news
Forums
history
profile
guestbook
link
advertising
merchandise
contact us
thereggaeboyz
tell a friend
  The Reggae Boyz Forum
  Reggae Boyz Soccer Discussions
  Damian Marley's Video - Blessing or a... (Page 2)

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone!
This topic is 3 pages long:   1  2  3 
next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Damian Marley's Video - Blessing or a...
Big Mountain
Member
posted 07-12-2005 10:25 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Big Mountain     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Jagga:
BM, as someone involved in advertising and marketing I understand your concern regarding the power of images. Yes it can have lasting impact on the viewer. We must also remember that as a people, we cannot let others dictate to us what they want to see. If they do not like it, look the other way. This video is bringing much needed awareness to the social issues that burdens our wonderful island and that is also very important. Social commentary is a much needed element in any society and it is not always beautiful. Many such ghetto images from Jamaica have been shown around the world before and guess what, it has not stopped our popularity and the love people have for our country. Right now "Welcome to Jamrock" is needed so all of us can start discussing the problems of our society and not if we should hide the images from foreigners.
Peace

Good response Jagga...I respect social dialogue if this is what Marley intends. To me action speaks louder than words. The first thing for us as Jamaicans is to help address our social and polictical issues locally before we take it internationally. Especially, when there is no help coming from the International sector. If this song/video was intended to address this issue with the proceeds going towards the cause, then fine, that's all good. Why profit off our social and political distress? Then again the politicians are doing it so who cares? I do!

For those who think I am sitting on a high chair. I have donated financial resources and my time to a lot of charities in my former ghetto neighborhood where I grew up. During the last Hurricane, I was in Jamaica on the roof of my Primary School with a few old time buddies repairing that. Giving back to the community and the school that gave me a start. One of my biggest achievement in life was to help an old friend of mine in my community who was on hard times, to open a Woodwork shop in 2001. In January this year I went back home and he had 6 guys in the neighborhood now working for him.

Now how many of you with all the BIG chat is doing anything to help our social problems? How many of you is giving back something to the community where you grew up?

This is what I support! "ACTION". Not someone airing our dirty laundry for a profit.

My take...mi done.

[This message has been edited by Big Mountain (edited 07-12-2005).]

IP: Logged

ddread
Member
posted 07-12-2005 10:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ddread     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Big Mountain:
Good response Jagga...I respect social dialogue if this is what Marley intends. To me action speaks louder than words. The first thing for us as Jamaicans is to help address our social and polictical issues locally before we take it internationally. Especially, when there is no help coming from the International sector. If this song/video was intended to address this issue with the proceeds going towards the cause, then fine, that's all good. Why profit off our social and political distress? Then again the politicians are doing it so who cares? I do!

For those who think I am sitting on a high chair. I have donated financial resources and my time to a lot of charities in my former ghetto neighborhood where I grew up. During the last Hurricane, I was in Jamaica on the roof of my Primary School with a few old time buddies repairing that. Giving back to the community and the school that gave me a start. One of my biggest achievement in life was to help an old friend of mine in my community who was on hard times, to open a Woowork shop in 2001. In January this year I went back home and he had 6 guys in the neighborhood now working for him.

Now how many of you with all the BIG chat is doing anything to help our social problems? How many of you is giving back something to the community where you grew up?

This is what I support! "ACTION". Not someone airing our dirty laundry for a profit.

My take...mi done.



Welcome to Jamrock!

IP: Logged

Princess
Moderator
posted 07-12-2005 10:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Princess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by ddread:
Welcome to Jamrock!

But, ddread, u notice how massive start post resume an' thing? Whappen, we use to live good an' no try big up wiself, now everybody a talk whe dem do? sigh...

IP: Logged

ddread
Member
posted 07-12-2005 12:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ddread     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Princess:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ddread:
[b] Welcome to Jamrock!

But, ddread, u notice how massive start post resume an' thing? Whappen, we use to live good an' no try big up wiself, now everybody a talk whe dem do? sigh... [/B][/QUOTE]

IP: Logged

Jagga
Moderator
posted 07-12-2005 01:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jagga     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
BM, I think you should be commended for your contributions to your homeland. You are right, not many people follow thru and actually give back to the various communities. I wonder if young Marley will donate something to the areas featured in the video or is it just more exploitation of the poor?...Interesting!

IP: Logged

MikeU
Member
posted 07-12-2005 01:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MikeU     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As I said before, the educated traveler should not expect to see total utopia anywhere he/she travels in this world because no such place exists. Everywhere has impoverished areas, some of which are more depressing in their appearance: Iceland's vs. Jamaica's or Vancouver's vs. Haiti's.


