BUJU BANTON PURSUING MASTER’S DEGREE IN PRISON?

(Thanks, June Daley, for original post).
Reggae icon Buju Banton currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in the USA has become focal point of a new controversy after rumors has surfaced that he has embraced Christianity and became a pastor in prison.

“Those are all rumors and these folks should stop trying to tarnish Buju’s reputation any more than what has been done already,” the singer’s rep told members of the media.

Banton’s rep also used the opportunity to enlighten the media that he is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in prison and has been counseling his fellow inmates. The respective discipline of his studies however was not revealed.

“He is pursuing his Master’s Degree while serving his time and will be returning home to Jamaica upon his release in early 2019. A lot of the inmates look up to him and he has been like a mentor to them,” the rep explained.

Buju Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was convicted on drug trafficking charges in 2011. He was sentenced to serve the minimum sentence of 10 years in a Federal prison. The singer has maintained his innocence

RITA MARLEY ON LIFE IN GHANA – SHE LOVES IT!

Neo Makeba
The entire clan of Marleys – three dozen plus – packed up and moved to Ghana about ten years ago. The family, including 37 grandchildren, lives in a huge house overlooking Accra. Rita Marley is known there as Nana Afua Addobea

“This is heaven,” she said. Since moving there, she has established a day care centre and school for children and adopted at least 30 children. She is running her Rita Marley Foundation from Accra. The Foundation is a non-governmental organisation financed with money from the Bob Marley Trust and private donations which works toward the alleviation of poverty among people of the developing countries.

The Foundation contributed to building a main road to Konkonuru; supporting the village of Fete Kekabre, on the road to the Cape Coast, with food, medicine and clothing; bringing water to Konkonuru and remodeling the basic school.

“I see myself still as a Jamaican, but Africa is our roots and I was always looking forward to this transition,” she said. “Nigeria is more like New York, but Ghana is a lot more like what we expect Africa to me.”

She has no problem adapting to the culture and customs and has been eating mostly Fufu, breadfruit, ackee and plantains. She admits that she is still having problems digesting Fufu, which tastes like cassava. The Ghanaians, she says, don’t eat ackee and were surprised to see Jamaicans taking a liking to it. And they don’t roast breadfruit, but drink it as a juice.

In fact, she says, her family has now found that a boiled “turn” breadfruit, or a ripe blended one, mixed with a Guinness and condensed milk is considered a powerful aphrodisiac.

The Marleys are so settled in Ghana that they have built a new studio there, which means they won’t have to fly back to Jamaica to do recordings. She said that the studio will not be restricted to the family, but will be open to commercial users.

“They are very musical there and they love reggae. In fact they have a radio station, Vibes FM, which is just like Irie FM: They play good reggae music all the time,” she said. BLESS!!!

THE VOICE OF CHRONIXX….

Whatever resonates with you as truth…whatever you feel in the deepest depths of your being as truth, don’t be ashamed of it. Live it! Remember that the truth don’t separate, it is not prejudice, it is what we all share in common. It does not separate past from present, it is the Unbreakable chord that connects everything that happened from the beginning of time up until this moment. It is not in my interest to suppress the truth, or deny myself the freedom of being led by feelings to please any particular group of people or any particular person on this planet. Everyone who interact with me on any level will feel loved..they will experience love because that’s all I have to give. Love and truth walks hand in hand. Don’t be afraid if the truth, at first, hits harder than you expect because after the acceptance of truth follows peace and love unconditional. I’m not afraid of hate, I’m not afraid of the judgements of this world..I was born prepared for that…and I find comfort in that confidence that good will always be victorious over evil. If I am to wake up tomorrow and nobody on this planet listens to my music anymore, nobody wants to buy a ticket to see chronixx. I will rest comfortably in the undeniable truth that chronixx is not all that there is…it is only one aspect of this being. Literally just one moment in time. I feel it is unfair to humanity to use “development” and “modernization” as a tool to undermine the natural laws of the earth and remove people from their sacred lands. It don’t feel right to me.
Love and light!

