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Artist Entitlement

7/20/2022

"Artist Entitlement"

I've had recent interaction with certain artists about their music / career over the years as well as recently and it truly made me resentful when I felt that some of these artists blame my work or lack of work for their demise

The vibe I have noticed from a couple of folks, is what I may describe as "entitlement"

By that I mean, they assume that I should drop what I'm doing to promote them and their music. Mind you, some of said artists have no respect or regard for me or my work but still want I man to promote their music anyway?????

I must speak as humbly and as honestly as possible as I consider myself as an artist with my loves of illustration, music and the drum so I do relate to the need for positive validation for one's creations

But

Because you choose to write a song or an album, does not mean that the world will automatically relate to, or love your music... no matter how great that you think that it is

Let the fanbase decide. Not your family members. If fans like your music, DJs will find you

If you are already in your mid-thirties and over and you are not an artist of great reknown, your chances of international success are greatly diminished as a marketable brand. The largest buyers / consumers of current music are youth. Chances are, if you are past 35 with no history of charting or selling music, the odds are stacking up against your possible fiscal success as they do not relate to you nor do your music and lyrics relate to them

Fans like music and artists that the can relate to

If you are in your 40s and 50s telling me that, I personally, or CRW does not do enough to help your journey or that of Canadian Reggae, you are not focused enough on the person in the mirror

Some of you will not "make it"

Never make it

The statistics of life, is that the top 1% of the top 1% will make it in most endeavors. The rest of the 99.99999% of us are just regular

De top a top

My ego tells me that I'm truly special, as it should, but not everyone else will agree that I am so special and I must accept this

So must you as a performer / songwriter

I'm not saying that one shouldn't dream. Our dreams keep our hopes alive and can elevate our creativity to write and produce music but that does not make it an instant hit song

I initially started writing this out of anger based on a couple of recent conversations, when it felt like I was being blamed for the demise of the person complaining, then my compassionate soul kicked in and toned down my rage, as my artist energy kicked in

Not all of you are going to make it

More accurately, most of you won't

Yet if some of those blaming me and the world for their failure, I'm suggesting that your focus is completely wrong and to revert your gaze and attention to the person in the mirror

My compassionate spirit tells me that art is another component of love

Making art is making love

The love is translated through lyric or the music or a combination of the two [or brush or pencil strokes], that melds with the fan/s. That love and feeling is a spiritual energy and if your music does not resonate, continue in a loving path and you might find something substantial to self and to the world at large

If you blame CRW, Toronto Reggae, Reggaeville, Irie FM or any other outside source, believe me you are on the wrong track

Some folks will never ovastand that

A loving energy is my path and if I feel toxicity or venom, I avoid those energies, which is the reason that I do not vibe with everyone and do not work with everyone
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Reggae gives life, saves lives, helps life

For conscious humans ovastanding the balance of RasTafari

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Why Ras Spanky is important to I n I Community

7/4/2022

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Corral Gardens

All Jamaicans should hang our collective heads in shame for that incident in history

We should still be ashamed because NO ONE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO JUSTICE FROM THESE HEINOUS CRIMES and Jamaica still treat RasTafari like criminals to be looked down upon. No Jamaican government has ever protected its people. They are all slaves to western corruption which includes The IMF and The World Banks

The apology by Holness is not, never, never, ever acceptable!

They distract us through deep corruption, bringing about high level murder rates for decades now in the country

Since "independence"

Independence mi rass

What an abusive insult to Jamaican people but we also could have done nothing about the colonial abuses then or today. We are forever pawns in this game

Bustamante ordered the murder of RasTafari

Jamaican people

All Jamaican leaders, with the exception of Michael Manely have abused Jamaican people and continue to do so today

Corral Gardens

Someone said that Rastaman dem just up and burnt down a gas station

Really?

