas-in-the-East parish and controlled most of the area.
The Jamaicans were protesting injustice and widespread poverty. Most freedmen were prevented from voting by high poll taxes, and their living conditions had worsened following crop damage by floods, cholera and smallpox epidemics, and a long drought. A few days before, when police tried to arrest a man for disrupting a trial, a fight broke out against them by spectators. Officials had issued a warrant for the arrest of preacher Bogle.
Governor Edward John Eyre declared martial law in the area, ordering in troops to hunt down the rebels. They killed many innocent black individuals, including women and children, with an initial death toll of more than 400. Troops arrested more than 300 persons, including Bogle. Many of these were also innocent but were quickly tried and executed under martial law; both men and women were punished by whipping and long sentences. This was the most severe suppression of unrest in the history of the British West Indies.[1] The governor had George William Gordon, a mixed-race representative of the parish in the Assembly, arrested in Kingston and brought back to Morant Bay, where he tried the politician under martial law. Gordon was quickly convicted and executed.
The violent suppression and numerous executions generated a fierce debate in England, with some protesting about the unconstitutional actions of the governor John Eyre, and others praising him for his response to a crisis. The rebellion and its suppression remain controversial, and it is frequently debated by specialists in black and colonial studies.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Paul Bogle and William Gordon died for freedom. Not for themselves, but for others

Bogle was a slave. He learned to read and write and taught “Christianity” to the slaves on the plantation. Though his own education he realized the madness of the colonizer / oppressor, who still run Jamaica even today and taught humans to stand up for themselves, knowing that the eventual outcome would be his death

That is a hero

Freedom was worth that to him

They hung Bogle and Gordon and hundreds of slaves in order to bring ORDER back to the enslaved

They felt that they had the right to murder Jamaicans then as they do today

Bogle and Gordon fought and died for Jamaicans as did Nanny and Garvey dedicate their lives to fight for and to uplift their own people

Nanny fought hand to hand combat with the Spaniards as well as the British risking her life for her people

Sam Sharpe fought and died for Jamaicans

The white, british colonizer does not have to degrade Jamaicans anymore, they get the government to do that on their behalf, starting with Bustamante who murdered Jamaicans. He murdered RasTafari

Bustamante is no hero to I man

Only one person within Heroes Circle murdered Jamaicans

Why is he there?

We have been placed on their hamster wheel for generations now

This is a part of the role of Reggae music to speak of these atrocities back from 1865 and continue to shine light on the same abuses every day, every week, month and year since then till this day in 2018

They will always kill

We will always resist the forked tongue speaking, grimy handshakes and back stabbing treaties that put our children and generations in constant harm’s way

To read Wikipedia, it sounds like the murderers were using a onetime solution of rape and murder of another human

Laughable

Same tactics are available and in use today, globally

This paragraph particularly points to that, “The violent suppression and numerous executions generated a fierce debate in England, with some protesting about the unconstitutional actions of the governor John Eyre, and others praising him for his response to a crisis. The rebellion and its suppression remain controversial, and it is frequently debated by specialists in black and colonial studies”

Fierce debate???? LMFAOOOOOO!!!

This means that most of them thought murdering people for rising up against enslavement, degradation and abuse was absurd and ungrateful

The colonizers were murdering then as they are doing in 2018

RasTafari heed the wise mind of Emperor Haile Selassie I when he wrote about independence,

“Freedom’s price is the sacrifice of the lives of innumerable heroes and in deep realization of this; it becomes the duty of free men everywhere to be prepared for the defence of their freedom”

This is the deep core of how reggae music feels to I man

This memory forms the core of us Jamaicans today I believe

Morant Bay rebellion is today for I and many like I

This is NOT history

It is today and everyday for I and many African people globally

Hear it in the music

There are THOUSANDS of reggae tunes and everyone has their favorites yet these stuck out for me
Don’t trust no politician as they have forever sold out the country since “independence”

Jesse Royal ~ Modern Day Judas

Defiance to european cultures and a focus on a RasTafari livity that some crazy white people today act like they invented veganism

We called it “ital”