TAKEN FROM HIS FACEBOOK PAGE :

IF BOB MARLEY WAS THE MESSIAH, PETER TOSH WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST

Today Sunday February 22 is the 5th annual Peter Tosh Festival at his Memorial Gardens in Westmoreland and it is simply organized with one aim which is to recognize the work of Peter Tosh and memorialize his powerful and  prolific music, the man who spoke of legalizing marijuana ever since it was even politically correct to speak about legalizing this bastardized herb.

Peter, the Bush Doctor, knew from an early age that declaring marijuana as a crime was nothing more than political hogwash forced down the throat by the imperialist US government that was intentionally designed  for its own gains. He recognized imperialism for what it was,  the political oppression and forced mental  slavery on the meek and poor, . He was the foremost preacher of equal rights and justice for all, not just for those  the oppressor felt was worthy of it. As a result of his outspoken and unapologetic words , he was not the establishment’s favorite reggae artist.

That did not stop him. His music spoke what he believed  and those that heard his message listened and knew that like his other musical colleague Bob, this man was no ordinary man.

“In the beginning there was the word. The word was Jah. The word is in I, Jah is in I. I make what is good, better, and what is better, best. I follow this in every aspect of life.”
– Peter Tosh

He followed his own words and delivered, song after song the same message: equal rights and legalize it. Those words that meant doing the unthinkable, removing the barriers created and opening the gates of freedom. His music was not just for listening pleasure, but for most, it was their university, the only place where music became the medium and through the tutor, the man who is considered illiterate, understood and was edified.

“If I make some music to get up and it’s not intellectually exquisite enough, then people don’t put their mind to what I’m saying. They reluctantly listen because they have ears. But some people want more; they want to learn. My music has something to teach people.” Peter Tosh, 1979.

Peter was no messiah, I liken him to  John the Baptist, preaching his own gospel and setting fire to those that were the oppressors. It is interesting and somewhat symbolic that the name Peter Tosh is not officially revered in his homeland Jamaica as much as his other colleague, but it continues to speak of the character of those that hold the handle of power. Outright patronizing, granting of the OM or abject loss of memory of what Peter meant to the cultural heritage and international profile of Jamaica can only render comfort to fools. The people of Jamaica know the truth, and it will be from the people that Peter’s place in history will be cemented in perpetuity.

“I’m gonna stop singing and flash lightning and make everybody observe that who wants to criticize. Yes, everything I&I do, them just keep on criticizing, and I&I never done anything wrong.” Peter to Melody Maker, 1978

Peter has done no wrong. Like him or hate him he was special not only for Jamaica but for his people. He educated the poor man, brought life teachings for him to understand and telling the world that he, a Jamaican speaks for equal rights and justice a message that South Africa and their friends  at the time, were not comfortable to hear. Peter deserves more and he will get more. He too will stand on the exalted rock of Jah Rastafari and along with Bob and their spiritual leader, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie, they will welcome those who heard their words and lived a life of self empowerment , love and personal freedom.

“Peter would probably be very interested in the political rappers remaining in the hip-hop world, hurling their accusations at the oppressor class, but I think he would be deeply frustrated by the lack of exposure that militant artistes, such as himself, still face.” –Roger Steffens

“This man and that man
Yes, they are the same man
You taught us this just as well
That the rich man heaven is the poor man’s hell”
-Peter Tosh “Burial”

“…so I don’t count millions of papers because paper will come & paper will go but my ability & my integrity is here forever, seen. So I am more than a zillionaire.” –

Peter on self-worth, 1983.

(c) .2015- 876iconsNvoices. 

Footnote:

Quotes and pictures from Peter Tosh Facebook  Page. You can also get more information at his official website: PeterTosh 

JAMAICAN SPEAKING FOR THE VOICELESS. PHIL WATKIS – BORN TO SING

Ole time people have a special way of saying things that are unmistakably understood when spoken by these smart elders. “Yu tink seh mi born big” is one- don’t take me for a fool because i was not born yesterday. Here’s another-  “From Whappy kill Phillup” –never knew who Whappy and Phillup were but these two sounded like enemies so you took it for granted that yes Whappy killed Phillup a long time ago. And then there’s another ” Mi say him born fi sing.” – a praise and worship  terms of endearment given when they see someone perform at church and  they are so good they were only born just to sing. Its Jamaican speech coined through the ages that has become a part of our verbal culture. Short, descriptive and truthful. When you hear Phil sing, you cannot help but say to yourself, this man was born to sing.