Just for the hell of it

Another "rumor" is that the CIA and or the FBI groomed black agents to grow "Dread locks" on their heads, to simulate RasTafari, burnt the gas station so that the corrupt government would have an excuse to raid Corral Gardens of probably a few million dollars from ganja sales that could not be put legally in bank accounts. The raids then and now were and are about stealing RasTafari money

This is only a rumor though [wink wink]

I believe there are other stories and rumors too, but the Prime Minister at the time, "Sir" Alexander Bustamante famously said, and I paraphrase, "if they cannot fit in the jail house, there is room for them on Bogue Hill."

Bogue Hill was a cemetery

"Sir", gave a statement to the babylon to effectively brutalize and kill RasTafari man and rape RasTafari woman

Jamaican man and woman

Innocent Jamaicans

"Sir" is no Jamaican hero

Not to I man

Nanny, yes

Three Finger Jack, yes

Nanny, Jack, Leonard Howell, Marcus Garvey and others, used their love for the people to create better education for intellectual, spiritual and financial upliftment for their people. For all people

They put themselves at risk and do not bow

Spanky is like that

A RasTafari, peaceful man at heart, a teacher, selling herb, marijuana, ganja for decades now and playing music, reggae music to his community. My community

I asked him how many times his businesses were raided by the Toronto police. I asked if he had a number written down of the times babylon raided his establishment to which he said, over the past 20 years, he has lost count

I average 5 raids a year, for 25 years puts it at over 100 times. This is a conservative count

Why was he raided you ask?

Selling herb to the community is that answer

Herb

Ganja

The same ganja that babylon now profits from with their dispensaries

They told us that he was a gangster

This highly respected RasTafari elder does not bow and through his perseverance, he has given I man a real strength to stand up on I own two feet as a man

A real man

A Lion of I community

A proud Rastaman

After each raid and he was released he was back to chopping herb for the community THE VERY NEXT DAY!

Nuh hitch

This Rastaman is leader, owner and selecta of King Stereograph here in Toronto, a RasTafari Sound System serving our community for close to three decades now. A true musical servant of this community

A RasTafari elder of honor, courage and integrity who has been friend and mentor to many

A man of nobility that leads through his actions. A man who I speak highly about to my own children

He is no "criminal". That is babylonian disrespect which I refuse to ever accept. Their bullshit isn't my truth and certainly does nothing to diminish my love and respect for this general

He elevates the community

He elevates me

He inspires my work as he does with many around him

DJ Records, at Eglinton and Keele is where he sells music, drums, herbs, roots drinks, ludo boards, books and literature on RasTafari, incense and much more. I encourage our community to promote and to support this leader of our village

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RasTafari Sounds ~ Reggae Cafe ~ Thursday, 30th June, 2002

6/27/2022

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Stereograph Sound

A legendary sound from Jamaica to Canada

The official sound for the late Daddy U Roy

Here in Toronto, Ras Simeion aka Ras Spanky, proprietor of DJ Records for over 25 years now, at Eglinton and Keele

SturGav is a RasTafari sound

Same one

Over the recent years, homage has been paid to reggae contributors over the years and Ras Spanky's contribution is no less than anyone honored to date

As an elder in our community, Ras Spanky is a beacon of conscious reasoning for many years, in one of the most famous basements on the planet

He is certainly has been a mentor for I man

His abilities as a selector are in fact, legendary

Come witness this energy for yourself

Mally Bless

Artist, producer, DJ, father, husband, founder of Starliners Entertainment with wife Tonya P [when you have a moment check out Easy Going Towing]

This lion continues to forge his own solo career as he aids in producing for various artists and is a gifted DJ of all styles

Recently, he has focused his energies on promoting Canadian produced reggae music, truly aiding to grow our vibe globally

RASTAFARI SOUNDS meet up at Reggae Cafe this Thursday, 30th June, 2022

Come back to Eglinton Avenue where we once made the street hot with reggae music

Bring an idrin

Bring a sistrin

P. S. Friday is a holiday

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The Root of Reggae

4/21/2022

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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