RasTafari educated humanity based on what they learned from East Indian cuisine and culture

Pete Tosh educating you here with Mystic Man

A defiance of the european lies in so called “west indian” history is something reggae never shies away from. Here is the mighty, Burning Spear informing you of the liar, rapist, pillager, “Christopher Columbus”

“Slavery Days” speaks volumes

Judgment from the fire man Capleton

Rising the ghetto youths out of the slum

Bob Marley ~ Slave Driver

This is what many of us wish to hear, away from their colonial, murderous Christian teachings and choose who rules us. Never a white Jesus or any other european deity

Joseph Hill and Culture

RasTafari does not seek colonizer rule. We choose His Majesty, come look pon Jah Pretty Face

Add your song in the comments if you see and feel what I observe

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NEWSLETTER Volume 10 ~ Feel Reggae Edition ~November 2018

10/31/2018

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Feel Reggae

This path is a true blessing

We sit around and talk about the history of Jamaican music, leading into reggae music and the truth is in the music

Nuh guy can come tell wi what reggae is... unless you feel it

And we can tell if you do or you don’t. We can see and smell the culture vulture a mile off and there are many of those

They use the music in commercials to make their products more pleasing and acceptable. Actually, they are seeking the “cool”

Popular artists on major record labels throw in a reggae track or get a reggae toaster on their tunes so that they can gain their street cred

Put Jamaica, reggae or the word “jerk” into something white and suddenly it is cool

CBC, The CRTC, Billboard Magazine, Rolling Stone or any other colonizer organizations can’t tell me shit about reggae. Combined they have less information about the music and the culture than aliens from outer space

“You can’t fake the funk”

Reggae is a truth serum

Don’t put it in your mouth and don’t expect repercussions...positive or negative

Reggae’s path is a truth saying, along with world class beats and riddims, creating a spiritual frequency that can only be felt. It isn’t always an intellectual ideology that solves the deeply spiritual genre of music. The intelligence of the spirit is far beyond intellectual. There are no language words for reggae

You feel it or you don’t

It is inclusive to all sentient beings and a detriment to the vampire in all of its forms

So I mostly focus on the positive

Reggae Music

So very grateful for this reggae path and the ability to speak about it and encourage performances as well dialogue on all aspects to continue my own learning of this genre

Feel Reggae

A program where we take the musical history of Jamaican music from mento, ska, rocksteady to reggae and have discussions around the music and its creation / creativity

Dr. John Jason Wilson is a professor at Guelph University and also a protege of the late, great, Jackie Mittoo, sitting at Jackie's knee since he was about 15 - 16 years old

Jackie taught him well

Jason combines his Celtic background of folk tunes to jazz, to rock, R&B, to ska, rocksteady and reggae all within the same song at times

In this blog, I invite you to a performance on your time, at your convenience. The goal is always to build an energy, where events of this caliber are well attended enough to pay the artists for their talent and work

All over Europe this commerce ensues daily yet here in colonizer Canada we seem to have an issue paying artists of any genre except for what “they” deem important

~
$7.5 MILLION dollars for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for ONE celebration, Canada 150 yet $0.00 for reggae music EVER!

Zero!
~

It is appropriate that I rant at the end of this performance, Warrior, a tune Jason co-wrote with the late Jackie Mitto and also fused with another reggae gorgon, Willi Williams, Armageddon Time, speaking of the dread times in which we reside, a Jamaican cultural icon Willi still is today
Authentic reggae history, present and future continues in Canada

Bless Jason Wilson for being one of the flag bearers and soldiers

As the convo and performances continued, Jason played us “Matty Groves”. When he sent me the album “Perennials “a decade ago and he asked me what I favorite track was, Matty Groves was it. A Celtic folk story of pomp and pageantry, adultery and murder with jazz riffs, reggae bubbling and bass-line and a cool story

This was the encore at the Feel Reggae Seminar ~ Confucius by The Skatalites

It is an old-time reggae / ska standard that many have played yet Jason plays it well. Sunray’s drum solo was tight and on point

