🎶 Welcome to the Premiere Episode of Reggae Influence! 🎶
In this exciting debut, we dive deep into the pulse of reggae culture, examining its roots, its struggles, and its profound impact on the world. We're tackling some of the most pressing questions in the industry today:
🔥 Is Reggae Losing Its Identity?
We delve into the fiery debate sparked by Vybez Kartel and Shenseea’s reggae award nominations—are they staying true to reggae or venturing into entirely new territory?
🌟 Colorism in the Industry
Buju Banton’s recent comments ignite a candid conversation about representation, bias, and inclusivity within reggae music, touching on the challenges faced by artists of all backgrounds.
🤔 What Happened to Reggae?
Once the anthem of global movements, reggae hasn’t seen a superstar in decades. We explore the hurdles the genre faces and brainstorm ways for it to reclaim its rightful place in the spotlight.
🎤 Special Guest: Kenny Vanella
In the latter part of the episode, we’re thrilled to sit down with Kenny Vanella, a passionate advocate for reggae’s evolution. Join us as we chat about his journey, his views on reggae's future, and the role he’s playing in keeping the genre alive and thriving.
This episode celebrates reggae’s rich legacy while sparking a thoughtful dialogue about its current state and future potential.
💬 Your Voice Matters!
What’s your take on the state of reggae today? Drop a comment below or connect with us on social media—we want to hear from you!
🎧 Don’t miss out—like, share, and follow for more inspiring episodes of Reggae Influence!
Follow me on Instagram: reggae.influence
#ReggaeInfluence #ReggaeMusic #KennyVanella #VybezKartel #Shenseea #BujuBanton #Colorism #MusicIndustry #ReggaeCulture
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 wone people this is your girl Lexi and
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 you are tuning in to reggae influence
00:00:09 --> 00:00:10 this will be the first of its kind it's
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 a TV show where we'll be talking about
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 the origin of Reggae music this show is
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 for reggae enthus enthusiasts reggae
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 lovers around the world internationally
00:00:21 --> 00:00:22 that really care about where reggae
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 music is going the influence that it is
00:00:25 --> 00:00:26 made and how it can be preserved
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 throughout the world so on top of that
00:00:29 --> 00:00:30 we're going to talk about
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 pop culture in reggae music we're going
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 to talk about the influence that reggae
00:00:34 --> 00:00:35 has had and we're going to just start
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 from the beginning this show was created
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 because as we see over time the origin
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 of Reggae has been very much dampered
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 it's been dampered down to a level where
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 what is it right we're going to go over
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 topics like should Vibes Cartel and
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 chenia be qualified or registered as a
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 reggae artists and being nominated for
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 Grammy Awards in the reggae category and
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 another topic Buu speaking of what's
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 going on in reday music is it colorism
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 is it that he's not getting any play
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 over the world it's not getting the
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 respect that it used to get is that the
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 case and then lastly we're just going to
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 talk about how and what we can do about
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 this how we can really make reggae
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 influence in the positive light that it
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 was designed for and we're going to end
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 with a wonderful interview with Kenny
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 vanilla reggae artist himself hailing
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 from the beautiful Wilmington Delaware
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 and we did an interview with him right
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 here in the studio we're going to end
00:01:33 --> 00:01:34 with that so it's a nice little reggae
00:01:34 --> 00:01:38 show let's get started so let's talk
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 about reg music like what was it started
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 for to start with right it used to be
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 the music of the people it used to be
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 the music that was for oppressors people
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 that were oppressed people that were in
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 poverty people who didn't have a voice
00:01:52 --> 00:01:53 and they were singing this voice it
00:01:54 --> 00:01:55 started off as an African people
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 movement but then it just got bigger
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 into the world music music of the world
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 internationally everyone began to relate
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 with reggae music with its Origins a
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 freedom of your mental thinking freedom
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 of the people um African Liberation and
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 your community uniting black people but
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 now people of the world with one love
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 not just black and it was a positive
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 message it was a message of our struggle
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 and how um the current system Babylon as
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 they would refer to it is um is
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 happening as before our eyes and if we
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 as people don't come together and um
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 don't love one another and and
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 understand um that we're not against
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 each other but we want to empower each
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 other then we're screwed right and I
00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 think at this point we're screwed
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 because that message has somehow gone
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 into Dan we've we've changed it so much
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 and um I don't know who's um judging
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 reggae anymore but so far the rules have
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 just kind of been um DED down and that's
00:02:56 --> 00:02:57 what we're going to be talking about
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 today we're going to really be talking
00:02:59 --> 00:03:00 about dissecting what's going on in
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 regga music and what we as enthusiasts
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 that really love the music can do to
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 make a difference for it so we talked
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 about the origin we talked about the
00:03:10 --> 00:03:11 oppression we talked about the positive
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 message so let's bring it to today where
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 are we we still have great reggae
00:03:16 --> 00:03:17 musicians I'm definitely not here to
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 break down our beautiful reggae artists
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 that are out there um this m the message
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 is one love and I always want to give
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 that love back to our community um and
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 reggae now has gone far beyond Jamaica
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 even though that is the roots I am
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 obviously in my Jamaican Sash and always
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 repping for my country but we know that
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 it has gone Way Beyond Jamaica so we
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 want to acknowledge that and we want to
00:03:39 --> 00:03:40 be thankful for that that the world
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 loves reggae and it's not just the
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43 Jamaican music but it's music for the
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 people but let's talk a little bit about
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 um the first topic we're going to
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 discuss is Vibes and chenia being
00:03:51 --> 00:03:55 categorized as reggae artist so let me
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 talk a little bit about the covered
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 article um so Shenia invite is according
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 to the Jamaican Observer it reads
00:04:03 --> 00:04:07 here Shenia Vibes Cartel one love among
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 reggae Grammy nominations so that's
00:04:10 --> 00:04:11 according to the Jamaica Observer which
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 is nice and again not here to hate but
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 have we really listened to Vibes and
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 chinia is this really reggae music right
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 and again beautiful dance hall artists
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 we should have a dance hall category the
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 best of their kind right I love Shenia
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 personally I think lyrically she is the
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 best in in the game female Lyricist out
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 there her freestyles unmatched her
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 beauty it's there love Shenia listen to
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 her all the time but the messaging does
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 not go with what we talked about reg
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 again influencing the people in a
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 positive light freeing ourselves from
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 mental Savory positive unification of
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 what's going on in this system in