Talent is never made. It is given and the holder of the talent has 2 choices- use it or abuse it but they never loose it. Talent is a gift given to a particular individual and who was granted a vision to use it to create heaven on earth. Some see the vision, other’s don’t. Phil Watkis saw his vision and took the challenge. That challenge was simple- let your music speak to the lover, to the hopeful, to the hopeless. to the afflicted, to the loner, to the child, to the mother, to the father, to the young, to the old even to those unborn. And that he did and the Creator is pleased.

Interview with Phil Watkis- aka Ajani Gamba

1. Tell me about growing up in Jamaica?

These are some of the best days I can recall in my life, especially being born in the rural, (St Ann) in a place and time when family, self and people value were highly esteemed. This helped fostered and also instilled a high level of discipline in me as a youth, which is now a guideline for me on my journey. Life was very interesting because I grew with family members who reared cattle (Goat, Cow etc.) and had farms. This means that there was always something to do. Everyone in the village is your mom, daddy, grandma etc, which means that anyone could whoop your ass DWL. Good times, I LOVE MY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS!

Until moving in the BIG CITY (Kingston) Oh lawd ! A different ball game  Every other day sounded like Christmas with fireworks (GUNS RINGING OUT) in the ghetto. I am grateful for the city regardless as it gave birth to the radicalness in my music. As a result, if I could relive my earlier years, I would relive it the same way in Jamaica.

2. Why a career in Singing?

Honestly don’t think it is a career, to me it is more like serving a higher purpose or being a voice for the voiceless. Well, if that is a career, I think this career chose me 🙂

3. Does your music gets drowned by the music of Latin America in Florida?

 Reggae is a dominant sound force and we also have to remember each genre has its own market plus audience. Every other genre or artiste here in the music is trying to get a place in mainstream. Additionally, Reggae music is loved and appreciated by almost every nation. So I would say no.

4. How would you describe your music?

Inspirational. I say this because it inspires people to unite, love, rebel against oppression and also get in tuned with the higher self.

5. Everyone has some trials in the industry. Whats yours?

Finding investors who will accept the music I do without trying to get me to sing “Bubble Gum” music

6. Is the industry saturated with too much people without talent or too many producers accepting mediocrity?

A mixture of both; however, with time all that will change. Talented people like myself will have to find means and ways to get our craft out there.

7. Are you are an independent artiste and is that a security blanket for you?

I am an independent artiste because it is hard to find people who wants to promote real solid music. We are in the nursery rhyme era and because of that it forces these exploiters to promote garbage. I was told recently by a well renowned person in the industry “I don’t want to make money ten years from now, I want to make money now. ” (SMH).

8. What is  the smartest thing that you did in your career to date?

Learned the business aspects of the music business.

9. Complete this sentence- THE MUSIC YOU MAKE IS MORE SUITED FOR….?

PEOPLE WHO LOVE REAL MUSIC 🙂

10. What inspires you ?

By the positive and negative, meaning I can be inspired by a great deed or action of an individual or the bad ones too. I hope that make sense DWL

11. What type of music do you listen to ?

I listen to a wide variety of music! I love my Reggae, Classic Soul and Kompa music oh gosh I LOVE THIS GENRE it is an amazing style of music out of Haiti.

12. Some people want to know, how do you write a song?

I honestly can’t put pen to paper and write like that. I see myself as an instrument just like the Guitar, if it’s not picked up and played by someone, then you won’t hear that beautiful music from it. In other words, I am driven by a higher force. Sometimes and entire song will come to me like as if it was already written. When I am forced to put lyrics like that together, it does not feel as real.

13. Do you work with a band of musicians now?

Not right now because I mostly accompany myself with the Guitar.

14. Music, movies they all come together these days. Any plans for movies?

Actually, acting was my major in performing arts school 🙂 I would definitely venture into that field if given the opportunity to do so. I love acting!

