Reggae Music

[left wing player]

Since I 'm a collector of Reggae music from all around the world and the memebers here come from all over the world I would like to ask you:

Which band or singers of reggae music of your country are popular....

For Holland I can name: Beef...

[Bazza]

UB40 are still popular in England but they are more reggae-lite these days.

I heard some new stuff by Bitty Mclean the other day and was quite impressed. Most of the music is old ska & reggae tracks which Bitty has put his own lyrics to. The songs worked really well.

[Free Palestine]

The Rastafari religion is very bigoted and there is categorically a vicious homophobic culture surrounding reggae, dub and dancehall music in Jamaica. In Jamaica the pop chart artists have songs like "Burn all Batty Man" which literally translates to "Set Fire to all Homosexuals." Look up Buju Banton or Beenie Man, all their songs are like "burn/shoot/batter gays." Many Rastafarians just completely use their religion as a fulcrum for persecuting gays.

By the way the Rastafari religion is laughable, the "savior" of the Rastafarian religion was Haile Sellaise, who was supposed to lead the Ethiopian people to the promised land "Zion," A.K.A. Israel. But he never did, and he died in 1975. Ad yet their religion lives on for some reason because Rastafarians to this day refuse to believe that he died. They think it is a lie, because according to their religion Haile Sellaise is literally Jesus incarnate and can't die. :rolleyes:

[Black Dagger]

You know that not all reggae musicians are rastas right? Particularly now days. Moreover, dismissing reggae music because of the homophobia of jamaican society/dance hall/rastafarianism or of modern reggae musicians is illogical. I listen/like thrash metal, there are a lot of nazi-thrash metal bands, therefore thrash metal is 'bad' and i should stop listening to it?

Moreover, there are other genres, like Rap music, which are just as homophobic as reggae, yet i still like rap music, why? Because not all rap music or musicians are homophobic, and not all those who are, express that in their music.

Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, The Wailers, The I Threes, Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, King Tubby, Jacob Miller, Toots & The Maytals, The Upsetters, The Heptones, The Abyssinians & Burning Spear may have all been homophobes, but as of yet, i have not heard any songs that suggest this.

[FatFreeMilk]

You know that not all reggae musicians are rastas right? Particularly now days. Hell fuckin yeah man! The best example of that is Matisyahu. He's a hasidic Jew doing reggae. Now ain't that something. This guy is fucking amazing. Even if you're not a big reggae fan, you need to download "king without a crown" from the Live at Stubs cd.
So one again that's
Matisyahu
"King without a crown"
Live at Stubbs cd
Get it now.


coolio (http://www.fm949sandiego.com/music/recommend.cfm)

[Anarcho-Communist]

UB40's music are good, red red wine and so on.

[Raisa]

As someone who listens to a lot of damn reggae, I suggest you check out
Steel Pulse. Some of the greatest old school reggae artists ever.

[Bazza]

Originally posted by Anarcho-[email protected] 29 2005, 07:06 AM
UB40's music are good, red red wine and so on.
I liked their early stuff like King, Tyler, One In Ten, Food For Thought. And I still play their first 2 albums Signing Off & Present Arms which are both very political albums. But I can't really listen to those Labour Of Love cover albums anymore as the original songs are far better.

[Raisa]

"Speak in jah jah language....
Go long way, we are comin cross- to send this message across
across
been hidden forbidden concealed unrevealed
Its got to come out in the OPEN, that
Babylon is fallin!
Babylon is fallin
It was foolish to build it on the sand,
Handsworth shall stand firm like jah rock
Fighting battles
We Once beggars
are now choosers
No intention
to be losers
Strivin FORWARD with ambition!
And if it takes ammunition
We rebel..."

Those are some lyrics from steel pulse. That is a song they made called "handsworth revolution"

Somone in here was talkin mad shit about reggae! And it was ignorant shit too!
Reggae is some inspirational revolutionary shit, I dont think you know what your talking about.
Not all reggae is rastafarian, especially dance hall, but I dont see what makes Rastafarianism any more laughable then any other religion. You havent laughed at the jews, they have a Zion too. Why is it laugable when the African descendants have one and theyve been enslaved and opressed just as bad as the jews?!
I cant wrap my mind around your logic. Probably because its either based on ignorance, or based on ignorance!

Free Palestine, Ima call you out!

Some reggae is homophobic but a real lot of reggae is VERY positive music.