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 impoverished communities and giving
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 voice to the voiceless let's just look
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 at some of Shenia songs would we
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 consider Hit and Run
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 and everyone knows the song if you're in
00:05:01 --> 00:05:05 the reggae field as a reggae song look
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 let's just say that we're going to
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 change the beat change the rules which
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 we're doing and say let's give it reggae
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 the content is just not reggae we have
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 to change the content if we want Vibes
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 to be reggae artist we have to change
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 the content even somewhere in the album
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 some kind of music that is a positive
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 upliftment it's not there so we're going
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 to start with Hit and Run Like I said
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 now love Shenia like I said but she is
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 my guilty pleasure when I say guilty
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 pleasure like when you eat a food that
00:05:34 --> 00:05:34 you know you're not supposed to be
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 eating but you still do it cuz it's a
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 guilty pleasure right like that Chia
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 something I'm listening to when I'm by
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 myself when I'm vibing would I listen to
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 her around my children no well my child
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 I have a daughter or no would I listen
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 to her around at work like would I refer
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 her to a coworker to my boss absolutely
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 not why because it's derogatory right it
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 it talks about a lot of sex and again
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 for reggae
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 we have a better message than that we
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 have enough sex music we have enough of
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 that kind of music out there not
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 trashing it there's a time and place
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 that you want to grind and bump and
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 grind and all that but to put it in a
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 regular category and the song is
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 literally called Hit and Run so I'm
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 going to let you use your imagination
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 for what she's talking about now again
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 it's my guilty pleasure do I listen to
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 it yes but could it have been in a more
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 uh reg genre for it to be classified as
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 reggae in terms of the the lyrics being
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 chosen for it let's break it down I'll
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 try to go from the Caribbean Jamaican
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 Lexi of course I'm first generation
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 American but I still speak pwa and I
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 don't care if I have an accent when I
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 speak it I speak it um so so you think
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 you could have getting on my feelings
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 you couldn't get me physical Dome so
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 what that means for my English speakers
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 is she's asking the
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 man did you really think you could get
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 in my feelings do you think you could
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 get me to settle down I gave you a hit
00:06:56 --> 00:07:00 and run I gave you a hit and run
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 mitted only wal deal I just wanted a
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 little bit of
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 dealings love you were looking for love
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 but you must be
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 dumb I gave you a hit and run I gave you
00:07:11 --> 00:07:15 a hit and run so this is on the album
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 right this is the artist that we're
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 qualifying as reggae which I love shiny
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 again not to bash her but this is a
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 reggae podcast so we are going to talk
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 about what the music is preserving the
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 music and making sure as us as as
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 Jamaicans and as reg enthusiasts that we
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 support the genre in the light that it
00:07:34 --> 00:07:38 was designed for right and again we're
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 talking about settling down the man that
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 wants to settle down you're asking if
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 he's dumb and we're going to give him a
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 hit and run so I'm guessing the young
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 girls might be listening to this I'm in
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 my early 30s so maybe I'm out of this
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 but where are these men that want to
00:07:52 --> 00:07:56 settle down after you gave them a hit
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 and they want to love you and settle
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 down with you and be with you but you
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 would rather hit and run so my question
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 is where are we running to right are we
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 running to another man are we running uh
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 to singlehood are we running to being on
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 our own are we running like the whole
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 song it I don't think that's the concept
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 of what we really want to do women today
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 I think want to hit and stay that's the
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 message I get from my friends my girls
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 my well most of my friends are wives of
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 course but when we listen to these songs
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 while they're good to bop with they're
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 not really what Red Gate was about now I
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 know that they're going to say it's
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 sexist right because who hits and run
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 more than Jamaican men right that's
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 going to be the back I know I'm going to
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 get some heed on that right like
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 Jamaican men are known to hit and run
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 right but and not saying women should be
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 held to a different standard right
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 because that's another question but I
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 don't think the abundance of the women
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 uh having that option are the same as
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 men and that again is just sexist within
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 itself in society we look in Jamaica we
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 look in the US there aren't that many
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 women to male ratios for us to be
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 hitting and running so for this to be
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 the female Anthem that she's kind of
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 like driving in this hot car in the
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 music video and leaving the man and
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 going I don't know where um it just kind
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 of gives a false illusion and again
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 reggae Queens right are Marcia
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 Griffith's and arita Marley's and our
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 original regga artist right now I love
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 myela AK I might be saying her name
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 wrong but these are really not the
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 messages I think they're giving the
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 original reggae artists and I just don't
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 know if this is what we want but again
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 we're not going to just beat up Shenia
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 because I've heard her on many of
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 interviews talking about How Jamaicans
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 in particular have kind of just given
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 her so much critique and not supported
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 her the way that you know America has
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 and I do feel bad I don't ever want to
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 feel like we're beating her down because
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 it's because of love that you give that
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 good critique we just want our best in
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 reggae to be shown and chenia we love
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 you it's not anything bad so I am going
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 to get over to Vibes so that I'm not