I was blessed to be there

Feel Reggae is a path of reggae edutainment that I feel compelled to do based on the negative stigma the colonizer Canada seems to portray as it pertains to the negativity of some of the music, attitudes, psyche, defiance, knowledge that is a truth to the people who play it, dance to it, listen to it... feel it

I am compelled to tell a story that the colonizer can’t tell

Because they can’t feel it

Grateful for the reggae heads globally who feel what I feel

Another awesome session was with poet, song writer, Michael St. George, featured here with Peter Holung, founder of IBADAN, who have worked together many times in the past and this is the flavor of what the creativity brings, which is more along the lines of R&B yet still based in dub

An artist that tackles many emotions within his poetry and finds the vibe to bring an uplifting energy to the masses, Michael is another of these gems. He has many like that and this one, Fight your Fears is one of his latest

Another boss moment at the Fell Reggae genre was the first week when Belinda Brady came to perform. Belinda a veteran performer in Canada, Jamaica as well as globally for over 30 years is the daughter of Carl Brady, a cofounder and member of Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires, this apple did not fall far from the tree

At the first Feel Reggae Session she joined up with Peter Holung to do an improve of “Wishing You were Here” with the ‘waiting in vain’ bass-line

This is a live performance from 2010 at a benefit for “Reggae For Life ~ Haiti” with a cameo from the very amazing Errol Blackwood

I could not do this without introducing some of you to Mojah

Mojah is one of the founding members of Truths & Rights, a reggae band in the 1970s which included the late Garry Lowe on bass

A RasTafari band, globally respected

Many apologies for the film quality but our camera broke and we had to use cell phone technology and grateful that we got the performance

Thank you Fergus Hambleton for saying yes and performing at Feel Reggae

Fergus, another pioneer of the Canadian reggae scene, a cofounder of the Sattalites along with Jojo Bennett is one of my friends, mentors and a true lover of music

This one isn’t a reggae track yet so worth the listening time and effort

"Fade to Black" featured with Peter Holung on that trusty bass

Peter Tosh ~ Feel Reggae

Spirituality is the basis of reggae music

That spiritual frequency of the truth

“If reggae is not accepted universally, around the world, what is the use of the music” ~ Peter Tosh

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NEWSLETTER ~ Volume 9 ~ October 2018

10/25/2018

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Feel Reggae Seminar

Can’t teach reggae as it can only be felt

Peter Tosh said words like this nearly 50 years ago and today seem so prophetic

We carry on in that tradition hosting these Seminars with guests included so far, Peter Holung {IBADAN}, Belinda Brady, Jeremy Rempel of Fugititve Minds, Mojah {Truth & Rights, Big Sugar}, David Kingston of old 88.1FM fame

Our path is to discuss reggae music as well as to play it for an appreciative audience

This week we have the honor of Jason Wilson hosting the event

Reggae Lane

Reggae Lane isn't right yet

It can be but it isn't right just yet

Big business came in and gentrified what was affectionately called Little Jamaica, getting its fame from the little strip directly east of Oakwood, where Toronto had a real, authentic reggae culture, where worldwide practitioners of reggae congregated, making hte area even more famous

Many of the business owners and family left the area with a bitter taste in their mouths on how they were treated. They had businesses there for decades

They don't give a shit about Reggae Lane

There is a sentiment by many artists, performers and musicians who have resided here for 40 - 50 years who detest the hooker, crack head with the walking zombies laneway, as a gross disrespect to Jamaican culture and to reggae music

I of course see this differently yet I am empathetic to some of those sentiments

I'd like to someday properly honor those who held up Little Jamaica for the past 50 years. What that compensation may look like, I have no clue yet I see some respect needs to be paid by those early day soldiers

Rumor has it that the Laneway my disappear in the continued gentrification of the area

If so, Reggae Lane will continue as a concept

History shows, the first lane way named after reggae music happened right here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at Eglinton and Oakwood

Reggae Lane

...was born

I goal, differently than the city councillors, government organizers, is to earn from our reggae culture and contributions in Canada and to build on my / our own