We need positive music, that doesnt just talk about the system and the struggle, but over coming it! And that is the message is deep inside reggae. It means alot to me to hear empowering messages in life. It brightens my spirit, it keeps me going! And when Im trodding through Babylon with dirt on my face and the spit of the opressor-a thing like a brightened spirit gives me sight through it. Thats some real wealth right there!
So I DONT EVER walk through this capitalist system looking down at my busted shoes feeling low !
I feel mighty, cause we are the class, and one day we will over come!

I dont know what languages you ovastand, but maybe if you really understood what their talking about in reggae music, you wouldnt be so affixiated on a few homophobic songs to hate on a whole uplifting genre of music and a whole nation of people. Maybe youd know . BUt I dont think you do, as far as I see- youre just a hater!

I think if reggae music isnt for you, it isnt for you and that aint no thing. We all need different things in life and thats why were into what we like.
But if youre going to hate on something and a religion too, you need to go back to school on it first so you dont get yourself told in public like that.

Stay solid- (and read a book or two)

-ONE

[Purple]

Norway is very ignorant towards non-mainstream music. The only reggae artist most people have heard of is Bob Marley. I first found out about Peter Tosh when I read a Stephen King book(Desperation) with a girl in a Peter Tosh T-shirt, and an old stage technican for Tosh. But songs like "legalize it" and "fire fire" won me over.

[left wing player]

First let me thank u all for your replies....
Of course the most of the reggae artist I allready know, Burnin' Spear (thats my favorit) UB 40 especially the older, Steel Pulse (Magnifiant) and so on....

Now it's time to check out Matisyahu... never heard of him...
For you guys I've another suggestion... Check this out. All the way from Mauritius

KAYA
aka The African Bob Marley....

The guy was shot a couple of years ago... His music is also know as SEGGAE You must check it out....
for example the album Seggae Experience.... Reggae from the Roots....

For those who are interested: I've also Spanish Reggae.....


This Jew guy Matisyahu is really great..... I've downloaded a whole CD, expanding my collection...... Thanks a lot

[Raisa]

Youre welcome man, I apreiciate your interest. Reggae is some good shit!

[Bazza]

The Specials Jerry Dammers based Walt Jabsco (the 2 Tone man) on an old photo of Peter Tosh.


http://2-tone.info/images/wailers.jpg

http://2-tone.info/lga/gangsters_uk_front.jpg

[Bazza]

Another band worth checking out are Pama International (http://www.pamainternational.co.uk/)

[FatFreeMilk]

Originally posted by left wing [email protected] 29 2005, 06:39 AM



This Jew guy Matisyahu is really great..... I've downloaded a whole CD, expanding my collection...... Thanks a lot
Yeah boy! Damn I'm glad you liked him. Everybody else who doesn't want to check him out is missing out big time.

Where'd you download the cd from? Hook it up! I bought the cd online already but I'm really impatient.

Oh here's some Russian reggae too. Raisa knows what's up. http://www.zhurnal.ru/music/rasta/sound.html

[left wing player]

Whta i did was just type his name in Limewire and then i just downloaded all the songs that appeared.... So its not a compleet cd but lets name it a compilation cd...

It's really graet music....

[Ian]

I made a Matisyahu thread a few days back, shit rules.

[Urban Rubble]

I completely missed this thread.

First off, Free Palestine, your comments were completely irrelevant to the thread. It seems like you wanted to spout your pseduo-intellectual tirade rather than contriburte to a discussion.

Secondly, while much of what you said is true, you have completely the positive and revolutionary effects of Rasta culture in Jamaica, making you one sided, and well, kind of a dick. I'll spare you a lengthy essay about the history of racial oppression in Jamaica and how rasta has contributed to the "struggle", but I will tell you that the effects of rasta in Jamaican society have hardly been pacifying.

Plus, 90% of rasta artists I've heard are left leaning, if not outright Communists. Max Romeo had plenty of political lyrics, even a song called "Revelation Time/Hammer and Sickle".

But yes, obviously Rasta religious doctrine is laughable in many ways. Propagandhi called it "An amalgamtion of Jewish scripture and Christian though", and that's essentially what it is. But still, that kind of simplistic statement completely ignores a whole realm of positive, empowering aspects of Rastafarianism.

But yeah, as far as the topic goes.........UB40 needs to go away.

In America there is a huge reggae/ska/rocksteady scene. A recent band I've been listening to are called "The Aggrolites", they're really good. Some other standards of American ska/reggae would be the Slackers, Chris Murray, Hepcat and the Pietasters.