00:09:54 --> 00:09:57 just giving you the penalization so
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 we've all seen Vibes rehearsal videos on
00:09:59 --> 00:10:03 in have we not pretty scary right um
00:10:03 --> 00:10:06 Vibes is amazing right Vibes is
00:10:06 --> 00:10:09 lyrically and soundwise like I love his
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 song interracial and um it's just so
00:10:11 --> 00:10:14 good like he's got other you know fever
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 like come on it's Vibes he just got
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 fresh out of prison he doesn't need any
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 of the critique from Lexi but I got to
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 give it to him because he's being
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 nominated in this category that we're
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 trying to preserve and we're regga
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 influence right so is he influencing in
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 the reggae field I would have to say a
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 hard no I would have to say a hard no
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 for Shenia and I have to say a hard no
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 for Vibes right not only the messaging
00:10:37 --> 00:10:41 of his lyrics but you know what he is
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 giving the public uh based on those
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 rehearsal videos we don't know if this
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 is you know the Bobs and the Gregory
00:10:48 --> 00:10:51 Isaacs and the old school even Buu the
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 performances that we're used to the fire
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 when people go to a reggae show even the
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 Marley I just went there and it's going
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 and the guitar and the the the the
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 instruments we play the roster drum all
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 of these things that's what makes reggae
00:11:03 --> 00:11:06 music Beautiful you know Vibes is like
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 skipping in the video like you know he's
00:11:09 --> 00:11:12 got a mic and again not hating on Vibes
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 I love you Vibes really you are you know
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 what makes us proud as Jamaicans in the
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 music industry because we listen to you
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 the world listens to you I love you but
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 for reggae we just want to preserve it
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 and we know you and chinia have the
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 lyrics have the talent have everything
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 you need to really make a conscious
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 album make conscious music and that is
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 what we the people are asking of you so
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 those are the topics for the Grammy
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 controversy right so we want to ask
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 who's who's judging the Grammys I can
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 guarantee these are not Jamaicans um on
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 the Grammy board that nominated this
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 because again we have Leela a who's like
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 out there now we have like big reg
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 artists internationally that's crushing
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 it right and again like Buu which we're
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 going to get into his topic the next on
00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 colorism what happened to these artists
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 what happened to the reg artists that
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 really are writing music for the people
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 you know they've just they're just gone
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 right they're faded away they're not
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 getting the praise it's to a point where
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 we're pulling dancehall artists in a
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 category that does have good music but
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 we're just overlooking them maybe
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 they're not getting the marketing they
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 need maybe they're not reaching the
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 audience right but I know I'm listening
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 to Great you know underground Regan
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 music and I hate to call it underground
00:12:23 --> 00:12:26 but it is so we have to ask ourselves
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 what really happened while we're pulling
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 Vibes and Ginia into a category so
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 that's going to put us into our next
00:12:32 --> 00:12:35 topic of Bujo Bantan you know household
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 name love you Buju again building all of
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 our wonderful regga artists up but we're
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 going to talk about what he's saying
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 here we're going to read the headline
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 Buju Banton blames colorism for under
00:12:47 --> 00:12:50 appreciation of his record-breaking tour
00:12:50 --> 00:12:54 maybe if I were a lighter Hue
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 H so where are we going with this Buju
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 like I read it
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 most of it I agree with like look at
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 these questions here why am I not seeing
00:13:04 --> 00:13:07 Regan music in these prestigious venues
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 right why am I not seeing regy music on
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 these Arenas is it the lack of our
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 presentation is it the lack of our
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 delivery is it the lack of our
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 representation I love this right because
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 you're asking questions and we're never
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 going to be able to get to the problem
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 of what's going on unless we ask those
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 critical questions so Buu I love that
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 you ask those questions I also listen to
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 you on Champs that interview the
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 questions you're asking we've all been
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 asking but you just articulate them so
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 well and you challenge us to think again
00:13:34 --> 00:13:37 because we've just stopped thinking and
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 you really brought it into perspective
00:13:38 --> 00:13:42 of like what what are what are we doing
00:13:42 --> 00:13:45 here right but is it colorism I don't
00:13:45 --> 00:13:48 know if it's colorism as much as it is
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 you've been in jail for seven years
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 prior you get out and then you just come
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 back to the United States right so
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 there's been a long gap of stars in reg
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 music is it just your fault Buu no but
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 we haven't had had a good reg artist in
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 Shawn Paul probably at least 20 years I
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 think now we're getting YG Marley who's
00:14:04 --> 00:14:07 just went gold or platinum or one of
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 those things so we're proud of that song
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 Praise John the Moonlight one of my
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 favorites for this year but the real
00:14:13 --> 00:14:16 question is
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 Buu what is going on right that's a good
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 question but I don't think it's color
00:14:21 --> 00:14:24 right that's to me a very superficial
00:14:24 --> 00:14:27 very um not open-ended way to look at
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 the situation what other things could it
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 be
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 well I started to brainstorm myself I
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 asked myself what's really going on here
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 why did he have to cancel some date show
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 date tours you know why does he feel
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 that we're not being represented why
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 does he feel that he's not able to find
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 like a Synergy of reg artists out there
00:14:42 --> 00:14:45 we're all seeing that but it could be
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 sucession right we talk about this a lot
00:14:47 --> 00:14:50 and it's not practiced enough right Buu
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 arasta Jamaicans in and other wonderful
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 reggae artists around the world in order
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 for people to continue to have it you
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 have to have a following of people that
00:15:00 --> 00:15:03 you keep around you who's the next Buu
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 Buju you should be having someone that
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 you're recommending to us right of all
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 the interviews we've heard from you of
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 all the music that we're listening to
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 you we don't know who Buju listens to we
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 don't know who's shadowing Buju right um
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 same for all of our reg artists today
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 Vibes right who's going to be the new
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 Vibes who's going to be the new Shenia