IP: Logged

HaitianSensation
Member
posted 07-12-2005 02:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for HaitianSensation     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Princess,
I dont think you should knock him because not even 2% of people give back.
BM, big up, I salute you.

Bless...

IP: Logged

Princess
Moderator
posted 07-12-2005 03:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Princess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Can't knock my neighbour. Jus' say what you have to seh and done. Don't need to defen' it. It's your opinion.

But I really curious as to who these 'international' friends are.

IP: Logged

Big Mountain
Member
posted 07-12-2005 05:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Big Mountain     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Princess:
Can't knock my neighbour. Jus' say what you have to seh and done. Don't need to defen' it. It's your opinion.

But I really curious as to who these 'international' friends are.


Well these international friends are from S. Korea, Czech Republic and UK (College Buddies)and they have all been to Jamaica more than once. They know the good and bad. I even took them to show them where I grew up. Not ashamed of that! They were more pissed off than I was when they saw the video.


IP: Logged

Big Mountain
Member
posted 07-12-2005 05:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Big Mountain     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Jagga:
BM, I think you should be commended for your contributions to your homeland. You are right, not many people follow thru and actually give back to the various communities. I wonder if young Marley will donate something to the areas featured in the video or is it just more exploitation of the poor?...Interesting!

Did anyone who see the video noticed that Damien Marley was driving a BMW through all that garbage? How ironic!!

Black man a suffa but me driving my cris BMW...

IP: Logged

mobydick
Member
posted 07-12-2005 05:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mobydick     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Princess:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ddread:
[b] Welcome to Jamrock!

But, ddread, u notice how massive start post resume an' thing? Whappen, we use to live good an' no try big up wiself, now everybody a talk whe dem do? sigh... [/B][/QUOTE]

Kiss teeth...cho nuh because yuh resume blank..wha ave u done fi the poor

IP: Logged

jt
Moderator
posted 07-12-2005 06:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Big Mountain:
Did anyone who see the video noticed that Damien Marley was driving a BMW through all that garbage? How ironic!!

Black man a suffa but me driving my cris BMW...


But isnt that the reality Biggs.

IP: Logged

Big Mountain
Member
posted 07-12-2005 07:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Big Mountain     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by jt:
But isnt that the reality Biggs.


A hear yuh Jt! Reality fi true!

To end with some pleasant news:

Mexico to face surprisingly strong Jamaica

Thomas Eisenhuth/EFE

Mexico

Mexico, fresh from pulverizing Guatemala, will try to get by a surprisingly strong Jamaica in Gold Cup play on Wednesday evening here in Reliant Stadium.
Nobody had imagined that Jamaica would find itself atop Group C, albeit tied with South Africa in points, or that Mexico - a powerhouse which has won the Gold Cup four times - would be in third place in the group prior to its last game of the opening round.

Although the Mexicans don't seem to be in dire straits given that the Gold Cup allows eight of the 12 competing teams to advance to the quarterfinals, it will have to dominate Jamaica if it wants to lead the group, something that had seemed all but a foregone conclusion - before the competition started, that is.

Mexico, evidently discombobulated by overconfidence, lost its first game to South Africa, but managed to find its focus in its second outing to crush Guatemala 4-0.

Jamaica, coached by Wendell Downswell, has been a welcome surprise in this year's Gold Cup competition, defeating Guatemala in its first match and managing a tie against the South Africans to garner a virtually secured spot in the quarterfinals.

Wednesday's games in Reliant Stadium will determine the immediate futures of Mexico, Jamaica and South Africa in the next round's matches. The group leader and the number two squad will remain in Houston for further play and the third-place team will travel to Foxboro, Massachusetts, near Boston, for quarterfinals competition.

The Mexicans, however, are breathing a little easier with the victory over Guatemala wherein their Argentine coach, Ricardo Lavolpe, showed he could get the team going after the fiasco against South Africa.

Mexico's fans will be waiting to see if striker Jared Borgetti will be able to notch his 36th goal on Wednesday to become the top scorer in the history of the team. On Sunday, he scored his 35th to tie Carlos Hermosillo and Luis Hernandez.

Jamaica will also be pumped up when it takes the field against the Mexicans because it stands a great chance of ending the first round of play as the Group C winner, an achievement that would go far toward taking away the sting of being eliminated from the 2006 World Cup in the early qualifying round.

And the Mexicans should know that their contest against the Jamaicans will not be a pushover, despite the fact that the historical statistics show they've beaten the islanders 10 times, tied once and gone down to but one defeat.