There is currently only one Reggae Lane on the planet

Reggae will make its own path

If you have any regard for I n I path, share the information and wear this brand proudly

Reggae is love and truth

That’s what we bring

Click on the photos to enlarge

Where to purchase CRW reggae brands
{Click on tee to view page}

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NEWSLETTER ~ Volume 8 ~ October 2018

10/18/2018

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Welcome back to this newsletter collaboration between Toronto Reggae and Canadian Reggae World

We are having nuff fun producing it

To start off this week I give you a cool vibe and energy by an artist who we haven't heard from in a minute, Kidd RasTa. This tune is an uplifting energy that I would love to share with reggae fans

A reminder to always get back up

Congratulations to Grace Jones receiving the Order Of Jamaica for style

Jones has been an international icon as a designer, model, recording artist and actress

Proud of this lady

http://www.loopslu.com/content/fashion-icon-grace-jones-receives-order-jamaica-style-2

The Abbott in Parkdale ~ 99 Spencer Avenue

On top of serving boss coffee in this historic Toronto spot, I also found some art... cool illustrations by sister Amita SenGupta

Dr. Jason Wilson brings some keyboard stylings to the Feel Reggae Seminar

The goal of these seminars is to explore the root{s} of reggae music and to display the feel of it through the performance

Joining Jason will be bassie Peter Holung

Big Sugar, tribute , honor to the life of bassie Garry Lowe

Condolences to the Hammond family

RIP Boyo Hammond

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NEWSLETTER ~ Volume 7 ~ October 2018

10/8/2018

2 Comments

Buju Banton

A polarizing figure in reggae and within the dancehall is set to be released from a ten year prison sentence this December

The Gargamel {Gorgon / General it has always meant to me} has lit up reggae and the dancehall for several years and speaks / conveys a spiritual energy that resonates with millions of fans worldwide

What will his first single sound like?

What will the first album sound like?

Outside of Damian and Stephen Marley, who else will the Gargamel do collaborations with? You KNOW that there will be a line up for that opportunity to work with one of the greatest voices of the dancehall

Has going to jail for trafficking cocaine tarnished or diminished Buju’s message to the world? As for me, I say no as I have found Buju to be one of the most honest voices in reggae music

“Circumstances make me what I am...” tells me of a person aware of his shortcomings, accepting himself, yet not stopping to speak on his own reality, which is what I feel endears him to so many others, like me, who are not perfect yet don’t feel “less” because we aren’t

Buju is a champion of truth for the ghetto people and for black people and I expect / hope that his next album will explode across the planet with his unique perspective on colonial abuse to Africans globally, which I believe is the real reason that he went to jail

“They” felt a need to shut his mouth and succeeded for a decade

So we wait in collective, excited anticipation for the works of Buju Banton

There are many many, but THIS track tells a real big story for who wah hear

superheavyREGGAE

Friendlyness, Jeremiah and I Sax, was and still is a deadly combination

56 Kensington

Dat session could not miss me

Anousheh used to collect at the door. Possibly one of the most vertically challenged females (she shawt) I know yet you could not blow by her at the door

She ruled with a firm, loving, respected iron fist

Powerful lady and a beautiful powerful energy

Part of my night was standing at the door with her at times, reasoning about whatever and dancing. She nevva stop dance

If the person at the door is dancing, everyone else would

One of the last Toronto, downtown vibes where people went to dance to rootical reggae music all night long

Their posters were also little works of reggae art

The vibe was a blessing unto itself

One of the cooler jams around

Rootical music and rootical people gravitated towards the energy

Thankful to my idrens for being a part of the reggae history that I have witnessed

Check out a few posters and photos... Most are from their move to Thymeless Reggae Bar

Pebbles In The Pond

Tribute to Johnny Clarke ~ None Shall Escape Judgement In This Time

RasTafari consciousness

Once I write those words, I realize that the message can't be brought with force and anger

So the truth is that, morally, I am unable to celebrate a heinous genocide of peaceful, spiritually connected humans, innocent humans

Women

Children

Indian Act, Reservations, rape, highest rate of suicide among teenagers, residential schools

That whole "conqueror" mentality isn't for me possibly because psychologically I am still recovering from I own "conquered" past

Yet as a human I wished history was a kinder story but alas it isn't

Killjoy?