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 right I think we're so focused on our
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 careers which is important to be focused
00:15:24 --> 00:15:27 on yourself but in other Industries you
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 usually see where there's somebody new
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 coming in there's a young country artist
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 that's upcoming right we have young
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36 upand cominging hip-hop artist we have
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 young upand cominging you know pop
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 artists but in reggae we don't know
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 who's upand cominging right it's just
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 like the old ones we've been used to for
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 30 years and then nobody's sucession
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 like there's nobody else so we have to
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 learn how to pass on the Baton please
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 pass the Baton I don't know if that's a
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 Caribbean thing or thing why we don't
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 pass the Baton but please do like we we
00:15:56 --> 00:15:59 need to know who's being groomed who's
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 teaching what are real messages who's
00:16:01 --> 00:16:04 going to be the new regga artist right
00:16:04 --> 00:16:07 so that's the first thing the second
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 thing is there's a disconnect with
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 reggae artists and everyday people like
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 let's talk about this right and I'm sure
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 we'll probably say this with hip-hop
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 artists and all other artists but we're
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 talking about reg here because it's
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 regga influence right like how many
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 regga artists do we feel really connect
00:16:20 --> 00:16:23 with the everyday working man right we
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 know back in the days reg music the
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 music that we identified with was
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 because it really talked about the
00:16:29 --> 00:16:32 issues we were facing right I was
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 listening to old Marcus Garvey I was
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 listening to Burning Spear I was
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 listening to we don't have any food to
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 eat we don't have any money to spend
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 whoa what are we going to do right we
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 listen to the other songs right J give
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 us life so we are to live right and we
00:16:47 --> 00:16:50 talk about things like you know Rasta
00:16:50 --> 00:16:53 man they Haven an uh you know there's
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 injustice among the land but r a man
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 hasn't made a plan right these are
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 critical things that they're we're just
00:16:59 --> 00:17:02 jingling to right even bars with putting
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 up resistance right we're dancing to
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 them we're listening to them but they're
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 really key things that we should be
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 doing that we should be thinking about
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 that's challenging us right there's a
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 disconnect today there's a disconnect
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 today we can just see that from the
00:17:16 --> 00:17:20 ticket sales who on Earth has $1 to
00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 see Buju or Vibes $500 right this music
00:17:23 --> 00:17:26 is for the Common Man and what music are
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 you telling us right more than ever our
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 country is suffering when I say our
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 country I mean Jamaica but there's also
00:17:32 --> 00:17:35 the US right um there's also our you
00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 know reading literacy rates there's are
00:17:40 --> 00:17:43 money and and and just income rates
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 right there's what's going on with our
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 investors buying out the Caribbean
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 buying out Africa buying out the
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 countries that once meant a lot to the
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 regay scene we're not talking about that
00:17:54 --> 00:17:58 anymore it's like back then it was bad
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 now it's worse
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 and I haven't heard one song about it
00:18:01 --> 00:18:04 right we we credit ourselves in reged
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 game music to kind of call out what's
00:18:06 --> 00:18:09 happening but you know we hav one song
00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 about what's going on in our schools we
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 don't have one song about what's going
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 on with our boys we don't have one song
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 about what's going on in our country we
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 don't have one song about how poverty is
00:18:19 --> 00:18:22 just getting higher and higher we don't
00:18:22 --> 00:18:25 have one song right so this goes back to
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 changing the content right there's a
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 disconnect that can only be bad because
00:18:29 --> 00:18:32 or somebody else is writing your music
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 but I just don't understand how I love
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 you Buu but when you come out and say
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 you know I got to the US and people just
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 want to dance they just they just want a
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 dance hall track right that's that's
00:18:41 --> 00:18:44 what you said and I'm like no we don't
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 we don't need another dance hall track
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 like I think that's the problem right we
00:18:48 --> 00:18:51 need light to the dark like what's not
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 being talked about and this used to be
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 the music this used to be the outlet I
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 put the responsibility on reggae music
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 because that was the music that was
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 talking about these issues Marcus Garvey
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 speaking of what was going on in our
00:19:01 --> 00:19:04 communities uniting us right getting us
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 at the best that we could be and here we
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 are 20 years later changing the
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 categories right that's where we're
00:19:11 --> 00:19:15 going to get to right like look at
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 classical music right that music comes
00:19:17 --> 00:19:20 from Europe started in the 1700s believe
00:19:20 --> 00:19:23 it or not and the first classical track
00:19:23 --> 00:19:26 sounds a lot like current classical
00:19:26 --> 00:19:29 music it hasn't changed in 300 years
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 like over 300 years just think about
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 that you go to a symphony lately which
00:19:32 --> 00:19:35 I've gone and sounds just like it did in
00:19:35 --> 00:19:38 the 1700s they didn't add a beat they
00:19:38 --> 00:19:40 didn't add bass they didn't add lyrics
00:19:40 --> 00:19:42 to it oh let's rap on it let's try to
00:19:42 --> 00:19:46 change classical in genre and take this
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 genre and make it classical no you go to
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 a classical Symphony you go to an opera
00:19:50 --> 00:19:52 and it sounds just like how it sound
00:19:52 --> 00:19:55 back in the day like Generations ago but
00:19:55 --> 00:19:58 for whatever reason regga music a lot of
00:19:58 --> 00:20:00 other musics too but we're going to talk
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 about
00:20:00 --> 00:20:03 reggae we haven't even been around 60
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 years I believe we're celebrating 57
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 years of Reggae we're not even at 60
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09 years and somehow dance hall is in the
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 category the sound is different the
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 content is different the music is
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 different so the question is who
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 convinced you right that oh yeah let's
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 change it up let's just change the
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 message let's let's just do music let's
00:20:20 --> 00:20:22 do a dance song now let's we we're so
00:20:22 --> 00:20:25 Innovative but we haven't even gotten to
00:20:25 --> 00:20:27 60 years and we're changing something
00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 that needs to be preserved we haven't
00:20:29 --> 00:20:34 even been out of of captivity out of all
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 of the issues that our people and many
00:20:36 --> 00:20:38 peoples around the world we've got an
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 international right this is an
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 international music there's sufferation
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 in all kinds of countries and we're
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 still not out but we think it's time to
00:20:46 --> 00:20:49 change and make it more dance like or
00:20:49 --> 00:20:52 dance hall I don't think so I think we
00:20:52 --> 00:20:55 need to stick with what classical music
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 did and what you heard in the 1790s is
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 what you going to hear today today right
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 and that's what we want we don't we
00:21:00 --> 00:21:04 don't want all this variation and hit
00:21:04 --> 00:21:07 and run and run away from this man and