The last occasion on which the teams faced off was at the 2003 Gold Cup, and the Mexicans left no doubt who was top dog - at least on that occasion - emerging with a 5-0 triumph.

The probable rosters for Wednesday's match are:

Mexico: Moises Muņoz, Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido, Ricardo Osorio, Carlos Morales, Antonio Naelson "Zinha," Mario Mendez, Gerardo Galindo, Luis Perez, Jared Borgetti and Alberto Medina. Coach: Ricardo Lavolpe

Jamaica: Donovan Ricketts, Damion Stewart, Tyrone Marshall, Robert Scarlett, Jermaine Taylor, Tyrone Sawyers, Jermaine Johnson, Jermaine Hue, Andree Williams, Ricardo Fuller and Khari Stephenson. Coach: Wendell Downswell.

Game time: 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Houston time (0200 GMT on Thursday).


EFE




IP: Logged

Jagga
Moderator
posted 07-17-2005 06:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jagga     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Welcome to Jamrock

See more here http://www.cafepress.com/iriejam/719630

[This message has been edited by Jagga (edited 07-17-2005).]

IP: Logged

Shatta_Cleve
Member
posted 07-17-2005 09:23 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shatta_Cleve     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You know whats ironic about us worrying about tourists visiting Jamaica after seeing the welcome to Jamrock video? It is the fact that Jamaica suffers from 80% leakage in the tourism industry and so in the end money taken in from music/entertainment seems to do better for us than money taken in from the colonial tourism industry.

Also if anyone have been paying attention recently they would have noticed that its only when the United States says something about Jamaica's internal problems that we act on it.

For years people in JA knew there was trafficking in sex slaves and kids but no one had the cojones to do something and it was only recently when the United states said that they were going to punish JA for human and sex slave trafficking that the government of JA jumped up and started to do something about it.

Change in JA will only come about from outside so I welcome those images from Jr Gong as oppossed to the oversexed images of our women on their headtops and "up in the club" Its about time we get more reality around here.

Whats funny is that everyone can tell you what they don't want to see and thats good as we are entitled to our opinion but ask them what they want to see and you would be plesantly surprised.

I guess Big Mountain hasn't seen IWayne's "can't satisfy her" video that deals with prostitution and AIDS.

Big Mountain fair enough you don't want to see welcome to Jamrock on TV so tell us what kind of reggae videos you would like to see

respect

IP: Logged

Big Mountain
Member
posted 07-17-2005 10:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Big Mountain     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Jimmy Cliff's "I can see clearly now...bright sun shiny day".

One question Shatta...when you are posing and taking photos to send home. Do you take one by your lush green grass with house in background or do you take one standing by your turned over garbage bin with garbage & flies everywhere?

Just let me know who would come and help us when they see those images? And...why is the dude showing off his cris BMW while showing us how we live in filth?

IP: Logged

Shatta_Cleve
Member
posted 07-17-2005 01:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shatta_Cleve     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sir Mountain I don't pose and take pictures to send home, the I elevate past those levels long time as that isn't really helping my people.

Hell in fact BET have their eyes on lock and as far as the young Jamaicans are concerned BET is how black Americans live in the states.

If we are going to talk about images we need to talk about the images that they digest daily on the cable TV and why is it our people now use the words "B!tches" "N!gg@" and "Mother&*^er" almost as much as the Americans.

People must remember that the struggle is like a relay race and it isn't over so why now when it comes to our leg of the race after we have benefitted from the works of our forefathers(Garvey, Rodney, X, Bogle etc.) we now want to play Lazy like we have arrived and no more work needs to be done.


Again after looking at Rap videos now and Rap vidoes back in the days(fight the power with Public Enemy, vidoes from Poor Righteous Teachers, ED OG and da Bulldogs) to now all you can see is some up in the club crap and the standard of beauty for black women is some half mixed long hair green eye girl I welcome the difference in our music, Hell I champion it if you want to hear the truth.

As for the BMW it is a paradox but I am not looking for perfection from anyone as I myself isn't perfect.

If we are worried about our images then we need to control a cable network or station to ensure that what is put out is what we want to be put out.

I understand your concern but I think you if you go deeper you will understand what is happening.

Also the Jamaican elite had a problem with the video but not the reality of what was happening in Jamaica.