Ok

I still love many of you today, yesterday and tomorrow and thankful for you

I give thanks for your love to me

I give thanks that I have you to love

This is a song that I wanted to post for a couple of days... it is possible that this song, listening to it some nearly 50 years later, can invoke this response

Spread love, even when you have to speak a truth

Health & Fitness

For those who like this livity, I am one of those

When I learn something I pass it on

This product from Herbally Healing has gained my interest and if you wish a bottle for coughs and colds, email us at canadianreggaeworld@gmail.com and we will pass it on... for delivery or for pick up

Elderberry ~ Herbally Healing

Elderberry is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world

Traditionally, Native Americans used it to treat infections, while the ancient Egyptians used it to improve their complexions and heal burns. It’s still gathered and used in folk medicine across many parts of Europe

Today, elderberry is most often taken as a supplement to treat cold and flu symptoms

However, the raw berries, bark and leaves of the plant are also known to be poisonous and cause stomach problems

This article takes a closer look at elderberry, the evidence supporting its health claims and the dangers associated with eating it

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NEWSLETTER Volume 6 ~ October 2018

10/4/2018

2 Comments

Feel Reggae

Peter Tosh

Talk to de people

"Yu cyaa teach reggae, yu haffe feel it" ~ Peter Tosh

"A RasTaman speaks the truth"

Blessings I sistrin, this is a part of the inspiration for this Feel Reggae movement in this time. The information has always been thus

I am grateful to the artists and the fans who ovastand this energy and come to support the vibes

Real Reggae ~ Feel Reggae

Jason Wilson

Next Feel Reggae Seminar in October

Jason Wilson is one of those rare proteges of the late, great, Jackie Mittoo, who was and probably is considered as the most creative mind in reggae history

Jason himself has such a creative mind as he incorporates reggae with jazz with Scottish vibes as it is his background

Jason has traveled the world playing all kinds of styles of music and played with folks like Ernest Ranglin, UB-40, Michael St George as well as a member of several bands

One of the bands he worked with for years at The Bamboo was Jason Wilson and Tabarruk for those who remember the Boo days

Dr. Wilson, will join us on the 27th to lead this Feel Reggae Seminar

David Kingston will be by to spin some conscious tunes as well

Ras Penco

A blessing to touch base with this RasTafari idrin

I first heard / noticed him as I was hosting a radio show and heard his track "First Child". That tune made me a fan and I have remained so ever since

Support gifted talent

“Pebble in the Pond”

Getting dumped

Take your dumping like a man / woman

I have suffered this a few times in my life as well as I have asked folks to move along

Any devious behavior after the fact like stalking, trolling, revenge tactics, long winded texts about seeking closure is needy and demeaning to yourself

Stop it!

Walk away

Whatever you think that the other person felt, or said to you that you think was so genuine isn’t them being devious, it is you not taking responsibility for your spiritual self and not feeling the truth

Living spiritually creates greater clarity with love and truth

If you are not with the person that you think / thought that you loved so much is you missing the spiritually truth

THEY WERE NOT MEANT FOR YOU

All other explanations that you give yourself about how devious they are, is you not taking responsibility for you spiritual truth

I've been dumped a couple of times too

You tell yourself all kinds of shit but when I think about the folks that I have ended relationships with, I just wished that they would stop asking "why?" all the time and go away. Not out of anger but you honestly don’t feel the way that they do and trying to explain why, is an impossible task as it is a spiritual disconnection and not always easily explained

So I remember that and move on

Move on

The “problem” isn’t them, it is you not accepting the spiritual truth

Tenor Saw – Laying him to rest

The phenom

A true candidate for the title King of The Dancehall with the numbers of hits that still currently rock the dancehall{s} globally

Any dance yu go, one Tenor Saw must get played and I guarantee you will get a wheel up on most of his tunes

I was finally able to put a vibe to he who Tenor Saw was and he was exactly what I expected and already knew him to be, through his music and lyrical content