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 things we weren't talking about before
00:21:09 --> 00:21:12 that's a luxury Shenia right we need to
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 talk about the key things now I'm not
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 saying I don't listen to it because I do
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 but we need some balance of conscious
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 versus non-conscious and I don't think
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 we're in a position to start you know
00:21:22 --> 00:21:25 changing these things up so let's talk
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 about some other things right let's talk
00:21:27 --> 00:21:30 about this colorism talk right that's
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32 why I brought up so I think the issue
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 first is sucess secession I think the
00:21:34 --> 00:21:36 second issue is again there's a
00:21:36 --> 00:21:40 disconnect between two groups right and
00:21:40 --> 00:21:43 then we're also going to talk
00:21:43 --> 00:21:45 about the
00:21:45 --> 00:21:48 audience the audience now kind of has
00:21:48 --> 00:21:52 left reggae music right and I guess now
00:21:52 --> 00:21:55 it's it's it's hip hop it's afro beats
00:21:55 --> 00:21:58 the audience has left but they can only
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 believe because the artist left them
00:22:00 --> 00:22:03 first right maybe these dance songs
00:22:03 --> 00:22:06 maybe this this this music that we think
00:22:06 --> 00:22:08 the people want is really not what they
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 want right and the listeners are telling
00:22:10 --> 00:22:13 us that right so maybe it's time for us
00:22:13 --> 00:22:15 to connect back with the audience go
00:22:15 --> 00:22:18 back to the original form not worry
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 about what's trending not worry about
00:22:19 --> 00:22:22 what it is and get back into the lab and
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 write about what's actually happen
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 happening and going on because there's
00:22:25 --> 00:22:30 enough topics that we can do there so
00:22:30 --> 00:22:33 how do you think we can regain relevance
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 right based on what we're
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 seeing well we got to start connecting
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 back to our roots and that goes for
00:22:39 --> 00:22:42 anyone that loves reg music anyone you
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 always have the roots of who you are
00:22:44 --> 00:22:48 that's why I come in my sash right I
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 come traditional of where we come
00:22:50 --> 00:22:53 from because if you're not involved with
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 your roots that doesn't matter where you
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 come from you're never going to be able
00:22:56 --> 00:22:59 to develop a craft that's going to be
00:22:59 --> 00:23:01 worth anyone wanting to listen to twice
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 right and that's why you're getting a
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 lot of these one hit wonders one stream
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 but you want to really hear the music
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 that's changing and that's what we're
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 asking for reggae listeners right
00:23:10 --> 00:23:13 another thing that we can do to get back
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 on the right track regga enthusiasts
00:23:15 --> 00:23:18 reggae listeners reggae
00:23:18 --> 00:23:22 influencers is we can really
00:23:22 --> 00:23:25 start looking at Africa looking at
00:23:25 --> 00:23:29 what's going on there right um for too
00:23:29 --> 00:23:32 long we've talked about it um and now
00:23:32 --> 00:23:35 we're seeing Jamaica in the Caribbean is
00:23:35 --> 00:23:38 pretty much gone right investment wise
00:23:38 --> 00:23:41 and you know Africa's next and not
00:23:41 --> 00:23:44 saying this is not you know us trying to
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 uh tear down investors or things going
00:23:46 --> 00:23:48 on in the world but we do have to be
00:23:48 --> 00:23:52 conscious of a strong America a strong
00:23:52 --> 00:23:55 regay America a strong black America a
00:23:55 --> 00:23:58 strong you know America is that we have
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 a strong continent we have a strong
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 Caribbean right I wouldn't say our
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 continent is strong right I wouldn't say
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 the Caribbean is strong that's probably
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 something we should be thinking about
00:24:08 --> 00:24:11 like hey you know back when reggae was
00:24:11 --> 00:24:14 prominent we were still not having the
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 issues we're having now with even beach
00:24:16 --> 00:24:19 access for locals are locals able to go
00:24:19 --> 00:24:22 to the beach yes this is happening today
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 this is happening read the news read the
00:24:24 --> 00:24:27 articles right like a lot of locals are
00:24:27 --> 00:24:29 not able to visit some beaches because
00:24:29 --> 00:24:32 investors have bought up the hotels and
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 you know the old Jamaica where you could
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 just go and bathe in the river and walk
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 around and whether it was local or hotel
00:24:38 --> 00:24:41 right look at our gun violence right
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 these are things where we we do want to
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 observe what's going on in the continent
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 we do want to observe what's going on on
00:24:46 --> 00:24:48 the island right the different islands
00:24:48 --> 00:24:51 in the Caribbean because we're one I do
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 believe everyone enjoys it not just for
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 Jamaican people but people that want a
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 vacation there maybe they want to at one
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 point see the culture that wants
00:24:58 --> 00:25:01 originated there but we may not still be
00:25:01 --> 00:25:04 there if everything is sold off and
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 nothing is preserved and we don't go
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 back to Our Roots so that's my message
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 for you today is like go back to your
00:25:10 --> 00:25:14 roots go back to who you are think about
00:25:14 --> 00:25:17 the Grammy controversy that we talked
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 about and this is again not to break
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 down any of my wonderful dancehall
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 artists I'm not going to call them aay
00:25:23 --> 00:25:26 artists because we know they're not but
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 think about is this what we want right
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 in reggae music we want you in dance
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 hall we want you guys to stay as
00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 talented as you are but we also want the
00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 reggae people who are really putting
00:25:37 --> 00:25:40 forth their effort day in and day out
00:25:40 --> 00:25:44 that really take this seriously right um
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 and then we're going to think about also
00:25:45 --> 00:25:48 what we talked about with Buu Buu you
00:25:48 --> 00:25:51 told us only Rasta can Liberate the
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 people over Hills and Valleys
00:25:53 --> 00:25:56 too but we're waiting on rasa to
00:25:56 --> 00:25:58 liberate the people where are you right
00:25:58 --> 00:26:02 we're waiting I'm you know I'm not I'm
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 just covering the news right I I'm not
00:26:04 --> 00:26:07 an artist you know I wish I was a reggae
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 artist I think I'd have some good lyrics
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 I think I could drop a beat I think I
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 could do a little a little bit more of
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 what we need but I'm not right I'm just
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 covering what the facts are I'm not here
00:26:15 --> 00:26:18 to judge I'm not here to you know okay
00:26:18 --> 00:26:21 I'm here to insert my opinion a bit but
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 I'm here to just challenge our audience
00:26:23 --> 00:26:26 you are the ones in the music saying
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 you're here to liberate the people you
00:26:27 --> 00:26:30 are the ones who set forth this message
00:26:30 --> 00:26:32 and we as a listeners we want to go back
00:26:32 --> 00:26:35 to that we want to hear Hills and
00:26:35 --> 00:26:38 Valleys we want to hear Destiny we want
00:26:38 --> 00:26:41 to hear the tracks like Marcus Garvey we
00:26:41 --> 00:26:44 want to hear the tracks like J give us
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 life right we want to hear the tracks
00:26:46 --> 00:26:49 like tight chip that's a more recent one
00:26:49 --> 00:26:51 um but these are the ones that make us
00:26:51 --> 00:26:54 really think let's get back to that we
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 know we have it in us because we've done
00:26:56 --> 00:26:59 it before and we're not going to just
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 talk about things that we need to work
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 on we're also going to talk about things
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 that we do good on this show and like I
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 said what I'm doing good is the fact
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 that I'm even able to address this is
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 because we are doing good right because
00:27:08 --> 00:27:10 it's out there it's being covered I love
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 that we're talking about it we're asking
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13 these questions but now it's time to
00:27:13 --> 00:27:15 take the step and take action let's
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 start to uplift the ones who are doing
00:27:17 --> 00:27:19 the music and that's why I do love
00:27:19 --> 00:27:21 praise John on the Moonlight because Y
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 is Young he's a first generation
00:27:22 --> 00:27:26 American like me and to think about him
00:27:26 --> 00:27:28 in his what probably 20s talking about
00:27:28 --> 00:27:31 praising John the Moonlight and just the
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 lyrics has anybody listened to the
00:27:33 --> 00:27:36 lyrics of the song Deep really deep
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 really strong and that's why it did so
00:27:38 --> 00:27:40 well and I hope that this is the
00:27:40 --> 00:27:43 beginning of us understanding that this