They spent more time discussing the video than how to dismantle the garissons. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm


respect

IP: Logged

Shatta_Cleve
Member
posted 07-22-2005 05:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shatta_Cleve     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Welcome to Jamrock is reality, says Junior Gong
Young Marley not fazed by criticism of his latest single
KARYL WALKER, Observer staff reporter
Friday, July 22, 2005

MARLEY. I give thanks for the praise and the criticism

Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley has shrugged off criticism that his latest single, Welcome To Jamrock, gives a false and unflattering image of Jamaica, arguing that the recording was inspired by what he saw happening here.

"The truth is an offence, but not a sin," quipped Marley in an interview with Splash on Wednesday.

In probably the most biting social commentary now receiving heavy rotation on radio, in clubs and dancehalls, Marley speaks about the different lives led by the rich and the poor.

He makes mention of the inner-city community of Majesty Gardens, also known as 'Back To', bringing the harsh reality of life in impoverished areas to the fore.

'Back To' is a heavily populated community where poverty and woefully inadequate social and economic conditions are the norm.

The single tells visitors to the island that the lavish life they live when they stay in all-inclusive resorts does not accurately reflect the harsh realities of life in Jamaica's poorest communities.

Marley's use of the line out in the streets, they call it murder from Ini Kamoze's 1984 hit, World A Reggae Music, is a jolting reminder of the country's high homicide rate.

Welcome To Jamrock apparently earned the ire of Donna Goldwyn of Kingston who, in a letter to the editor of this newspaper published on March 1, wrote that young Marley had "decidedly fashioned Jamaica as an embattled land in which weed-smoking, gun-toting teenagers and babies, along with righteous and saintly Rastafarians are the only inhabitants".

Goldwyn also wrote that the single was an attempt to "intimate that the Jamaican people are all uneducated, idiotic marionettes of unscrupulous and lazy politicians".

She also argued that the single and its accompanying music video depict a stark contrast to the multifaceted and beautiful nation that is Jamaica.

But during Wednesday's telephone interview, Marley was unmoved when mention was made of Goldwyn's criticism.
"I give thanks for the praise and the criticism," Marley said, "Anybody who lives in Jamaica knows how life is in Back To."
According to Marley, the experiences of persons in Back To and other impoverished areas inspired him to write the lyrics.

"The inspiration came from life. The people need opportunities," Marley said.

Marley, who has managed to define himself as an artiste in his own right rather than Bob Marley's son, said he has a lot more in store musically, as the follow-up album to his Grammy award-winning Half Way Tree is due later this year.

"The album will be a continuation of the great works which were started by my father," he said. "I give thanks that I am from that lineage, as it is an honour and a privilege."

Marley, who will perform at Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest tomorrow night, earlier this year embarked on a 40-city US tour with his new backing band, Empire.

Even though he is enjoying more popularity than his siblings - Ziggy, Stephen, Kymani and Julian - Junior Gong insisted that his musical achievements result from concerted family effort.

"All my brothers and sisters support me, as it is a family project," Marley said.

Stephen Marley, whose vocals are featured on Damian's hit single, It Is Written, has played a prominent role in the production of Damian's previous albums Mr Marley and Half Way Tree.

IP: Logged

Shatta_Cleve
Member
posted 07-22-2005 05:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shatta_Cleve     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
WElcome to Jamrock I guess they are going to start hitting out against this lady too uh?


PAHO advisor says water, sanitation diseases affecting inner-city kids
CLAUDIENNE EDWARDS, Observer staff reporter
Friday, July 22, 2005

Ana Treasure

WATER and sanitation-related diseases have been stunting the growth of many children in inner-city communities, Ana Treasure, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Environmental Health Advisor, said yesterday.

"If you go to our inner-city communities you will see that our children are small; some of them are not necessarily suffering from malnutrition but they are stunted. They are stunted because they have been so much affected by water and sanitation-related diseases that they have not been able to grow, they have not been able to develop their minds," Treasure said.

She said that among the diseases associated with bad hygiene were diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, pink eye and skin diseases.

Treasure who was the guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Kingston luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, said there was a direct relationship between poor access to water and poor hygiene.

She said that of every 10,000 mothers in Jamaica, an estimated 120 of them died during childbirth. She added that mothers with piped water in their homes were at lower risk of prenatal deaths.

"So just to have a toilet in the house can significantly improve the health of a pregnant woman," Treasure told the Rotarians.

She said that 20,000 families totalling 90,000 people had no toilets.

"Fifteen per cent of the households in Jamaica do not have facilities for hygiene, they don't have showers, they do not have a sink to wash their hands, they do not have a sink to wash their vegetables," Treasure said.

PAHO, she said, was working with the government to develop a national sanitation policy, pointing out that there was an association between the lack of sanitation and violence. In communities where there were no private showers, the exposure of women to rape was heightened, she said.