EDIT ALERT: I forgot to mention I'm going to Jamaica in 3 weeks. Hooray for me!EDIT ALERT OVER

[Free Palestine]

Deride me all you want. All you guys can do is ad-hominem this and ad-hominem that. And excuse me for calling you a big hypocrite for asserting I have no interest in facilitating a serious discussion while you disparage me in the same breath. Insult games aren't a discussion, so look who's talking.

Moreover, I never suggested all rastafarians or reggae musicians were vicious homophobes, I was just voicing some of my concerns about some of the currently popular artists in the genre. Cherry picking a politically conscious artist does nothing to rebuff any of my claims. The reason I didn't mention rap, as someone asked, which has similarly homophobic tendencies,is because this isn't a rap thread. That is a complete obfuscation. And I'm well aware of the positive and empowering messages, which is one of the reasons I find some of the artist's homophobia personally offensive. Take Bad Brains for example, they claimed they were all about "We talk for the youth" and "We're positive mental attitude" then they come out and put down gays. They just disguised it with all this Jah stuff and completely used their religion as a fulcrum for persecuting gays.

[Urban Rubble]

Deride me all you want. All you guys can do is ad-hominem this and ad-hominem that. And excuse me for calling you a big hypocrite for asserting I have no interest in facilitating a serious discussion while you disparage me in the same breath. Insult games aren't a discussion, so look who's talking.

Calm down sweetie, I was mostly joking when I called you a dick. It's the music forum, don't be so serious.


Moreover, I never suggested all rastafarians or reggae musicians were vicious homophobes, I was just voicing some of my concerns about some of the currently popular artists in the genre.

You most certainly did suggest that.

You entered a thread about reggae, where nobody had mentioned Rastafarianism, and wrote 2 paragraphs about your feelings on the Rasta religion, giving the direct implication that you think all reggae is about Rasta, and thus, about "burning gays". You also said "The Rasta religion is very bigoted", which implies that you think Rastas are bigoted, not just some Rastas.


Cherry picking a politically conscious artist does nothing to rebuff any of my claims.

I did not "cherry pick" one politically conscious artist. In fact, it was you who cherry picked 2 homophobic artists.

Bob Marley, the most prolific and well known Rastafarian of all time was entirely political. Most of his songs dealt with relevant social/political issues of his time. Aside from his music, he was quite involved with the political scene in Jamaica.

Peter Tosh, the second most well known Rasta was also highly political and obviously leftist. The guy played a guitar shaped like a fucking AK-47! His entire career was based on a theme of revolution and progressive politics.

Burning Spear. Another one of the most visible Rasta musicians, the story is the same, his entire carreer was spent speaking about progressive socio/political issues.

Big Youth, the most popular Rasta DJ of all time once did a song called "Big Youth Fights Against Capitalism", that's all I'll say.

Like I mentioned, Max Romeo was an outright Soviet loving Commie.

These are some of the most well known Rasta artists, they were outspoken leftists (who also never advocated violence against gays) do I need to "cherry pick" about 1000 lesser known musicians or do you get the point?

You did the cherry picking. You are the one who took a 2 second look at some pop reggae musicians and came to your conclusion.


And I'm well aware of the positive and empowering messages, which is one of the reasons I find some of the artist's homophobia personally offensive

But there are so few reggae artists than even discuss homosexuality! You've taken 2 artists, who aren't even really "reggae" (dancehall, which is basically Jamaican hip hop) and used that as a "fulcrum (as you like to say) to bash reggae in general. This is not a general theme of reggae or rastafarianism. Yes, there is a culture of homophobia in Jamaica, but Rastas rarely speak about it. By distorting the facts you are ignoring the history of resistance and progressive ideals in the Rasta community.

[Free Palestine]

First of all, you really are showing how childish and hypocritical you are by continuing to slyly disparage me after claiming I have no interest in having a real discussion.

Secondly, yes, I did initiate the subject unprovoked, but as I said before, I was just expressing my concern over a highly troubling trend. Does the fact that I made comment on the Rastafari religion in a reggae thread mean I think all reggae is about rasta? No.. you are relying on your own interpreted implication which is highly circumstantial and begs the question.

As for the rest of your post, all I have to say is that the fact remains that there still exists a culture of vicious homophobia surrounding reggae and particularly dancehall (an offshoot of reggae) in Jamaica today. While these artists may be bastardizations and not representative of reggae as a whole, they still exist. I applaud those politically conscious artists but that was on the pop charts then, this is on the pop charts now. What year does your calender say? It doesn't change one bit about the reality of reggae pop in Jamaica today.