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 is what the people want so again I
00:27:45 --> 00:27:47 brought us Kenny vanilla you guys are
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 going to be in for a surprise with the
00:27:48 --> 00:27:51 interview coming up with Kenny vanilla
00:27:51 --> 00:27:54 he is amazing he talks about you know
00:27:55 --> 00:27:57 what he feels uh about reg music and I
00:27:57 --> 00:28:00 asked him controversial questions but he
00:28:00 --> 00:28:03 gave me nothing but the best and he is
00:28:03 --> 00:28:06 on his journey his roster journey and I
00:28:06 --> 00:28:08 will always respect and love the rosta
00:28:08 --> 00:28:10 man because they originate from our they
00:28:10 --> 00:28:12 really originate from Africa but in
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 Jamaica we kind of pioneered in
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 different way and I just love the
00:28:15 --> 00:28:17 messaging and so I want you guys to
00:28:17 --> 00:28:20 really tune in I want you guys to listen
00:28:20 --> 00:28:22 home to your most favorite reggae song
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 Deep one too not hid and run nothing's
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26 wrong with hi and run but you know
00:28:26 --> 00:28:29 that's for the the the the club
00:28:29 --> 00:28:32 really listen to that song that regga
00:28:32 --> 00:28:34 song that speaks to your
00:28:34 --> 00:28:38 soul that speaks to your inmost parts
00:28:38 --> 00:28:40 right we don't want to
00:28:40 --> 00:28:43 be like on Cool Runnings when they're
00:28:43 --> 00:28:46 like what are you doing here Jamaica
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 what's going on
00:28:47 --> 00:28:50 Jamaica right that that's where we are
00:28:50 --> 00:28:52 we're in the Cool Running Scene of what
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54 are we doing here Jamaica and we don't
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 want that question right we want to know
00:28:56 --> 00:28:59 that what we're leaving the world not 60
00:28:59 --> 00:29:01 years in already you
00:29:01 --> 00:29:05 know changing our category but we want
00:29:05 --> 00:29:07 to know that we're leaving the world
00:29:08 --> 00:29:10 with better influence so you've tuned in
00:29:10 --> 00:29:12 to another great episode our first debut
00:29:12 --> 00:29:15 episode I'm your girl Lexie I am happy
00:29:15 --> 00:29:17 that you guys tuned in today tune in to
00:29:17 --> 00:29:20 our interview on reggae influence take
00:29:20 --> 00:29:22 care God bless one
00:29:22 --> 00:29:26 love W on people we are at regga
00:29:26 --> 00:29:28 influence the show that to the pulse of
00:29:28 --> 00:29:30 Reggae dives into Rich culture and
00:29:30 --> 00:29:32 celebrates the impact of Reggae on the
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 world today today I couldn't be more
00:29:34 --> 00:29:37 excited to welcome my first debut
00:29:37 --> 00:29:39 Episode by Mr Kenny vanill a Visionary
00:29:39 --> 00:29:41 artist producer and sing writer
00:29:41 --> 00:29:43 songwriter who is rooted in the
00:29:43 --> 00:29:46 heartbeat of Reggae welcome to the show
00:29:46 --> 00:29:49 Kenny thank you Lexi thank you so much
00:29:49 --> 00:29:51 it's really uh a pleasure and honor to
00:29:51 --> 00:29:54 be here with you so thank you of course
00:29:54 --> 00:29:57 of course so I know you were in Jamaica
00:29:57 --> 00:30:00 recently yeah yes um Peter TSH tribute
00:30:00 --> 00:30:03 concert yes tell me a little more about
00:30:03 --> 00:30:06 that uh well I have to go
00:30:06 --> 00:30:10 back so you know maybe 10 12 years ago I
00:30:10 --> 00:30:13 was listening to Peter TSH as
00:30:13 --> 00:30:16 usual and uh song lessons in my life
00:30:16 --> 00:30:19 came on and I'm listening to it and uh
00:30:19 --> 00:30:22 these These lyrics about you know uh you
00:30:22 --> 00:30:24 know I'm a thoughtful man and I love
00:30:24 --> 00:30:27 thoughtful people I'm a honest man and I
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 love honest people
00:30:28 --> 00:30:32 so I was like huh I'm a compassionate
00:30:32 --> 00:30:34 man and I love compassionate people so I
00:30:34 --> 00:30:36 write this song compassionate
00:30:36 --> 00:30:40 people fast forward to
00:30:40 --> 00:30:44 2019 I go to Jamaica to record a song
00:30:44 --> 00:30:46 with squidly Cole
00:30:47 --> 00:30:49 and I'm like I I'm like all right it's
00:30:49 --> 00:30:52 October I'm going to time it for Peter's
00:30:52 --> 00:30:55 birthday so I'm like looking on the map
00:30:55 --> 00:30:58 for places around it's like okay Peter
00:30:58 --> 00:31:01 got a museum there's a hotel at the
00:31:01 --> 00:31:04 Museum MH so long story short the stage
00:31:04 --> 00:31:06 for the celebration is in the front door
00:31:06 --> 00:31:10 of the hotel I'm staying at so I'm like
00:31:10 --> 00:31:12 okay and I became friends with the
00:31:12 --> 00:31:16 security guard uhhuh Andrew comes for a
00:31:16 --> 00:31:19 sound check he introduces me to Andrew
00:31:19 --> 00:31:22 TSH so now I kind of have a a little
00:31:22 --> 00:31:24 connection there so that's Peter tash's
00:31:24 --> 00:31:27 son Peter tash's son wow and then you
00:31:27 --> 00:31:30 know a few years later I have this idea
00:31:30 --> 00:31:34 once I record the album and and I record
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36 compassionate people if I could have
00:31:36 --> 00:31:39 Andrew represent his father on this song
00:31:39 --> 00:31:42 it would be like the greatest thing ever
00:31:42 --> 00:31:44 of course and I reached out to him the
00:31:44 --> 00:31:47 only contact I had was Instagram and his
00:31:47 --> 00:31:51 manager Oya got back to me and you know
00:31:51 --> 00:31:53 over the course of like probably about a
00:31:53 --> 00:31:56 year um we were able to work it out and
00:31:56 --> 00:31:58 Andrew's on the
00:31:58 --> 00:32:03 song So yeah so and then fast forward to
00:32:03 --> 00:32:06 the excuse me a couple weeks ago you
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 know we were going to shoot a video for
00:32:07 --> 00:32:10 the song so they you know they invited
00:32:10 --> 00:32:13 me to come down and and we shot a video
00:32:13 --> 00:32:15 and I got to perform with him at Peter's
00:32:15 --> 00:32:17 80th birthday oh my goodness so yeah so
00:32:17 --> 00:32:20 in the course of like 10 or 12 years
00:32:20 --> 00:32:24 this this thing of like just was able to
00:32:24 --> 00:32:26 happen with compassionate people and and
00:32:26 --> 00:32:29 the whole thing so right yeah yeah I'm
00:32:29 --> 00:32:32 I'm still kind of thinking about crazy
00:32:32 --> 00:32:34 like you you dropped some big names
00:32:34 --> 00:32:36 already like just in that story like for
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 those that don't know for the listeners
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39 that don't know squidley Cole is the
00:32:39 --> 00:32:42 drummer for for Stephen he was the
00:32:42 --> 00:32:46 drummer for The Melody makers um uh
00:32:46 --> 00:32:50 nephew first nephew of um Tabby diamond
00:32:50 --> 00:32:52 from the mighty diamonds um and then his
00:32:52 --> 00:32:57 father is stranger Cole who everyone
00:32:57 --> 00:32:59 really that know knows reggae his song
00:32:59 --> 00:33:02 The Bangarang is credited as being the
00:33:02 --> 00:33:05 first reggae song so his lineage I mean
00:33:05 --> 00:33:09 he drum for Jimmy Cliff right on tour as
00:33:09 --> 00:33:12 like a 15 16 year old kid so he's been I
00:33:12 --> 00:33:15 mean so yeah so I was able to befriend
00:33:15 --> 00:33:17 him too and and we've developed this
00:33:17 --> 00:33:19 right tremendous relationship going back
00:33:19 --> 00:33:22 to again the story you were in Jama got
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 friends with the that's how it works
00:33:23 --> 00:33:26 just got friends with the and show up
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 and you're there and then before you
00:33:27 --> 00:33:29 know your family with these people how
00:33:29 --> 00:33:31 how was your first trip to Jamaica like
00:33:31 --> 00:33:34 what was that experience like um that
00:33:34 --> 00:33:37 actually is an interesting um you know
00:33:37 --> 00:33:39 how that developed was interesting um
00:33:39 --> 00:33:41 you know not to go into too many details
00:33:41 --> 00:33:44 I was dating this girl in in New York
00:33:44 --> 00:33:47 this is started with a a girl if she
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 sees this it's it's fine it's fine like
00:33:49 --> 00:33:51 we talked about this okay okay and she
00:33:51 --> 00:33:53 was she's a big traveler so I hadn't
00:33:53 --> 00:33:55 really been anywhere she's like all
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 right well number one you need to get
00:33:56 --> 00:33:58 your passport and I was kind of already
00:33:58 --> 00:34:02 on this like Rasta was really getting
00:34:02 --> 00:34:04 into me I was writing a ton of Reggae
00:34:04 --> 00:34:06 she said I've never been to Jamaica the
00:34:06 --> 00:34:08 first trip we're going to take together
00:34:08 --> 00:34:10 is Jamaica right we're going to go to
00:34:10 --> 00:34:13 Kingston we're going to rent a car blah
00:34:13 --> 00:34:17 blah blah blah blah well we break up oh
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 that's not the
00:34:18 --> 00:34:22 way but I still have a ticket to Jamaica
00:34:22 --> 00:34:26 oh so I was actually an EMT um I was an
00:34:26 --> 00:34:29 EMT at the time in New York City and um
00:34:29 --> 00:34:31 you know very stressful job driving an
00:34:31 --> 00:34:33 ambulance dealing with very very sick
00:34:34 --> 00:34:36 people and I was like okay well I got
00:34:36 --> 00:34:39 this ticket to Jamaica this thing is is
00:34:39 --> 00:34:41 this fire has been lit in me right I'm
00:34:41 --> 00:34:44 going to work I'm going to quit my job
00:34:44 --> 00:34:46 and I'm going to go down to Jamaica for
00:34:46 --> 00:34:48 however long I want to go so it was kind
00:34:48 --> 00:34:51 of like and it kind of sounds like
00:34:51 --> 00:34:53 cliche and stuff but like I was I viewed
00:34:53 --> 00:34:55 it as like a mission you know like I was
00:34:55 --> 00:34:58 going to go down and and like just
00:34:58 --> 00:35:01 almost like a pilgrimage to this to this
00:35:01 --> 00:35:05 spiritual place um so yeah so I went and
00:35:06 --> 00:35:08 I volunteered at Alpha boys school um
00:35:08 --> 00:35:10 it's now called Alpha Institute so I
00:35:11 --> 00:35:15 stayed there um mentored the kids with W
00:35:15 --> 00:35:18 um uh Sparrow Martin you know help you
00:35:18 --> 00:35:20 know just kind of was just being of
00:35:20 --> 00:35:22 service just went down there and then I
00:35:22 --> 00:35:25 I made sure I got the tough gong and you
00:35:25 --> 00:35:28 know like record a little bit okay C how
00:35:28 --> 00:35:30 dides that work you just can record like
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 you could just book a time with tough
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 gong or you got to know people or no I
00:35:33 --> 00:35:36 mean it's a fully run Studio anybody
00:35:36 --> 00:35:39 that can go and book the studio time so
00:35:39 --> 00:35:41 it's yeah it's it was really yeah is it
00:35:41 --> 00:35:44 in Kingston is it yes okay yes was the
00:35:44 --> 00:35:46 school in Kingston you said alpha alpha
00:35:46 --> 00:35:48 boys Alpha boys where is that school
00:35:48 --> 00:35:50 that's in Kingston Kingston okay so like
00:35:50 --> 00:35:52 I know a lot of people hear Kingston and
00:35:52 --> 00:35:54 they're just like scared but I know
00:35:54 --> 00:35:56 we've been people that have been no
00:35:56 --> 00:35:58 that's I mean it's yeah it's it's a
00:35:58 --> 00:36:01 shame that that's the case but like they
00:36:01 --> 00:36:03 say that you know I'm from Wilmington
00:36:03 --> 00:36:05 Wilmington you people say that about
00:36:05 --> 00:36:07 Wilmington people say that about
00:36:07 --> 00:36:09 Philadelphia right I mean anywhere you
00:36:09 --> 00:36:12 go there's places you're not going to go
00:36:12 --> 00:36:14 right there's you know there it's just
00:36:14 --> 00:36:18 so yeah I I love Kingston right it feels