4 Comments

The Judas Factor ~ An Easter Parable

4/14/2022

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As Easter rolls around, I thought that I'd tell my take on the parable of the last supper as it pertains to everyday life

For the non-religious and folks not into the church thing, the quick story is, we children of God are to be thankful for the Christ sacrificing his life for humanity, for He loved us so much. That's the gist of the story anyway and He rose (came back to life on the third day, was seen by a few folks and then up, "He rose" into Heaven), hence the long weekend...lol

Before all of the dying and the rising, Jesus gathered His twelve disciples for His last supper and among the things He told them, "One of you has betrayed me" to which all of them denied it but Jesus knew already that it was Judas, rumored to be the disciple he loved most. His best friend

I took mental notes as youth in Sunday School as well as Bible study and as I have learned in my personally limited experiences, I try to grasp the teachings

Lesson 1: Out of every thirteen people I meet, one of them is Judas!

We continue...

After the Christ was captured, they asked a few of the disciples if they knew Him or were affiliated with Him and each of them denied Him. They asked each one, not once, not twice but thrice and they denied the Christ all three times

Lesson 2: The essence of Judas is in every person that we meet and probably within all of us given the right or the wrong set of circumstances

Christians say constantly, Jesus is love and I see where this must be a truth. Though His love, He is able to easily see deceit and betrayal in the souls of all around Him

Love

Love is not blind

Love can easily feel {see} love coming from family and friends as well as from pets and love can easily feel it when someone doesn't love you, especially when they are close to you. You may not be able to explain it, but you can always feel it

The Judas factor is happening in all aspects of life

Love

Arm yourself in love. Real love. You will clearly see who honors you as well as those who mean you no good

Your instincts are a part of your "love antenna" and they are never wrong. We sometimes argue with these instincts of ours but they are always right, even if we don't listen. Love puts those antenna out to defend the host... constantly

You are responsible for your own love; of nurturing and building loving energies so one moves in a more honorable path and suss out the fake folks and skin teet energy

Your love will highlight all the Judas's you will come into contact with

Lesson 3: Love must guide my path as honorably as I can live in it, in every aspect of my life so that my instincts, my "love antenna" may work properly in living my best life

This as usual is written from my own feel... not meant to be a guide for anyone but myself, so as you may disagree, this is fine, please go and live your path

Amen

~ ~ ~ ~

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Living In Love

4/11/2022

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I was asked about my deep affections for my ex-wife and how it would affect any future relationships negatively, like some feel that I need to "get over" loving her

I believe the persons asking the question felt that the feelings I had / have for her is hindering future relationships and one even said that it would be unfair for a future partner to compete for those affections and that I needed to get over such feelings for her

One female friend pointed out that the break up with my ex, screwed it for all other women since the split

I also suspect lots of folks would share such sentiments in this insecure energy currently on this planet. Our need for ownership is ingrained in all of us. It is my personal experience that, in most relationships, we "own" our mates

"My man"

"My girl"

I feel now that is unhealthy thinking in our society cause nothing "belongs" to anyone on a physical plane even if your have a legal deed for the land, house, car, slaves on a plantation... nothing is "owned" but we are indoctrinated into this divisive energy with no map to get out of

I fell victim to that thinking the she was "mine" and got a rude awakening when reality set in and she was no longer mine

What happens then?

Deeeeeeeeeeppp despair. That's what! And as I wallowed through this painful realization that I was never going to have her again, the hot lava of sorrow melted down deep in my soul

What was I going to do?