15. Has any of your music been used in any movie project?

YES!!! (LOL) I think this is one of my greatest achievement to date . I’m elated! I composed a track in 2006 Titled “KNOW MY FRIENDS” the instrumental was used in Whitney Houston Biopic which was released on January 17, 2015.

16. Would you do an out of the box strategy similar to Tessanne Chin,  in order for your music to go to the level you want?

I’ve been advised to do so long before Tess but I honestly hate competing with other talents. We grow vain and bitter when we have to compare ourselves with others. Life must and will provide me with a platform to get my music out without competing. 🙂

17. If not music what would Phil be doing ?

Teaching drama and music in a primary school.

18. If there is one thing people would be surprised to know about you what would it be?

I honestly can’t find anything surprising about myself ( DWL). Honestly Ive been thinking hard to come up with sum’m 🙂 maybe our next interview I might discover new things about me (LOL).

19. Are ladies attracted by your music first or your looks first THEN your music?

I would say my looks first, and I’m not being conceited 🙂 sometimes I wonder if these women even pay attention to my music (LOL). On a serious note, if I don’t stay focus I will get distracted by all the attention from these beautiful women especially on these social media .The good thing is that they are the ones who mostly support my music.

20. When the guitar is down and you relax at home what can we expect to see you doing?

Just enjoying my beautiful family. We have games night that consists of playing dominoes, ludi and watching movies. My sons taught me a new game recently called Soccer Tennis, and I love it!! Oh and my therapy is Fishing it relaxes me, as well as tending to my backyard garden.

Phil recently released a new music with video entitle “Broken Promises”. It gives the listener a powerful and sobering insight on reality.  Phil’s music spoke for the disgruntled and the voiceless, the ones that constantly pay the price of political warfare. I listened to the song and immediately it took me to the time when the great Bob Marley wrote his prophetic lyrics and preached through his music and you had no choice but to listen.

So it is with Broken Promises“. When you listen to the lyrics you  feel the struggle, the pain and the countless broken promises  made.  Where words fail, music speaks. Charles Darwin said..

 “if the misery of the poor is caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions and politics, great is our sin.”

Broken Promises is saying just that. Great is our sin as the people are in pain inflicted through broken promises. Phil is using his voice to speak where words often fail. He is the messenger speaking for the voiceless and like Bob, his music will live for eternity. It was Bob that said reggae music is the newspaper of the poor people. Yes, reggae is the newspaper of the poor and the voiceless and Phil has become its new editor.

Video: Broken Promises– by Ajani Gamba (Phil Watkis) . Find Phil Watkis on Facebook: Visit his page and see his other music available on ITUNES as well.

(c) 2015- 876iconsNvoices. 

BOB MARLEY- A UNIVERSE WITHIN HIMSELF

Bob Marley- Icon, Legend, Prophet

Today is the legend’s birthday. He would have been 70 years old if he were still alive. The whole world reflects on this man’s work, his only work, and that was his music.

“……Man is a Universe unto himself……” Bob Marley

As a young man I have to be honest with you. No one paid much attention to Bob Marley in Jamaica. If I could find an answer for our behavior then, looking back I would have to say we were immature and distracted by the music that drowned the rhythms of Reggae and the message of Bob. It mattered not that he was from Jamaica and the music was considered our music, as the saying says a Legend is never acknowledged in his own Country. Bob was no different. He never reached the ears of the young but like every artiste, he played his music knowing that those who heard it will be fed with fervent ‘Reggaeism‘ a name I gave the music of Bob and like ‘Catholicism” he was the chief shepherd, the musical Peter, the rock on which the Gospel of Bob was preached.

It was as if Bob was a preacher and he delivered his sermon is song, a modern day David as in the scriptures. Songs after songs, his music was like religion to the oppressed and to those whose burden was heavy and needed music as a sacrament. Bob knew that his success was not to be measured in record sales, but conversion of souls, souls that felt his music and was stirred by the message. He was that kind of a man. Bob was a prophet and we, as doubters and unbelievers, had him amongst us and did not pay attention.