00:36:18 --> 00:36:20 kind of like a second home really of
00:36:20 --> 00:36:22 course yeah so you talked about that
00:36:22 --> 00:36:24 that burning inspiration of Reggae so
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 you know it's called the show is called
00:36:25 --> 00:36:27 reggae influence right because there was
00:36:27 --> 00:36:29 there is that influence around the world
00:36:29 --> 00:36:31 and um I wanted to talk a little bit
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 about a little bit of controversy in
00:36:32 --> 00:36:35 reggae with like Buju he was bringing up
00:36:35 --> 00:36:37 like you know afro beats and then like
00:36:37 --> 00:36:40 maybe the reggae tone um that kind of
00:36:40 --> 00:36:43 came in to reggae producers I know you
00:36:43 --> 00:36:45 produce um it kind of felt like uh
00:36:45 --> 00:36:47 there's a lawsuit going on um about the
00:36:47 --> 00:36:50 Beats do you feel that reggae music has
00:36:50 --> 00:36:52 kind of been infiltrated by other
00:36:52 --> 00:36:54 cultures stolen what do you think or you
00:36:54 --> 00:36:56 think it's more of an inspiration what
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 position do you take with that that
00:36:57 --> 00:37:01 controversial topic um I mean I can't
00:37:01 --> 00:37:03 it's it's as I'm progressing through
00:37:03 --> 00:37:07 this journey it's like I can't really
00:37:07 --> 00:37:09 consider myself Authority on this
00:37:09 --> 00:37:12 there's like I honor the roots and the
00:37:12 --> 00:37:16 Pioneers that that birth the music so so
00:37:16 --> 00:37:19 nuances like that I can't really speak
00:37:19 --> 00:37:23 to per se um but you know you use the
00:37:23 --> 00:37:25 word inspire I I
00:37:25 --> 00:37:28 know I think it's about intention okay
00:37:28 --> 00:37:31 and if your intention is to utilize that
00:37:31 --> 00:37:35 and you also give Credence to an honor
00:37:35 --> 00:37:39 and reverence to what you're utilizing
00:37:39 --> 00:37:43 in your own art then I think it's it's
00:37:43 --> 00:37:47 creativity um you know it's hard I mean
00:37:47 --> 00:37:47 I
00:37:47 --> 00:37:50 know especially with
00:37:50 --> 00:37:53 like you know American people or you
00:37:53 --> 00:37:56 know let's just say white people um
00:37:56 --> 00:37:59 adopting mhm you I I can't even say
00:37:59 --> 00:38:02 adopting influ influence reggae
00:38:02 --> 00:38:05 influence no I mean that's you know yeah
00:38:05 --> 00:38:07 like it's it's at the end of the day
00:38:07 --> 00:38:10 there's a spirit yeah and a human um
00:38:10 --> 00:38:13 expression and we always take
00:38:13 --> 00:38:16 from you know not again take is the
00:38:16 --> 00:38:19 wrong word no I know I understand and I
00:38:19 --> 00:38:21 agree I actually agree with you like you
00:38:21 --> 00:38:23 said I do think your intention right
00:38:23 --> 00:38:25 like reggae is for everyone it's for the
00:38:25 --> 00:38:26 world it's the People's music it's the
00:38:26 --> 00:38:27 People's music
00:38:27 --> 00:38:29 hands down hands down and if you feel
00:38:29 --> 00:38:30 that spiritual connection like you said
00:38:30 --> 00:38:32 a lot of people you you just feel in
00:38:32 --> 00:38:33 Rapture like you said listening to the
00:38:33 --> 00:38:35 lyrics if it touches your heart then you
00:38:36 --> 00:38:38 know it's become your music as well um
00:38:38 --> 00:38:40 but do you think that I I know again
00:38:40 --> 00:38:42 back on that subject a bit is that they
00:38:42 --> 00:38:45 feel reg music's kind of been um uh
00:38:45 --> 00:38:48 like lowered or kind of forgotten
00:38:48 --> 00:38:51 about underground um doesn't get as much
00:38:51 --> 00:38:53 homage as it needs that's another topic
00:38:53 --> 00:38:56 do you think that it's it's it's
00:38:56 --> 00:38:57 underground it's not as mainstream it
00:38:57 --> 00:39:00 doesn't get the respect it deserves um
00:39:00 --> 00:39:02 you know what I can I can speak on this
00:39:02 --> 00:39:04 number one it does not get the respect
00:39:04 --> 00:39:07 it deserves okay but at the end of the
00:39:07 --> 00:39:11 day it's a business and what makes money
00:39:11 --> 00:39:14 is what the you know the the the the
00:39:14 --> 00:39:20 folks that have the power to promote to
00:39:20 --> 00:39:23 present where where there's money that's
00:39:23 --> 00:39:24 where they're going to put their focus
00:39:24 --> 00:39:29 on so you know I I part of my mission is
00:39:29 --> 00:39:32 to is to bring I mean I'm a disciple of
00:39:32 --> 00:39:34 Bob yes hands down I mean that's just
00:39:34 --> 00:39:37 what it is wow you know so you know he
00:39:37 --> 00:39:39 said I'm not for the black man's side or
00:39:39 --> 00:39:41 the white man's side I'm for God's side
00:39:41 --> 00:39:43 he said you know the interviewer asked
00:39:43 --> 00:39:47 him if you know as a do I need to be
00:39:47 --> 00:39:49 black to be rosta and he said do you
00:39:49 --> 00:39:50 have a
00:39:50 --> 00:39:52 choice right exactly like if you have a
00:39:52 --> 00:39:55 choice you should come black but if not
00:39:55 --> 00:39:58 come as God Made You right so there's a
00:39:58 --> 00:40:01 level of spirituality that I feel reggae
00:40:01 --> 00:40:03 you know as Bob got it out there and I'm
00:40:03 --> 00:40:08 not comparing myself at all but I I just
00:40:08 --> 00:40:10 reggae is the People's music yes it is
00:40:10 --> 00:40:13 everyone loves it and I think that you
00:40:13 --> 00:40:15 know we
00:40:15 --> 00:40:20 can make people inspire people influence
00:40:20 --> 00:40:23 people to listen to more reggae so that
00:40:23 --> 00:40:26 it becomes the commodity that it that it
00:40:26 --> 00:40:29 really deserves to be without
00:40:29 --> 00:40:33 losing its dignity for the roots of what
00:40:33 --> 00:40:35 it is which is just an expression of of
00:40:35 --> 00:40:38 the holy spirit so I I feel like we're
00:40:38 --> 00:40:41 reaching like a level of collective
00:40:41 --> 00:40:44 Consciousness you know where I think
00:40:44 --> 00:40:47 naturally we're going to it's going to
00:40:47 --> 00:40:50 come back where reggae is going to is is
00:40:50 --> 00:40:53 going to like come back stronger yeah
00:40:53 --> 00:40:56 but but like it's already strong within
00:40:56 --> 00:40:59 the community yeah to touch others toou
00:40:59 --> 00:41:01 around the world and I felt that with
00:41:01 --> 00:41:04 your song I fly a flag above my head was
00:41:04 --> 00:41:06 that like a celebration of people coming
00:41:06 --> 00:41:09 together and enjoying reggae music and
00:41:09 --> 00:41:11 that flag just kind of represents Unity
00:41:11 --> 00:41:14 yeah 100% 100% I mean it's and it's not
00:41:14 --> 00:41:17 to it's not against anything right I you
00:41:17 --> 00:41:19 know cultures and countries and things
00:41:19 --> 00:41:22 have a flag that symbolizes their their
00:41:22 --> 00:41:24 culture and their people and that's
00:41:24 --> 00:41:27 great but the rosta flag is like the
00:41:27 --> 00:41:29 people's flag it is where we can all
00:41:29 --> 00:41:32 rally around it MH you know so that's
00:41:32 --> 00:41:34 kind of what you know that was it's like
00:41:34 --> 00:41:36 it's like let's let's what are you know
00:41:36 --> 00:41:39 I I always say this it's 2025 right what
00:41:39 --> 00:41:42 are we doing yeah you know like exactly
00:41:42 --> 00:41:44 you know are we fighting against these
00:41:44 --> 00:41:47 differences and these or are we trying
00:41:47 --> 00:41:49 to get along czy like what are we doing
00:41:49 --> 00:41:50 right you know come on and and I think
00:41:51 --> 00:41:52 GRE is one of those music genres like
00:41:52 --> 00:41:54 you said even when people you're talking
00:41:54 --> 00:41:56 about money right like the Arenas are
00:41:56 --> 00:41:57 sold out people do come to these
00:41:57 --> 00:41:58 concerts I know you're performing I'm
00:41:59 --> 00:42:01 sure it's not empty so people are there
00:42:01 --> 00:42:02 but like you said somewhere there's a
00:42:02 --> 00:42:04 lack of connection with the marketing
00:42:04 --> 00:42:07 aspect of you'll see concerts sold out
00:42:07 --> 00:42:10 but then you won't see it as much on um
00:42:10 --> 00:42:12 like even in in in interview Styles or
00:42:12 --> 00:42:15 or promo companies that are doing reggae
00:42:15 --> 00:42:17 they're few and far between and I think
00:42:17 --> 00:42:20 we got to change that yeah no I mean I I
00:42:20 --> 00:42:22 was just fortunate enough to be in
00:42:22 --> 00:42:24 Manchester um England for the world
00:42:25 --> 00:42:27 music Expo worldwide music music Expo
00:42:27 --> 00:42:30 meeting some booking agents and people
00:42:30 --> 00:42:32 from around the world and I mean I I
00:42:32 --> 00:42:35 spoke to them you know a lot of managers
00:42:35 --> 00:42:37 a lot of booking agents I'm a I'm a new
00:42:37 --> 00:42:40 artist so I'm trying to get my name and
00:42:40 --> 00:42:44 my music and my brand out to to people
00:42:44 --> 00:42:46 um and I told them straight up listen
00:42:46 --> 00:42:48 I'm I'm very self-aware I know I'm a new
00:42:48 --> 00:42:52 artist my job as the artist is to it's a
00:42:52 --> 00:42:55 numbers game right It's let's bring the
00:42:55 --> 00:42:59 people together need opportunities to to
00:42:59 --> 00:43:02 um prove myself on stages and my
00:43:02 --> 00:43:06 performance ability to entertain people
00:43:06 --> 00:43:09 yeah and once we get the people then I
00:43:09 --> 00:43:11 make your job a lot easier and they were
00:43:11 --> 00:43:14 like oh we never we never really heard
00:43:14 --> 00:43:16 an artist like talk about well I mean
00:43:16 --> 00:43:18 I'm not you know I'm you have to be
00:43:18 --> 00:43:20 self-aware like I can't sit here and be
00:43:20 --> 00:43:22 like oh why how come I'm not being
00:43:22 --> 00:43:25 booked for tours and it's like it's
00:43:25 --> 00:43:28 obvious why right you're new it's a
00:43:28 --> 00:43:30 you're doing your sales pitch like the
00:43:30 --> 00:43:32 fact that you're even at a conference
00:43:32 --> 00:43:34 you know or where were like Expo yeah
00:43:35 --> 00:43:36 yeah you don't see many artists they
00:43:37 --> 00:43:39 actually that's a smart move yeah I mean
00:43:39 --> 00:43:42 and I'm I I'm continuing to invest in
00:43:42 --> 00:43:44 this whole thing you know what I mean
00:43:44 --> 00:43:47 like it's it's a lot of money thankfully
00:43:47 --> 00:43:49 I have a lot of support between business
00:43:49 --> 00:43:53 owners family friends that truly
00:43:53 --> 00:43:55 understand the Miss Mission which is to
00:43:55 --> 00:43:58 just promote love around the world so
00:43:58 --> 00:44:02 it's it's it's you know it's not it it
00:44:02 --> 00:44:04 it cost but I feel like it's an
00:44:04 --> 00:44:06 investment so you know in two weeks from
00:44:06 --> 00:44:09 yesterday I leave for senagal um that's
00:44:10 --> 00:44:11 what I wanted to share with you
00:44:11 --> 00:44:14 performing at a a festival in Sagal
00:44:14 --> 00:44:17 which is like oh my goodness I was about
00:44:17 --> 00:44:19 to ask you have you been to Africa yet
00:44:19 --> 00:44:22 no no oh my goodness how did that happen
00:44:22 --> 00:44:24 I the album came out it was being
00:44:24 --> 00:44:28 promoted and um my he's now my friend I
00:44:28 --> 00:44:31 haven't met him yet but Sun Suli in um
00:44:31 --> 00:44:34 in uh senagal he he hit me up on social
00:44:34 --> 00:44:36 media he said listen we don't have
00:44:36 --> 00:44:38 really have a budget for international
00:44:38 --> 00:44:40 artists but is there any way you know
00:44:40 --> 00:44:42 you would want to come we'll we'll take
00:44:42 --> 00:44:45 care of your your stay and food I was
00:44:45 --> 00:44:48 like listen man who's gonna say no to
00:44:48 --> 00:44:50 that you're asking me to come you're
00:44:50 --> 00:44:52 inspired by my music you're asking me to
00:44:52 --> 00:44:53 come I'm going to do whatever I can do
00:44:53 --> 00:44:56 to be there so so I'm really looking
00:44:56 --> 00:44:58 forward to that because again it'll be
00:44:58 --> 00:45:00 an opportunity for me to connect with
00:45:00 --> 00:45:03 people and to perform that's what I love
00:45:03 --> 00:45:05 to do I want to entertain people and
00:45:05 --> 00:45:07 inspire people and just spread the
00:45:07 --> 00:45:10 message of Love yeah by the way what