Then it happened

The sunshine got let in through the dark curtain of deep sorrow

No matter whether she was with me or not, I can still love her. The memories of lived experiences from our past are beautiful today because they were beautiful then

I can love her for my whole life even if I have another partner and I will. My new partner ovastands and encourages that love, not intimidated by it, knowing my depth of love is hers to explore as well and create a secure and honestly loving bond. She does not have to stop loving past relationships for me either

Love is good in all forms

One's depth of love is truly individual so it is impossible to guage when we all have our own fantasies / illusions of what love is / means

I think that my love is eternal as well as ethereal and will survive when my physical essence has expired

Without her physically in my space does not hinder my spirit nor my zest for life. I find myself able to love more honestly and freely without the hangups of neediness or ownership

Living in love must have some hard truths one must try to face as well as to live

Love is nice

Love is always worth finding and keeping

Love is nice to share in your close circles and then sometimes, to total strangers

I think it is necessary for many to elevate in love based on the abuses by those who rule this world, as it shifts the consciousness in ways that cannot be controlled

Love cannot be controlled

This isn't about "war" which is how we are easily distracted nor is it about fighting, it is about loving and giving it freely

No fight

No fuss

Just love

Mally Bless & Tonya P bringing the Starliners energy to the world

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Reggae and Humanity

4/8/2022

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Some white people butt hurt about the loud, angry, aggressive response of many black people about the Soja, Grammy win and think it is about hating white people and the typical Karen response is to cry about it and make it about their white hurt

This is how one removes the "friends" of the black and Reggae community, separating ourselves from those who make it about their whiteness. These karens do expose their lack of knowledge and more importantly, lack of empathy for the African descent souljahs who created their own music, their own sound, a place for a black man / woman to wail about the european / white abuses from slavery to present

Karen cries about her / his whiteness

Karen does not love me or my people. She / he loves the culture, the notoriety she / he can get from the culture but no empathy for the journey of reggae through the expression of black man degradation

When Marley, Spear, Tosh, past and present reggae souljahs sing / speak, it is of lived abusive experiences still happening across the entire world and in Jamaica, the mandigo spirit is deep within many of the population and the fires of freedom and pride is always ablaze within

We fight on, even as babylon attempts to constantly trample black man pride

If Karen cared, she / he would not cry so hard when many of us seem so affronted by a reggae win by the children of the colonizer

Karen worries about what Putin and Russia are doing to the people of the Ukraine but no love or interest for what Ukranian, Romanian and Polish soldiers and authorities are doing to the black people at the borders of these countries. They do not care that my children aren't protected like the white children

Karen don't care about me

If Karen was so into humanity and love for the world and for black humans, you might hear him / her speak of such degradation to black children but Karen don't care for me or mine

Soja gets props from other credible, reggae, black reggae artists who have traveled a twenty year reggae journey with these white brothers and their respect for Soja is real

I have no hate for Soja

I believe in the love of RasTafari and the true brotherhood of man and my black degradation is front and center of my psyche and as a reggae man, I do not see this music, Soja, relating to me in any way. I do not feel that soulful groove prevalent in the music and Reggae culture since its inception

Africans dance the colonizer abuse away. We dance for and with our ancestors. We feel our music. I do not feel Soja music

Fuck these Karens in I n I culture who benefit from the loving energies of inclusiveness by African children and turn around and make it about their white hurt

Because I cuss and swear and am quite angry at times, the love of reggae, the love for humanity, the pride in my mandigo spirit will speak my truths no matter how many white friends I end up losing

They were never friends

The humans, who are in my circle with true love, care about the corruption and abusive gun crime in Jamaica, in Toronto and shared knowledge of the colonizer abuses to Native humans and that brotherhood I share with these friends are deep and everlasting

Both mothers of my children are white and I have great love and pride in both of them as women and mothers of my children. I am blessed with how my children love their moms and are guided by their attentive mummy-love for all of my babies

Yeah, "I have white friends" yet I can and must speak a stronger speak to elevate the spirit of this civilization that that we must all endure

My issue isn't "reverse racism" as karens point out and admit to their own natural racist behaviors

Empathy

Reggae is a love and freedom music and all of its souljahs are truly connected globally in all races. We feel and love each other no matter color of skin. The love for humanity is a common bond among all I n I reggae idrin and sistrin around the globe