"If a young lady has to shower in front of everybody in a public shower, she is exposing herself to all the members of the community. She is exposing herself to rape, she is exposing herself to a lot of things," she said.

- edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com

IP: Logged

Princess
Moderator
posted 07-22-2005 08:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Princess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
How long this song getting airplay? Is just now dem decide fi start persecute di yute?!

Dis remind me of the homophobic attack on the artists. Long after dem get fi translate it dem a mek up ruckus!

IP: Logged

jamdown
Member
posted 07-26-2005 06:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for jamdown     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Jr Gong gets superstar welcome
Entertainment
BY Michael A Edwards Observer writer
Tuesday, July 26, 2005

In the wake of the passing of reggae king Bob Marley, his male progeny have consistently come under scrutiny in respect of their prospects of assuming the mantle (as have other artistes outside the family).

At the Catherine Hall grounds on Saturday, the final night of the 2005 Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, one such ascendant became much more the obvious choice.

The self-styled "youngest veteran" Damian "Jr Gong" Marley showed that he had more than just his father's name and appearance, filling just over an hour's worth of performing time with hits from his previous albums, a reasonably lengthy but accomplished tribute to the "Legend" and a shorter collaboration with older brother Steven.

No one was the least bit bothered or fooled when he left the stage without performing the current smash hit Welcome To Jamrock and sure enough, he returned to give the large audience what they were expecting, tossing in a few other numbers to seal the issue: the ascendant had been anointed.

With Marley's set complete, the inevitable exodus ensued, and for the third night in succession, the closing act (Toots Hibbert in this case) performed before a vastly diminished crowd.

While they played before an even smaller number than Toots, curtain raisers Panic and the Rebel Emergency proved one of the genuine finds of the festival, serving up a gleeful mix of power rock, dancehall deejaying and funk that marked them as a talent to watch.

Universal Records' latest signee Tammi Chynn fared better with the audience and easily vindicated the confidence placed in her by the company. Sparkling in a gold-and-white outfit that set off her blond tresses, she oozed confidence and never looked or sounded anything less than in total control.

Just before Chynn's performance, the statuesque Alaine also worked well, with a short but sharp set that mixed ballads like Alicia Keys' If I Don't Have You with mid-tempo cuts.

As she had in a previous outing in St Lucia, American Idol winner Fantasia Barreno ran onto the Sumfest stage barefooted and plunged headlong into an emotionally charged stint, punctuated by much screaming.

Audience response appeared split, however, some being hampered by their unfamiliarity with the material.
The other Stateside act, rapper Fabolous, sought to identify with the local audience, partly through his attire - a Jamaican flag cap, a T-shirt (from his own forthcoming line) with the Jamaican colours and similarly accented sneakers.

Although it's not possible to attribute his success to the ploy, he, along with his on-stage DJ and entourage, appeared to have received good support from the audience, who flicked their lighters and vocalised on command.

The most curious set of the night came from rockers veteran Ini Kamoze, who immediately preceded Marley. The "Hotstepper" appeared visibly perturbed on the stage, even as he built up an engaging flow with hits like Trouble, Reggae General, Shocking Out, and Hole In The Pumpkin [the latter memorably banned by the Government in the 1980s].

But just as he got started with Worl' A Reggae, which contains the now famous "out in the streets they call it murder" line used as a snippet in Gong's Welcome To Jamrock, the artiste inexplicably left the stage. When he returned, it was only to do a few bars from his international hit Here Comes The Hotstepper, and then he again exited, this time for good.

When asked in an interview some time afterward about his set, Kamoze acknowledged that he was disappointed with the outcome, but was at pains to specify reasons. He made references to camera interference and alluded to other issues, but declined to elaborate on the latter.

Hindsight is perfect vision and one understands that the line-up for an event such as Sumfest is inherently dynamic. But with three successive closing acts being upstaged by their predecessors, it's an area the organisers will undoubtedly have to look at in more detail for the future.

IP: Logged

themightykool
Member
posted 07-28-2005 09:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for themightykool     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Source: the reggaecountry.com blog

Welcome to Jamrock - Has Marley Gone too Far?

Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley's last album, Half Way Tree, earned him a grammy in 2001. Many said that it would not be possible to top that effort. But, with production from his brother Stephen, himself and others and collaborations with Stephen, NAS, Bobby Brown (no Whitney), Buju Banton (aka Gargamel) blended with his unique style, young Marley seems set to explode with his latest effort.