…”tell the children the truth…”

…’none but ourselves can free our minds…”

…’when one door is closed, don’t you know, another is open…”

Prophetic as his words were, they were beyond the understanding of those that heard. Who would have understood what he meant when he said “tell the children the truth” or ‘none but ourselves can free our mind”? People in Jamaica only felt the music that carried the lyrics , sang the songs and repeated them as they would any song. 34 years later that message is just reaching home and now when we sing his songs, its a psalm, not just music for the ears. Its a prayer, not just a another reggae song. 34 years later the world took notice and now admits , privately or otherwise, that yes this man was a musical prophet.

Bob was in a universe all by himself. His universe was one destined by his creator and built by Bob with his musical genius , a genius that weaved words together and were spoken like a prayer with a musical intonation. That intonation , expressed through the divine rites of Rastafarianism, and through the symbolic reverence of the  sacred herb of Kush, Bob’s universe was created where he lived daily and  hourly, refusing to be swallowed by the distractions of the world. He was the preacher who preached and those who had ears to hear, let them hear.

Bob’s universe is real, is welcoming and its very much present 34 years after his death and today, and every day, we celebrate his music sing  his lyrics and feel free. The world comes together , even for just one day, to pause and reflect on his contribution to mankind.

Great men are never respected in life, but often in death. I can say my life, 34 years later, from the time I as a young man heard his music , has been reborn. I consider my life truly blessed to have known him, seen him and heard him. Like that similar story of another prophet and healer, Bob did not feed the 5000 with fish and bread. He did one better. He fed billions of people with only his work, only his music, reaching more people than most like him and converting more people to be like him.

©2015. 876IconsNvoices.

876ICONS MUSIC & ACTING – PETER LLOYD

As I began to write this post i was thinking of appropriate words to begin this interview and the one that jumps to me within a heartbeat is the quote by Martin Luther King Jr.  Here’s the quote:

‘If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted…or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, “here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well..” Martin Luther King.

Peter Lloyd is no street sweeper. He is no philosopher, neither is he a politician or even a great scholar. Peter is only a soft spoken singer, actor, director and producer who has allowed his work to do all the shouting and from the mountain top they shout, shouting out to the world  echoing the words of Martin Luther…

“here lives a great singer, actor, director and producer who is doing his job well, very very well”.

To say that Peter has talent is probably the greatest understatement to be written. From an early age Peter took the gifts granted to him by his creator and exposed it to the world and the world was pleased. Peter has remained true to his gift, honing and nurturing his talent , always listening and learning. Bundled in this immense treasure cove of talent is the one trait that so many artists similar to him fail to master and fail the ultimate test and that is humility. Humility is the engine that drives success and Peter owns this. He is supremely humble and that is the secret to his success.

…”the act of kindness does not have to be extravagant, but can be something like helping a blind man cross the road. “It’s simple, nothing elaborate … getting us back to the Jamaica that still exists at the core. I want to genuinely contribute to my country. I thought this would be a way to inspire people. I want to do this every birthday,” Peter Lloyd.

A prophet is never accepted in his homeland, a phrase used so often it is a fervent trusim. Bob Marley is proof of this and in a way so too is Peter. Peter like Bob has a good share of local fans but say the word Peter Lloyd anywhere in Europe and their face lights up like a candle. Say the same two words to a group of youngsters in Jamaica and they give you that look of who or what are you talking about? His recent single ‘Blood on your Hands”  has over 1 million views on YouTube  and has attained the number one spot in JAMAICA, NEW YORK, ATLANTA, GERMANY, FRANCE, CANADA and RUSSIA.

Peter’s acting talent makes him the best live performer in the music industry, bar none. He is so good with a live audience he is often brought back for encores repeatedly and incessantly.

He remains true to his culture. He writes and performs Jamaican culture and his live performances are a lesson on Jamaican heritage and history of reggae music, often giving his audience facts and information that leaves them in awe. Tourists are unusual creatures believing that reggae started and ended with Bob Marley. Peter Lloyd’s showcase proves that fallacy unfounded and unsound. He gives his audience a lesson of reggae musicality and origins they scream for more. How do I know this? I was there. I am always at his shows, especially when he performs on the North coast hotel circuit. He finds his greatest happiness when he is on stage, not just pleasing the listening ear with his melodies, but engaging and creating the idyllic scene of his homeland Jamaica where he is from and where his music is king. He is a brand, Brand Jamaica.