Our love for each other is real

Karen does not know reggae when he or she complains of hurt. They shine a racist spotlight which is difficult to miss

I must address this so the real ones know the deal

Reggae nor RasTafari is about hate

I am reggae and RasTafari

But I am angry

I am not pleased at the on-going orchestrated abuse to Jamaicans by colonizer planted governments yet at the same time, our music is here to aid us to chant and spread that loving energy around this earth, through generations of humans from all four corners

We are one

We do feel each other

All of us are on the freedom team

All know of the rise of this music from a strong and proud race of humans called Jamaicans

There is no insecurity of any race, especially the white race of "stealing reggae" cause reggae finds all its own souljahs and those who try to steal it, or claim their whiteness are called out by the culture. Rejected by the culture

Reggae IS a global brother and sisterhood and all of its souljahs feel each other and our love is real and we are on one team. We know each other though the love in our eyes

One cannot talk their way on this team

The love separates the wheat from the sheaf

The love is the key

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Reggae Is A Prize

4/5/2022

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Reggae is a prize

The colonizer attempts at control of the culture is relentless

Reggae / Dancehall is news, opinions, revelations of truth and love, relationships, human interaction and a wise outlet to speaking on colonial abuse to black people and the planet earth

The speech is explosive, passionate and downright violent at times

But that is the pattern

The feel of the music touches the minds and souls of the listener and has been known to move the body as well. Dancing to reggae music / dancehall has a life of its own, with new dances being created at all times

Dance is all about feel

Lyrically, the feel is prevalent from many shared experiences from the colonial whip which is still felt by the "subjects" of the colony... daily

Reggae music some call "feel good music" even though many genre of music makes us feel pretty good

It is also referred as "freedom music" as it has been instrumental in the liberation of many minds of black people globally

Control

Babylon is about controlling its citizens

Controlling the narrative

The message/s of those in control get challenged by the downtrodden, which is a large portion of the black world who feel victimized by those who make law

Dancing is a great outlet for stress from abuse

Lyrically, the music also provides stress relief because even if we are unable to change the abuse, we sing about it

We chant together

Globally

That is powerful medicine

Babylon is now fully educated at the power of reggae music and has made concerted efforts to control the culture now for the past 20 - 30 years

It is my opinion, that the governments of Jamaica have been instrumental in quashing the culture on the rock and today, that abusive control is even stronger, stifling the culture

Yes, I'm naive

Freedom of speech is an illusion

Yet listening to defiant lyrics does move the conscience of the abuser governments and elevates the psyche of Jamaicans as well as downtrodden masses all over the globe

Reggae is a prize

The abusive governance of the colonizer MUST control this impact to the masses

Must!!!

A control of the sound and lyrical content weakens the voice of those where reggae originates in Jamaica

No politician nor government is to be trusted as it pertains to the feel of the people

Reggae greats from the 70s and 80s seem like some of bravest and most conscious humans of any era, speaking passionate truths that are relevant these many decades later. We are certainly in different times today and the impact of individual's lyrical content doesn't seem as potent or moving as their predecessors

Reggae is brave

Reggae is love

Reggae is protection of the planet

Reggae is a prize that the babylonian must have

Reggae is also a prize to the individual which makes it still uncontrollable to the colonizer governance. Many individuals are naive like me and are moved to create love, support and protection of this planet and are driven to continue this spiritual upliftment

Yes, reggae is a prize and the right people need to ovastand that in this time

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Donald Shaw Tabby Diamond The Mighty Diamonds

3/30/2022

3 Comments

Drive by shooting of an icon

The Mighty Diamonds

Sooooo much of my reggae energy flows through their music

Cowards have infiltrated RasTafari, thinking that murdering us is on the menu

It has always been like this

Murdering RasTafari is fashion to babylon

But a coward fe know seh RasTafari nah bow. Every time unnu murder one a wi the energy and power of RasTafari grows