[Redvolution]

Matisyahu is amazing, saw him live at the Gorge in May. Woo!
Also, a band called Bedouin Soundclash are great. They're from Montreal, so it's close enough :lol: Anyway, I ended up buying their album after half way through one of thei songs they sang the choruses to U2's "New Year's Day" and The Clash's "Guns of Brixton"
Also, I've only heard one song by them, but I really like it. RX Bandits - Overcome (The Recapitulation)

Dig it!

[Urban Rubble]

First of all, you really are showing how childish and hypocritical you are by continuing to slyly disparage me after claiming I have no interest in having a real discussion.

Jesus Christ man, I called you sweetie. Lighten the fuck up, you are the only one being serious.


Secondly, yes, I did initiate the subject unprovoked, but as I said before, I was just expressing my concern over a highly troubling trend. Does the fact that I made comment on the Rastafari religion in a reggae thread mean I think all reggae is about rasta? No.. you are relying on your own interpreted implication which is highly circumstantial and begs the question.

You seem to think Rasta is somehow the reason that these people are homophobic when it is actually a cultural phenomenon of Jamaica. That is my issue. If I am wrong, please expain how homophobia is a part of rasta, beyond your example of two Rastafarians being homophobic.

And yes, your comment did give the impression that you think all reggae is about rasta.


As for the rest of your post, all I have to say is that the fact remains that there still exists a culture of vicious homophobia surrounding reggae and particularly dancehall (an offshoot of reggae) in Jamaica today. While these artists may be bastardizations and not representative of reggae as a whole, they still exist. I applaud those politically conscious artists but that was on the pop charts then, this is on the pop charts now. What year does your calender say? It doesn't change one bit about the reality of reggae pop in Jamaica today.

Repeating something does not make it true.

Please, if there is a culture of "viscious homophobia" in reggae, make your case. So far you have shown that two artists have written homophobic lyrics, nothing more.

The fact is, just like in America, Jamaican culture generally does not accept homosexuality. It is not a phenomenon of Rasta as you have claimed, nor does it have any relation to reggae music. There have been certain reggae artists that have been homophobic, true, but to say that is a trend in reggae does not make sense.

If I am wrong, please show me the evidence. Where are all these homosexual bashers in the reggae scene? So far I know that Buju Banton and a couple of others have written a song or two about it (not all their songs like you have claimed).

[Free Palestine]

You seem to think Rasta is somehow the reason that these people are homophobic when it is actually a cultural phenomenon of Jamaica. That is my issue.

It is not a exclusively Rastafarian phenomenon, but dancehall's homophobia does fuel Jamaica's widespread cultural bias against homosexuality. Also please note that Jamaica has more churches per capita than any other country in the world, all of which use biblical citations to denounce homosexuality as sinful and decadent (which is the official Rastafari position on homosexuality).


Jamaican culture generally does not accept homosexuality. It is not a phenomenon of Rasta as you have claimed, nor does it have any relation to reggae music.

True, both Rastas and non-Rastas alike persecute homosexuals in Jamaica. What exactly is your point? Are you suggesting that because the persecution of homosexuals in Jamaica is not a uniquely Rastafari phenomenon that it completely absolves them? :rolleyes: And if Jamaican culture generally is intolerant of homosexuality, wouldn't reggae reflect that?


There have been certain reggae artists that have been homophobic, true, but to say that is a trend in reggae does not make sense.

Not all reggae is about Rasta, but Rasta has plenty to do with reggae music. Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, BUnny Wailer, Prince Far I, Lincoln Thompson, Ijahman Levi, Misty-in-Roots, the Congos, the Rastafarians, etc. all expressed Rastafari doctrine in their music.

And these are not just a "couple" of "certain artists" as you suggest. These are very influential people. Buju Banton is one of the most popular musicians in Jamaican history, with massive hits in Jamaica topping the charts. He also advocates violence against gay men in his songs ("Boom Boom Bye Bye" for one) and he himself was involved in an armed attack in Kingston where he and his thugs forced their way into a house and beat the occupants while shouting anti-gay slogans, simply for being gay. Beenie man isn't just some artist, he is one of the most famous DJs in Jamaica buddy.

And not just Beenie Man and Buju Banton, check out Sizzla, Elephant Man, Vybz Kartel, T.O.K., Capleton, and Bounty Killer. Again, these are not just merely "certain artists," these are very influential people at the top of the pop charts being played in clubs. Most of the aforementioned artists have songs which constitute not only hatred of homosexuals but incite the actual murder of homosexuals.