Welcome to Jamrock, the title track from the soon to be released album has been the topic of much discussion and debate lately due to its depiction of violence in Jamaica. Where as violence can be found in every country in the world, the island of Jamaica, with a population of approximately 2.5 million people, has one of the highest murder rates (per capita) in the world. That is a fact!

"Welcome to Jamdown poor people a dead at random, political violence caan (can not) dun (done)" is a powerful line from the track. Whether the violence is politically motivated or not is questionable but the fact is, the violence is getting out of hand and truth be told, Jamaica does have a history of politically motivated violence (hence the arise of garrisons).

"Sandals a nuh Back To, the thugs dem will do what dem have to and don't think twice to sh*t yuh" is another line from the track. For those who do not know, Back To is another name for Majestic Gardens, a community that is the epitome of hardship and poverty in Kingston, Jamaica. In my humble opinion, Marley is simply stating that there is another side of Jamaica that is not at all elegant or glamorous but where exists the poor, destitute and sometimes, the forgotten.

Personally, I like the Ini Kamoze sample in the tune "Out in the streets they call it murder". For the type of track, and what I think Marley is trying to depict, it is very applicable. I will be quick to point out that Jamrock (Jamaica) is not only made up of thugs and villans. After all, Marley himself is from Jamrock.

Life is made up of choices and those who go the route of violence, chose it. Question is, were they forced to choose it because of poverty? If so how can we alleviate that situation? In economic theory, it is stated that it is impossible for someone to get richer without someone getting poorer (cause and effect or in MATRIX III terms, causality). That is a fact. So, is the increase in violence directly proportional to the increase in poverty? Poverty which has resulted from the inequittable distribution of wealth. Hmmm....

So has Damian gone too far? I think not. I think it is good that it has sparked debate about a situation that is growing out of hand. I view it as a Marley using their gift of social commentary and celebrity to speak to the masses about a concern. After all, the need for peace is what brought about the classic, One Love, from Bob Marley himself and that was over 20 years ago. Hopefully Damian's cry will have a positive effect.


IP: Logged

Jahleah
Junior Member
posted 08-08-2005 09:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jahleah     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What a loaded topic and a sensitive issue!

Welcome to Jamrock has obviously created quite a stir there in the Jamaican community.

Truthfully, I think certain people are taking the video entirely way too personal.
I agree with Damian... the truth may be an offense but it is not a sin!

I was born in America to Panamanian parents and raised in Brooklyn. I've also lived in Los Angeles and now I reside in Las Vegas.
Hello people!!! There are ghettos in Panama
in Brooklyn in Los Angeles and right here in Sin City Las Vegas.

What are we going to do about these ghettos?
Hide them? Sweep them under the carpet so that the rich tourists feel safe and secure?
Give me a break!

I have revealed the homeless situation in Los Angeles on my public access cable show and although it may seem somewhat distasteful to some... there are those out there that appreciate seeing truth and reality.

The words of Welcome to Jamrock are true and worthy to be heard... just like Bob Marley's Ambush in the Night.

Yes, it is quite a paradox for Damian to be driving through the ghetto in a BMW but when you compare that to rap videos made here in Amerikkka... what the hell is the difference???

Hopefully this young man is conscious enough to donate a portion of the proceeds from his song/cd to programs designed to improve the conditions there in Jamaica's slums... which DO exist, whether you want to admit/face it or not.

Personally, I have more issues with the gangsterization of Rastafari than the truth being revealed about Jamaican ghettos.

IP: Logged

Princess
Moderator
posted 08-08-2005 10:04 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Princess     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
FYI: Popular Song of the Year, "Poverty"...

IP: Logged

CHISEL
Member
posted 08-08-2005 10:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for CHISEL     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just saw a part of the video a fw days ago for the first time and I must say I actually like it. Sorry, but I thought it was a cool video...

IP: Logged

delano
Member
posted 08-11-2005 08:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for delano     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
20,000 families without toilets and so many rich Jamaicans on this planet?

I know alot of people will come up with excuses as to why we cant help our own countrymen but seriously cant we somehow help one-by-one?

It obvious di government ah fraud. I think a group of caring Jamaicans(home and abroad) need to get the ball rolling.

Sponsor football player? Nah, sponsor a community or something to that effect.

IP: Logged

Big Mountain
Member
posted 08-11-2005 04:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Big Mountain     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Jahleah:
Hopefully this young man is conscious enough to donate a portion of the proceeds from his song/cd to programs designed to improve the conditions there in Jamaica's slums... which DO exist, whether you want to admit/face it or not.

This is what I am waiting for. Any news yet? Sponsorship projects? Anything?