,….”I am a positivist. I believe that an artiste should make people feel better. That’s what I believe, my personality. I strive to improve the world in any way I can to make people feel a little better.” Peter Lloyd on his performance.

A positivist he is.  With his knowledge and music he leaves his audience, locally and internationally with information derived from musical  treatments, creating a deep sensory experience, one that drives them to want more, learn more, feel more, do more and hopefully visit the land of reggae. What more can you ask of an artiste? What more can you ask of a Jamaican living his existence through his music and expressing it with love?

On his blog I want to share a quote he said on love…

“…knowing you are loved and giving love for me creates a state of emotional security that is needed by all of us to attain our true greatness. Love is the key ingredient in achieving success….success must be multidimensional in its scope if success is to be both attained and enjoyed..” Peter Lloyd.

 

 

Love is the fertiliser of all possibilities. Peter has found it and he is living it. His music, through love, fertilises all of his life’s work amounting to untethered success, a success that not only shines as glittering gold, but one that screams on the mountain top “…Here is a good and faithful servant of Jamaica. Listen to him when he speaks.”  This is Peter Lloyd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The interview:

1. Model, actor, dancer, singer, artist , chef, television personality.  Is there anything I have left off? 

Yes you neglected the most important things to me. These are Father ; Positivist ; Vegan ; Lover and respecter of ALL life ; Humanitarian ; Proud Jamaican & Rastafarian. Those other titles are important but they are informed by my core personality. The above titles are who I am. They are what defines me as  person.

2. You have done every artistic discipline, worked with major actors and singers and yet you are as humble as they come. Why is that?

The truth is I don’t believe I am humble enough. I think the ego can destroy us if we feed it. I am obsessed with wisdom. Wisdom informs us of our limitations. It teaches us that we never stop learning so humility I think is a natural byproduct  of this pursuit. Also you quickly learn what both my mother and father taught me “no man is an island, no man stands alone”. Success in any pursuit cannot be obtained without the kindness and assistance of others.

3. Many people in the business do not have the resume you possess and you are still writing it as we speak. When do you stop?

I have too much left to learn and hopefully so much knowledge to share that I don’t think you stop. If that happens it is when Jah Jah calls me home. I don’t believe I have achieved very much. I am humbled by the accomplishments I have attained but I have a need to challenge myself to push the boundaries and at times to break the rules. I have this amazing team of persons around me who keeps pushing me onward and upward, and I also must demonstrate to others that you must never be afraid of striving for your dreams regardless of your situation or the opinions of others. So I will never stop.

4. You have referred to yourself as the ‘love messenger’ exactly what does that mean?

Well first of all I never referred to myself as such. A writer in Germany, Karsten Frehe, doing a piece on me for Riddim Magazine was the first to use the phrase to describe me, my fans across the world very quickly adopted the phrase hence the origins of the phrase. Love Messenger simply means my purpose is to improve the human condition, to make us happier, to reinforce our self esteem with a microphone in my hand. When you hear my music, read my blogs or attend my shows you must feel better for doing so. Life has enough challenges. My aim is to make people happy.

5. Do you consider yourself a Reggae Artiste first or an Actor turned reggae performer?

I am an artist, multidimensional with the drive and work ethic to be the best I can be. I love the freedom of writing my own material as a songwriter ( I have even written for others including the late Gregory The Cool Ruler Isaac song title Mr Sweetness ). As a recording artist you have greater autonomy, much more artistic freedom. Actors are mouthpieces, limited freedom but I love both forms of expression equally. For me, actors must be employed, recording artist create their own employment.

6. You are very good at everything you do. What’s your secret?

That’s a great thought, but I really am NOT very good at everything. My goal is earn that mantra some day. I think the secret is the willingness to work both hard and smart, to be relentless in your pursuits, to ignore and avoid the negative as well as negative persons, inform yourself of the industry you are in, have a clearly defined idea of your path, never forget the importance of acknowledging  the help of others in your journey to your personal greatness, avoid your own ego and above all else LOVE WHAT YOU DO. Also embrace your weaknesses in your craft and work at self improvement.