When you bring future queen and king fe si dung and drum wid wi, RasTafari grows even when dem a try fe mock wi as some mascot

"Cyaa cool, cyaa quench, ever burning fire "

Babylon is a place of murder

Sadly

Tabby Diamond

This Lion's energy blazes the planet this very day

Tabby a RasTafari

Babylon cyaa cool RasTafari even with a targeted hit on an elder

My feeling is that this was a targeted hit

My feeling

I know nothing

It has made I more determined today to chant Rastafari with deeper love and greater energy to the world

Tabby Diamond deserves me releasing my fire

All Rastafari energy should rise globally

The world of cowardice needs a spiritual enema

Rastafari can help with the positive evolution of balance by our actions, more so from our words

Tabby mi bredda, thank you for your music as it definitely shaped my youth. Thank you for sharing your RasTafari energy to I and the world

Our works continue as you spiritual energy elevates the planet, even in your passing

Blessings Tabby Diamond

The "fight" is spiritual

Lions and lionesses know the importance of honor and integrity

Yes, none in infallible yet we know truth even when it is deliberately clouded

I n I message for Tabby's passing is to elevate I spiritual energy, cause de babylonian has none

Blessings in the name of H. I. M. Haile Selassie I

RIP Donald Shaw "Every gully a go run red"

3 Comments

A Reggae man speaks on Reggae Lane

3/1/2022

1 Comment

That reggae man is me

Gentrification

Metrolinks is the remorseless, juggernaut coming through Eglinton West, big and bold, right in front of our eyes and no one speaks of them

You have the fleas and gnats running about, talking about those who are seeking grants and news stories and committees and the smell of urine and Randy’s Patty closing suddenly and NEVER investing in any black culture but to earn dem patty money and Reggae Lane and cultural misappropriation and an antagonistic relationship with the BIA in the area and loads of drama. Truly dramatically concocted stories but nothing to shine the spotlight on Metrolinks abuse of a community

Metrolinks have zero fuks to give about any of the above

No amount of abuse they deliver is actionable because they are above the authority of this government. This piece of the corporation goes about its business with zero interest in the sideshow of black people scrambling for acknowledgement of black contribution as well as seeking a piece of profitability in “the new Eglinton West / Little Jamaica”

Metrolinks laughs

So much drama

I got involved with the Reggae Lane project enthuastically as soon as I heard about it

REGGAE

Reggae Lane

Historically I knew that it would be the first roadway in the world named after reggae music. This was an honor for me to know that I did reggae things on the actual Reggae Lane when IBADAN, the reggae band I once managed, rehearsed in a space at the back of one of the stores. We would go there from time to time while Ruffins owned the space

Yah man, I felt honored

I wanted to be on any committee that was immediate reggae history. Reggae Lane represents a truly positive thought for me
I then met Josh and Mike Colle

Josh, the son, was the Councillor for the area as well as Chair for the TTC at the time. In hindsight, considering the area, was this appointment as Chair, a conflict of interest? Was the role to gloss over the gentrification of the area with a bright and shiny smile and to commission a mural glorifying the contributions of the reggae community while truly working with Metrolinks for the gentrification process... smoothing things out with the unsuspecting locals as well as us on the Reggae Lane Committee? This it what it feels like to me as I truly know nothing

Reggae Lane Committee

I once asked Josh why the members of the committee weren’t even being paid some kind of honorarium for our time, hours of travel, expertise and efforts, and he told me it is because, “we have no budget”. It did not occur to this brother that pimping a black man was somehow unacceptable. My eyes opened pretty wide then as if they could treat me like this, what were they doing with the businesses over the years? I realized something did not feel right with the Colle boys... to me anyway. Other folks will probably tell you how much they treated them well over the years

Mike, the father, does not represent me or my thoughts as it pertains to reggae music and his constant wearing of the red, gold and green colors in that scarf, I find condescending, offensive as well as disrespectful. I DO NOT CARE WHICH BLACK WOMAN GAVE IT TO HIM! He is completely nose blind to any of my culture and I have no interest in trying to educate a dude his age