IP: Logged

BadRas
Member
posted 08-11-2005 05:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BadRas     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
http://www.bobmarley-foundation.com.html

BLESS

[This message has been edited by BadRas (edited 08-11-2005).]

IP: Logged

BadRas
Member
posted 08-11-2005 05:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BadRas     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
http://www.bobmarley-foundation.com/

BLESS

[This message has been edited by BadRas (edited 08-11-2005).][/B][/QUOTE]

IP: Logged

BadRas
Member
posted 08-11-2005 05:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BadRas     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
http://www.bobmarley-foundation.com/about.html
BLESS

[This message has been edited by BadRas (edited 08-11-2005).]

IP: Logged

Impakone
Junior Member
posted 08-15-2005 08:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Impakone     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well I dont know if I should even be commenting...Im not from Jamaica..so i dont know if I have a right! But in response to what some have been calling negative images in the vid by Mr. Marley...I mean I live in Los Angeles, California and believe me people are living like that everywhere..i was so used to seeing the beautiful side of Jamaica...the song and video makes me feel I can relate...and I know people all over the world that are living hard or were living a hard life, in a rough area, can relate. I think the song is a hit...and if I wasnt living check to check I would take a trip to Jamaica cause the fact of the matter is theres rough places in every country...and a video depicking that in Jamaica does not make me hesitate to wanna visit! Peace and love to you all! Even you BM!

IP: Logged

Shatta_Cleve
Member
posted 08-15-2005 11:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shatta_Cleve     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yow funny enough I was on a boat ride this sunday out of Long Beach Cali and when the selectors dropped the "welcome to Jamrock" tune the place went crazy.

Now most of the people on the reggae boat ride were fillipinos and Latinos but it was fascinating to watch their reaction(big mountain how is your side of town?}


I like the fact that this song is getting strong rotation on the radios and on the tele. I guess the hook "out in the streets they call it murder" doesn't hurt either.

The more I watch this video the more I like it. Maybe African American rappers will take a cue from this and start showing life as it really is in their 'hoods' as opposed to club scenes and the light skin girl with weave that is now the standard of beauty for black women.

WAnt to start a war?
One day hold a vibes or a medi with some black women with weaves and ask them don't they find it strange that they are sewing hair unto their hair and why do they do it?

The answers you get or excuses whatever you want to call it will surprise you.

Also ask a bunch of black men why our standard of beauty is that of anything that is close to white.

Any video that doesn't perpetuate these foolishness I love

IP: Logged

Big Mountain
Member
posted 08-16-2005 08:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Big Mountain     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Impakone:
Well I dont know if I should even be commenting...Im not from Jamaica..so i dont know if I have a right! But in response to what some have been calling negative images in the vid by Mr. Marley...I mean I live in Los Angeles, California and believe me people are living like that everywhere..i was so used to seeing the beautiful side of Jamaica...the song and video makes me feel I can relate...and I know people all over the world that are living hard or were living a hard life, in a rough area, can relate. I think the song is a hit...and if I wasnt living check to check I would take a trip to Jamaica cause the fact of the matter is theres rough places in every country...and a video depicking that in Jamaica does not make me hesitate to wanna visit! Peace and love to you all! Even you BM!

Your views are always welcome Impakone. We have many visitors to this site who are not Jamaicans. I respect your humble beginnings and the fact that you can look beyond this video and to see that Jamaica is a land of mixed blessings. If there were many people like you in this world, then I would not have been the least concerned about what was depicted in this video. Respect!

IP: Logged

Big Mountain
Member
posted 08-16-2005 08:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Big Mountain     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Shatta_Cleve:
Now most of the people on the reggae boat ride were fillipinos and Latinos but it was fascinating to watch their reaction(big mountain how is your side of town?}

Ras Shatta, it's glad to see that you are fulfilling your dreams On a boat with Fillipino and Latino (Women) - How comes you did not invite Shaggy to that party? I guess you were a great Jamaican Ambassador that day.

Anyway, I kinda pass beyond this video thing still. There were some compelling pros and cons which I think overall was great for conversation and a lot of things were made clear.

Well, just in case I forgot to tell you... I am now living in Amish Country (Pittsburgh). DC/Virginia was too small to hold Tripeous, Jahjesty, Truetrini and myself. Give me a ring, as I lost your number and I am not sure if you are responding to your Hotmails. I am looking at a return trip to Cali later this year. Respect Brethren!

IP: Logged

Shatta_Cleve
Member
posted 08-16-2005 11:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shatta_Cleve     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
send me your number to Shatta_Cleve@hotmail.com or ShattaCleve@yahoo.com

no worry bout the video thing as anything to get you fired up will do.