Though it hurts I man to know the truth of his passing, the brutality of it, alone and left for dead, I feel like knowing it and now sharing it, gives us an opportunity to reach out and walk with him... even for a minute so that his spirit can rest from such a brutal ending of a beautiful life force

Clive truly touched my heart with his music and his loving ways

Dem cyaa duss him out jus so

Dem nuh get fe kill this soul jus so

Send Clive your spiritual love on his journey for the beautiful energy that he gave us in his music

Ites up Tenor Saw

Business highlight this week ~ Kushwells

2 Comments

NEWSLETTER ~ Volume 5 ~ 28th September, 2018

9/28/2018

8 Comments

Reggae influences the world and is influenced by the world

For some like me, reggae is life

It is everyday life and I am grateful for that path

RasTafari guides, rules and reigns, in thoughts, creativity and opinions voiced and written

Raspect to all of the conscious souls who take the time to read and peruse this offering to the world

Orange Shirt Day

First on the agenda, Sunday September 30th, is Orange Shirt Day

Hundreds of thousands of children and millions of lives of Native humans were raped, murdered and destroyed and the rape and murders continue today in Canada by white racist sub-humans in the decision making within the Canadian government

That is an undeniable truth

The Indian Act created Residential Schools where Native humans {babies and children} were ripped away from their parents and abused within this racist system

Wearing an Orange Shirt is a show of love and solidarity to these abused humans and hopefully create greater awareness so that justice can be brought for these many Native souls

Michael St. George ~ Feel Reggae

The Feel Reggae energy blossoms as we roll along

Last week we had David Kingston, who pioneered a reggae resurgence in 1982 with his show, “Reggae Showcase” which ended in 1992, bringing that conscious, rootical reggae music to the masses. Kingston was loved and rated by many of us fans and grateful that he took on the service of “reggae”

Feel Reggae runs from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. David came to spin at 3:00 and then after 6:00pm, dropping GEMS in the ears of the fans. David will be coming from time to time, beating tunes for those who like to listen

Klive Walker made another appearance. Author of "Dubwise" in 2005, Klive is one of the world's foremost reggae historians and generously shares his knowledge and time with the community

Michael St. George

Poet, singer, songwriter

Michael spoke of his journeys here in Canada as well as in the UK, Jamaica and parts of Africa

One of Toronto / Canada’s most celebrated and accomplished poets, Michael gave an appreciative audience great performances and patiently hosted a Q & A making all in the room feel welcomed as well as informed

The performances were pretty awe inspiring and I am still answering calls about Michael as well as the performances each day since the event

The next Feel Reggae event, on the 27th October will be hosted by none other than Jason Wilson a Jackie Mittoo protege

Kabaka Pyramid

I met Kabaka Pyramid a couple of years ago at Sankofa Restaurant, owned by African Star

Representing CRW I was there as “media” yet when I got there, he looked like a man who had answered too many questions already, so I let him chill

After another round of questioning, he was walking past where I stood, then he stopped in the middle of the room, then we approached each other. No cameras, no lights, no pen and paper, just two idrinsof this reggae journey

I did want to speak with him. I went to the event because it was him {I don’t go to much things}

I wanted to tell him that I was impressed with the consciousness he and his peers, Chronixx, Jessie Royal, Iba Mahr, Jah 9, Protege, Damian & Stephen Marley and other young RasTafari generation were bringing “it” the way it was supposed to be

Consciousness

Spirituality

Militancy

Truth

I recommend his album Kontraband to the youth seeking a path as well as intelligent commentary within the art

Kirk Diamond

2018 Juno Award winner, Kirk Diamond

An artist that I have had the pleasure of reasoning with one on one

I think the first thing I told him that he was gifted

I like his spiritual energy... He actually tries to be nice to people yet as a younger person, in this time, with the levels of cynicism, it remains a challenge that he is working through

RasTafari touches him so I hear that in his music... makes me a “Greater” fan

Big chune!

When I say Canada has some gems, this is truly one of them, in my humble opinion