[Free Palestine]

Here's a good BBC article about dancehall artists who have dragged Jamaica and reggae music into a cesspit of homophobia and misogyny.


Growing up gay in Jamaica

The homophobic lyrics of Jamaican reggae stars have hit the headlines, but what is the reality of being gay in a society where it is illegal to practise your sexuality?

Michael is verbally abused, threatened and spat at every time he leaves his home in Kingston, Jamaica, but the 20-year-old student considers himself lucky.

He has friends who have been beaten and stabbed because they are gay but, as yet, he has not been attacked. He knows it could happen anytime.

"My friends have been chopped up and all of that, you'd think they were a piece of meat in the slaughter house. It is terrible," he says.

Every time he goes out he is called a "battyman" - an abusive term for a gay man - and says the general attitude in Kingston is if you are homosexual you may as well be dead.

Asylum

"There is always someone who says 'battyman, beat him up, chop him up, kill him'. I fret and check if they are coming to get me," he says.

Jamaica has a history of entrenched homophobia and violent attacks on gay men and women.

The situation hit the headlines in the UK earlier this month when two controversial Jamaican reggae acts - Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel - were dropped from the British Music of Black Origin (Mobo) awards for refusing to apologise in writing for homophobic lyrics.

The row also resulted in an event, flagged-up as the biggest reggae festival in the UK for almost 20 years, being cancelled earlier this month.

But homophobia in Jamaica goes far beyond songs lyrics, with gay men and women "beaten, cut, burned, raped and shot on account of their sexuality", according to Amnesty International.

It says while no official statistics are available, according to published reports at least 30 gay men are believed to have been murdered in Jamaica since 1997.

And at least five Jamaicans have been granted asylum in the UK in the last two years because their lives had been threatened as a result of their sexual identity.

Prison riot

"We have talked to people who have been forced to leave their communities after being publicly vilified, threatened or attacked on suspicion of being gay. They face homelessness, isolation or worse," says Lesley Warner, Amnesty International UK media director.

The country's law makes any act of physical intimacy between men punishable by jail, with the possibility of 10-years hard labour.

Few people are openly gay as once their sexuality becomes known they are at risk of attack and often have to move.

Reporting abuse and harassment to the police is not an option for many as officers are frequently known to standby or even join in attacks, says Amnesty.

Michael has not told his family, who live in a parish just outside Kingston, that he is gay as he knows he will be ostracised and even beaten.

"My aunt is the co-founder of our local church and it preaches that homosexuality is a sin," he says.

"If my aunt or any member of the church found out about my sexuality they would just tell everyone and I wouldn't be able to come around any more. I would get hurt."

The church has traditionally been a major force in Jamaican society and plays a significant part in people's daily lives. Many preachers use the Bible to support homophobic sentiments.

Activist murdered

Another major influence in people's lives is dancehall music. Its stars, including international artists such as Beenie Man and Buju Banton, are regarded as "teachers" by the young, says Michael.

The music is steeped in homophobia, with lyrics from Buju Banton's Boom Boom Bye Bye, threatening gay men with a "gunshot in ah head" and Beenie Man's stating "I'm a dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays".

The chance of attitudes changing towards the gay community is small, says Michael.

"Everybody just listens to the church and dancehall music. The church is saying homosexuality is wrong and the entertainers are saying 'kill them' - how are we going to be able to live openly as gays in Jamaica?"

Concern among human rights groups has intensified even further following the murder of the country's most prominent gay activist in June this year.

Brian Williamson, 59, was one of the few gay Jamaicans willing to stand up in public and be seen talking about homosexuality as a gay man.

The motive for the murder was officially given as robbery, but the gay rights group he founded, J-Flag, believes the killing was a hate crime.

Free condoms

Campaigners say Jamaica's anti-sodomy law also has wider implications in the fight against HIV and Aids in the country.

In 1997, when prison authorities attempted to distribute condoms to inmates at Kingston's main prison, it led to riots in which 16 allegedly gay men died and 40 more injured, says Amnesty.

J-Flag says the law inhibits people from revealing their sexuality to doctors. As a result they are not getting access to appropriate healthcare.

But despite the difficulties and discrimination Michael faces in Jamaica as a gay man, he loves his country and is not prepared to leave.

"I have to stay and try to build my country into a better place," he says.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3653140.stm

[Bazza]

Another band worth checking out are Prince Fatty. Here is a sound clip of their debut single - Nina's Dance (http://mp3.juno.co.uk/MP3/SF183403-01-01-01.mp3)