7. You have 2 daughters are they like you in any way? 

I avoid discussing them primarily because they need the space to evolve freely and without interference. So next question please.

8. Fair enough. You are dedicated to the  culture of Jamaica in that when you perform its Jamaica you sell, its music and culture. It makes your performance different and appreciated. Was this a personal choice just to be different in the crowd?

Not really a personal choice. It is really simply who I am. I am VERY different as a man, and as a artist. You are at your best when you know who you are, when you embrace that person and allow your art form to be informed by your core personality. Look, I LOVE BEING JAMAICAN,  I love sharing this rich resilient culture and people with the world. Being Jamaican has assisted in the creation of who I am plus it’s cool as ” r..s” lol. Brand Jamaica is NOT being exploited in a really way. Our brand can make us a truly wealthy nation. I am merely a man unable to affect the decisions of our illustrious industry leaders and politicians, so I elevate our amazing brand proudly in the hope that it makes a positive difference.

9. You have faced challenges in the  industry, which one has had a lasting impression on you so far?

Both my Mom and Dad told me growing up, ” opinions are like assholes, everyone has one”, so the challenges I faced only served to inform me, others were either, misinformed about me, intimidated by me, had my best interest at heart and that I definitely was on the right path to success and happiness. I believe in our freedom of self expression but have never much cared about the opinions of others particularly if those opinions were uninformed and if my gut told me that person or those persons did not wish me well. Like any muscle resistance makes you stronger. My journey has been awesome. I do not believe any particular challenge was enough to leave a lasting impression.

10. Did you see yourself where you are today 20 years ago?

Yes, I literally did. Our mind has the ability to create the “self fulfilling prophecy”. What we think and say we give it life. In essence we are the sum total of our thoughts. My parents, teachers and mentors all taught me this from my formative years. I have and continue to visualize my accomplishments daily and when in doubt , I turn to the many positive remarkable persons in my support group.

11. You are from a generation where making a living in the entertainment industry was far from a reality especially someone from Jamaica. What happened to you to make it possible?

I took the time and patience to learn not just my craft but the “business” of the industry. Also I listened to the advice of the veterans and icons. I read voraciously and try to be practical in my approach. Less “hype” and more information. Less talking and more action. Also I live BELOW  my means.

12. Where do you get the  inspiration from to write your music?

I try to tell stories. I tell my own stories or those of the persons I interact with. Occasionally I just get a hook and then construct the entire song from that.

13. What movie you did that changed your life the most?

Walt Disney’s Return To Treasure Island which was a Twenty ( 20 ) part mini series in which I starred as a lead character Abel. It was my very first film role. It introduced me to the world of film making and gave me my first real taste of international stardom. It also informed me that I could earn a living from the arts. Finally it catapulted me into the spotlight as an actor and led to many major film roles.

14. Actors sometimes speak about how tough it is to leave certain roles behind after they’ve played them. How do you experience jumping from character to character?

Yes I have heard that but honestly never experienced it. Very early on my mentor Leonie Forbes taught me how to become immersed into the character but she also taught me how to emerge from the character without losing my essence. Every character you play however must be infused with aspects of who you are as a person and therefore each character remains with you for always, creating a internal library to draw on for future parts.

15. What do you look for in a role to accept it ?

If I can’t empathize with the character on a personal level then it makes little or no sense to play him.

16. Is it fair to say you are more popular in Europe than in Jamaica and if yes why is that?

It’s not. My fans are everywhere including Jamaica.

17. People change. You have changed. How do you affect change in other people?

You inform and allow them the opportunity to choose that change. Truth is, as living beings we have no choice but to evolve. What is relevant is affecting POSITIVE change. But positive change needs patience love and understanding. The many layers to this starts with information, expanding that persons view to that of a world view. Knowledge is one of the fundamental pillars for affecting lasting positive change in any person nation or company.

18. Will it be your music or your acting that you think will have the most impact on your fans?

My music.

19. If you could leave a parting word, phrase or sentence to be used on your headstone what would it be?

Never let anyone tell you that you are not special. Never let anyone tell you that your dreams can never be achieved.

© 876icons 2014.