I once suggested that we merchandise Reggae Lane product in order to grow its fame as well as to attempt to pay for performances and concerts as well as paying the Committee. Initially there was no interest. I contacted Mike, told him that I had not heard from Josh who I emailed about it, and then we had a lunch date to discuss this merchandising idea. He seemed to really like the idea

A few days went by and he did not return any of my correspondences

Cool

I took the print that I got designed by a friend and put it on a t-shirt and posted it on social media. Old boy Mike didn’t like that. He created a site telling folks that they could buy my design from him {on his site}. I ovastood then who and what I was working with

I then received an email from Josh saying that it would be ok for me to market the brand if I wished, or more accurately create a market for the product cause he didn’t mind, effectively covers his pops backside {or attempt to}

I promptly resigned from the Reggae Lane Committee

Their focus wasn’t mine and I wasn’t about to contribute any further to their direction, whatever it was

My focus is Reggae Lane

Reggae has a rough ride in a colonial society yet it is a multi-billion dollar global industry where the artists and many are pimped and make no money. Someone else makes the money as we continue to do the work, make the beats, make the music, inspire humans, make them dance and speak of love

That’s my reggae

Babylon will always find love and peace offensive

When some politician comes into reggae, receives grants on behalf of black culture, tells the businesses to “hang in there”, brings abusive energy, “reggae” a go find him out or more accurately, bring these misdeeds to the surface

Here is something Jason MacLean of Toronto Reggae www.torontoreggae.ca brought to my attention in Wikipedia about Mike Colle

“He was criticized for his role in giving out $32 million in government grants to immigrant and cultural groups without official applications or formal statements of purpose. In one case that the auditor general highlighted, the Ontario Cricket Association received $1 million when it asked for $150,000.[5] Premier McGuinty agreed to commission a special report on the matter, to be released in July 2007.[6] Colle was to appear before the Standing Committee on Estimates before the Legislature was prorogued by the premier. Some believe this was arranged to prevent his testimony from going public.[7] On July 26, 2007, Colle resigned as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Gerry Phillips was sworn in as the new Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, in addition to his responsibilities as Minister of Government Services.[8]”

“Immigrant and cultural groups”

People who won’t complain if they receive $150,000 free dollars. What boggles my mind is; what happened to the rest of the $850,000” from that million? Can anyone since 2007 tell me why a politician, using grant programs for black people profit so heavily WITHOUT PROPER INVESTIGATION?

Interesting to I man, is how Colle can allegedly misappropriate funds in the millions but they cannot appropriate funds to those of us doing reggae. I’m not mad at them. I used to be angry and frustrated all of the time about how dismissive this system is of me and mine. Like MANY of us haven’t given pride in reggae music in this country as well as globally

There is no system to pay us

No system to pay me to do my reggae works

Oh well... We are still doing it anyway. We are a part of our own problem because some of us won’t ever stop this work. Why pay for it if it is going to happen anyway?

There is a system to misappropriate funds... allegedly

I do not like the way it is treated currently nor do I like the abusive energy coming from many in the reggae and black communities towards it

As much as I love Reggae Lane, others pretty much hate it

I hear many of their points and do not agree with any of the “haters”. My belief is that it is called “reggae” and for that reason, we reggae souljahs MUST set things right

REGGAE

Reggae is not a hate ting

I feel a responsibility as a reggae souljah to treat Reggae Lane with the respect it is due. It is a global appointment, being “the first Laneway in history to be named from reggae music”. A beacon to the whole Reggae World!

I feel like we who love reggae need to show the truth and respect to Reggae Lane as “reggae” deserves

I need to remove the toxic energy that stifles what should be a shared global energy, coming from Toronto, Canada

Reggae music will define Reggae Lane... not me, not some allegedly corrupt politician

Reggae music will

#ReggaeForLife #reggaelane

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