Few sisters were on the boat but yeah I look at all type of beautiful women especially the tall one dem(nothing like dem long legs)

Link me I might be dropping by your way someday. Cali is as it alway is, everything is concentrated in Hollywood for now and Long Beach has come a long way since its redevelopment started.

Still from time to time I miss that strong caribbean culture of the east coast

respect

IP: Logged

TheDread
Member
posted 08-17-2005 12:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for TheDread     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Shatta, what part of LA you live in?

IP: Logged

neika6488
Junior Member
posted 08-17-2005 07:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for neika6488     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Big Mountain:
Was watching MTV yesterday with a group of International friends who came to visit. Damian Marley's video "Welcome to Jamrock" came on. I was in shock and awe. What was this guy thinking? He chooses to dirtiest streets with garbage piling up on both sides, people living in carboard boxes, shattered zinc homes, man eating out of garbage bins. Utterly disgusting to see the image this guy is broadcasting to the world. Not to mention the Jamaican Flag featured in the video was on a wall with paint peeling and filled with gunshot holes.

okay, first of all who the**** are you and what the *** do u think u know about jamaica and damian marley? don't u ******** get it? obviously you don't. if you had even known a thing about damian and where he comes from you wouldn't have made ur self look so ****ing dumb. the song says "welcome to jamrock, camp where the youts dem jampack, 4 poun a weed in a van back, etc. " this is real, this is jamaica, this **** happens everyday. i was there yesterday and this **** really happens. what u see is for real he is trying to show u the real jamaica. it aint all pretty with sandy beaches and nice resorts and funny looking rasta men. up to yesterday when i was there i saw a madman walking around naked on the sidewalk, people always begging. don't let the commercials and advertisement for the tourists fool you. this is what they don't want u to see because if u did, u would not want to go there. damian is showing u what is real. the next time you watch the video, listen to it. but then again, you're not jamaican and even if i pointed it out to u, u still would not get it. u are not welcome to jamrock and neither are the rest of the dumb ass niggas who don't rate that song.


IP: Logged

Shatta_Cleve
Member
posted 08-17-2005 09:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Shatta_Cleve     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
deh a "Inglewood" boss, close to the race track and the airport.

Wah you deh near my ends?

respect

IP: Logged

poisondart
Member
posted 08-17-2005 10:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for poisondart     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Beautiful song, excellent video. Infact, I would like to add it to my collections.

True depiction of Jamaican society and it's many social woes.

Any 'ites out there willing to buy me a copy for my birthday?.

IP: Logged

insight33
Junior Member
posted 09-04-2005 10:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for insight33     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
if you know wut has happenend and wut is happening in jamaica you'll start to understand why he wrote the song. if what he is saying is true than wuts the problem? my parents are from jamaica i got boyz who live in jamaica and yes i've been there. being a Canadian jamaican i know wuttagwan! my mom has been back to her homeland since she's immigrated but my father won't go back, cuz he knows a jamrock that others don't know. a sum of wut most of you need to see is that the world sees the beauty of jamaica, while the majority of the country perishes! i'm not racist but there are many light skin ppl (whites/ the europeans) who come/came to jamaica and buy off all the good land, and use it to attract tourists, when that land could be used for farming to produce food so that poverty can be eliminated! don't ever forget that black people in the america's and the surrounding islands most of them were sold by their own ppl, because those same peoples source of "money" was stolen (diamons/gold,gameland) africa was one of the ealthiest continents! till britain and many other countries robbed it out. these people were taken from their land in captivity to be eventually freed, then forced to live with the "freedom" the have! so their taken from thier land forced to be slaves and own nothing, then when their freed, the have to find a way to survive, for some ppl and this might sound harsh, but for some it might have worked out better if they stayed with a slave master who didn't beat them and fed them.. simple reality! so when he says how tourists come etc, and how the thugs have to do wut they got to, itz cuz to them they see no other way, the youth dem get a basic ghetto education, and to them it means nothing, cuz for them to work with the government is to turn against their own neighbours, cuz the political situation is dangerous! all he's saying is when tourists return to their homeland after their "vacation" or wateva they say itz such a beautiful place etc how itz a paradise the people are so friendly, etc, the tourists dem see jamaica on the protective side of the cage where all is nice and well, all he's saying is there's no place called jamaica, welcome to jamrock the homeland that i know!

IP: Logged


This topic is 3 pages long:   1  2  3 

All times are ET (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Reggae Boyz


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47e