00:45:10 --> 00:45:12 your performance is I heard you live at
00:45:12 --> 00:45:14 the block party and you were one of
00:45:14 --> 00:45:15 those sounds that I would think I was
00:45:16 --> 00:45:17 like getting food I kind of turned
00:45:17 --> 00:45:19 around and stopped and there were other
00:45:19 --> 00:45:22 people singing before you but you felt
00:45:22 --> 00:45:24 something when you performed and your
00:45:24 --> 00:45:27 stage presence and your voice it really
00:45:27 --> 00:45:29 doesn't capture so want to let you know
00:45:29 --> 00:45:30 I really appreciate that I want to let
00:45:30 --> 00:45:32 you know that kind of stuck with me
00:45:32 --> 00:45:33 that's why I was like you know what we
00:45:33 --> 00:45:35 got to get Kenny on because there just
00:45:35 --> 00:45:37 something you know music just you know
00:45:37 --> 00:45:39 goes across words like you don't even
00:45:39 --> 00:45:41 have to talk you hear the sound and it
00:45:41 --> 00:45:44 just like vibrates into your yeah so you
00:45:44 --> 00:45:45 have that I really appreciate that it
00:45:45 --> 00:45:47 factor and then there's the non-it
00:45:47 --> 00:45:49 factor and I think you got the it Factor
00:45:49 --> 00:45:51 oh I I really appreciate that I mean
00:45:51 --> 00:45:52 like I said when you were like do you
00:45:52 --> 00:45:54 want to come on my show I was like thank
00:45:54 --> 00:45:57 you of course like how yes I will of
00:45:57 --> 00:46:00 course you know I love it yeah so I
00:46:00 --> 00:46:02 looked on your website and I'm looking
00:46:02 --> 00:46:04 at the beads over around your neck yes
00:46:04 --> 00:46:06 and I see that these are made by a
00:46:06 --> 00:46:09 Jamaican arts and craft person or you
00:46:09 --> 00:46:11 sell are you selling jewelry there's
00:46:11 --> 00:46:14 yeah we're I mean I'm I went down every
00:46:14 --> 00:46:17 time I go down I get some more jewelry I
00:46:17 --> 00:46:18 I I make people laugh I said you know
00:46:18 --> 00:46:22 I'm going to be the rosta M uh Mr T at
00:46:22 --> 00:46:23 some point I'm going to come back with
00:46:23 --> 00:46:27 so many like wood be and allp but
00:46:27 --> 00:46:29 there's a there's there's a guy in
00:46:29 --> 00:46:32 Kingston named Tony who has a couple
00:46:32 --> 00:46:34 guys that you know they they hand carve
00:46:34 --> 00:46:36 all these necklaces so I became friends
00:46:36 --> 00:46:39 with him I always go and you know if
00:46:39 --> 00:46:41 something breaks he fixes it so you know
00:46:41 --> 00:46:44 this has become kind of like my my brand
00:46:44 --> 00:46:47 and my style so I figure you know if
00:46:47 --> 00:46:49 anybody wants a a handcarved necklace
00:46:50 --> 00:46:53 from Jamaica so yeah I love it so do you
00:46:53 --> 00:46:55 sell like you have to buy it online or
00:46:55 --> 00:46:56 do you like walk around with the
00:46:56 --> 00:46:58 different NE nees or how how would I get
00:46:58 --> 00:47:01 it um on my website um Kenny vanilla.com
00:47:02 --> 00:47:04 okay we have a bunch of merchandise
00:47:04 --> 00:47:05 there um you know we're trying to build
00:47:05 --> 00:47:09 more we actually have a vinyl um version
00:47:09 --> 00:47:11 of the album coming out that's going to
00:47:11 --> 00:47:13 be pressed at TF gong it's actually in
00:47:13 --> 00:47:15 the process right now so that's going to
00:47:15 --> 00:47:18 be really really nice um that'll be
00:47:18 --> 00:47:20 available there's like hoodies I didn't
00:47:20 --> 00:47:22 wear that hoodie today I we you know my
00:47:22 --> 00:47:26 logo is a torch right for higher fire I
00:47:26 --> 00:47:28 love it so yeah so we're just trying to
00:47:28 --> 00:47:31 build and build and build love the merch
00:47:31 --> 00:47:33 love that it's it's like original to
00:47:33 --> 00:47:35 like things you'll see at in the
00:47:35 --> 00:47:37 Caribbean being sold at the beaches or
00:47:37 --> 00:47:39 used to be sold at the beaches right um
00:47:39 --> 00:47:41 so I love it and it's just keeping that
00:47:41 --> 00:47:43 culture rich and alive and thanks for
00:47:43 --> 00:47:45 that as well yeah absolutely so I know
00:47:45 --> 00:47:47 you said you're a disciple of Bob who
00:47:47 --> 00:47:48 who do you listen to who's your current
00:47:49 --> 00:47:51 like reggae Jam that you're to these
00:47:51 --> 00:47:53 days I mean I every time it's like I
00:47:53 --> 00:47:55 hate to leave people out but like samry
00:47:55 --> 00:47:57 I
00:47:57 --> 00:48:00 um I he just performed at Andrews I mean
00:48:00 --> 00:48:03 excuse me at Peter at Peter's birthday
00:48:03 --> 00:48:05 okay um so it's like samry I was
00:48:05 --> 00:48:07 performing I'm like wow dude I've been
00:48:07 --> 00:48:08 listening to your album non-stop for
00:48:08 --> 00:48:09 like a
00:48:09 --> 00:48:12 year um but you know Jesse
00:48:12 --> 00:48:16 Royal um Protegé oh uh mortimer's got a
00:48:16 --> 00:48:18 new album out I mean all the you know
00:48:18 --> 00:48:20 chronics we all want chronics to come
00:48:20 --> 00:48:22 out with some new stuff which it will it
00:48:22 --> 00:48:25 will um you know I I I try to get myself
00:48:25 --> 00:48:27 in you know
00:48:27 --> 00:48:30 stay in the new but I'm so I love the
00:48:30 --> 00:48:34 roots right you know I love the the the
00:48:34 --> 00:48:38 um uh Garnet silks and the Gregory
00:48:38 --> 00:48:41 Isaacs and the Toots and the mighty
00:48:41 --> 00:48:43 diamonds I love the mighty diamonds and
00:48:43 --> 00:48:46 and Bunny yes love bunny Whaler I can't
00:48:46 --> 00:48:49 get away from the old original Roots
00:48:49 --> 00:48:51 original Roots reggae it's just it just
00:48:51 --> 00:48:54 it's in me and I just love it it's like
00:48:54 --> 00:48:57 a warm blanket what what's your favorite
00:48:57 --> 00:49:00 song of all time um that one I is
00:49:00 --> 00:49:03 actually an easy one because it's just
00:49:03 --> 00:49:05 it's just what it is it's the Whalers
00:49:05 --> 00:49:08 pass it on okay um which it's actually
00:49:08 --> 00:49:12 Bunny All Right singing But pass it on
00:49:12 --> 00:49:14 uh very very classic if you listen to
00:49:14 --> 00:49:17 the words of that song it's it's what it
00:49:17 --> 00:49:21 is okay it's life wow so I know it but
00:49:21 --> 00:49:23 now it's on my list yeah pass it on it's
00:49:23 --> 00:49:26 on my list so yeah uh before we wrap I
00:49:26 --> 00:49:28 want to talk about your final mission
00:49:29 --> 00:49:31 like what's your mission in this uh
00:49:31 --> 00:49:34 where do you see yourself in 5 years I
00:49:34 --> 00:49:36 mean again I I have like a broader
00:49:36 --> 00:49:41 Vision I'm I understand like the there's
00:49:41 --> 00:49:42 a business side so I'm really focusing
00:49:43 --> 00:49:45 on my brand and getting my brand out
00:49:45 --> 00:49:48 there obviously connecting with people
00:49:48 --> 00:49:51 just sharing the message of Love um you
00:49:51 --> 00:49:53 know I'm I'm open to I have a couple
00:49:53 --> 00:49:56 branding things that are some big kind
00:49:56 --> 00:49:58 of big branding opportunities coming up
00:49:58 --> 00:50:00 I can't I can't really talk about it
00:50:00 --> 00:50:03 right now I'm trying to I'm like I'm
00:50:03 --> 00:50:05 like really focused on this whole
00:50:05 --> 00:50:07 manifesting thing it's like I got to
00:50:07 --> 00:50:09 like kind of keep be patient don't share
00:50:09 --> 00:50:11 it too early I can't I can't but there
00:50:11 --> 00:50:13 but there's some cool cool things going
00:50:13 --> 00:50:16 on but but just that
00:50:16 --> 00:50:19 overall you know it's like the business
00:50:19 --> 00:50:22 with the mission of of spreading love
00:50:22 --> 00:50:24 and I just think that we are at a time
00:50:24 --> 00:50:27 right now um where
00:50:27 --> 00:50:29 the collective Consciousness is
00:50:29 --> 00:50:32 upgrading right and everybody's feeling
00:50:32 --> 00:50:34 it we're all kind of at different levels
00:50:34 --> 00:50:37 but everybody everyone is feeling it and
00:50:37 --> 00:50:39 I just I really truly believe and know
00:50:39 --> 00:50:41 and feel in my heart that that we're
00:50:41 --> 00:50:45 going to really come together more as a
00:50:46 --> 00:50:49 as a one people um so really that's
00:50:49 --> 00:50:51 what's causing that do you think the
00:50:51 --> 00:50:53 collective Consciousness to increase I I
00:50:53 --> 00:50:57 I just I think that where we're at I
00:50:57 --> 00:50:59 mean at the end of the day we're these
00:50:59 --> 00:51:02 organisms that are kind of on a rock
00:51:02 --> 00:51:04 floating in outer space around a sun you
00:51:04 --> 00:51:06 know so like there I'm not trying to get
00:51:06 --> 00:51:09 too like Cosmos yeah but like there's
00:51:09 --> 00:51:12 something with that and as time
00:51:12 --> 00:51:15 progresses you know we're you know just
00:51:15 --> 00:51:17 like our phones upgrade yeah our
00:51:18 --> 00:51:19 Consciousness is upgrading it's the same
00:51:19 --> 00:51:21 thing like that technolog is just a
00:51:21 --> 00:51:24 reflection of us as people but you don't
00:51:24 --> 00:51:26 think the phones are making us more
00:51:26 --> 00:51:29 non-conscious I was looking at a school
00:51:29 --> 00:51:31 bus yesterday the kids were like zombies
00:51:31 --> 00:51:34 I was scared I was like are they moving
00:51:34 --> 00:51:36 they just weren't talking yeah I
00:51:36 --> 00:51:37 remembered being in the school bus and
00:51:37 --> 00:51:39 literally laughing fighting the person
00:51:39 --> 00:51:41 next to me getting up the bus driver's
00:51:41 --> 00:51:44 like sit down Lexi and just being a kid
00:51:44 --> 00:51:46 like being you know and these kids are
00:51:46 --> 00:51:48 just sitting there and I don't see
00:51:48 --> 00:51:50 Consciousness I see that I'm I'm like
00:51:50 --> 00:51:52 wanting to knock on the window like guys
00:51:52 --> 00:51:55 talk yeah yeah no I I I I have to agree
00:51:55 --> 00:51:57 with you I mean maybe that's like the
00:51:57 --> 00:51:58 younger generation we know that there's
00:51:58 --> 00:52:00 a big difference in like Millennials we
00:52:00 --> 00:52:02 kind of like just missed that Mark of
00:52:02 --> 00:52:04 being so addicted to the phones right
00:52:04 --> 00:52:06 like Millennials and above but then if
00:52:06 --> 00:52:08 you start going to gen Z and Below it's
00:52:08 --> 00:52:10 pretty scary and we still all all are I
00:52:10 --> 00:52:12 mean wherever you go everyone is in is
00:52:12 --> 00:52:14 in their phone I mean I'm guilty of it
00:52:14 --> 00:52:17 myself but I you know I guess I guess as
00:52:17 --> 00:52:19 we move forward it's we have to find
00:52:19 --> 00:52:21 this balance okay you know I mean I I
00:52:21 --> 00:52:23 think technology is great as long as
00:52:23 --> 00:52:26 it's being used for good things but
00:52:26 --> 00:52:27 there's people that are going to use it
00:52:27 --> 00:52:28 for good things there's people that are
00:52:28 --> 00:52:30 going to you know manipulate people for
00:52:30 --> 00:52:33 bad things so I mean it's bringing the
00:52:33 --> 00:52:35 world
00:52:35 --> 00:52:37 closer but at the same time we're we are
00:52:37 --> 00:52:38 being
00:52:38 --> 00:52:41 disconnected um so it's a it's an
00:52:41 --> 00:52:44 interesting topic I mean again I'm call
00:52:44 --> 00:52:49 me naive yeah um
00:52:49 --> 00:52:51 delusional but I I just I don't know I
00:52:51 --> 00:52:53 feel like there's a middle ground where
00:52:53 --> 00:52:56 we can utilize these things but still
00:52:56 --> 00:52:59 you know allow it to bring us together
00:52:59 --> 00:53:02 so for you it's not yet at a place of
00:53:02 --> 00:53:05 like we need to start looking into this
00:53:05 --> 00:53:08 or limiting or it's not a danger yet
00:53:08 --> 00:53:09 your red flag isn't going off yeah I
00:53:09 --> 00:53:11 mean I I think there's certain areas and
00:53:11 --> 00:53:13 you know parents are trying to limit
00:53:13 --> 00:53:15 usage of that kind of stuff I know even
00:53:16 --> 00:53:17 I think even governments are starting to
00:53:17 --> 00:53:20 say hey no you know no social media
00:53:20 --> 00:53:24 before X or Y age or whatever I don't
00:53:24 --> 00:53:26 know how that looks you know what I mean
00:53:26 --> 00:53:27 the end of the day I think you know we
00:53:27 --> 00:53:30 all have to take personal responsibility
00:53:30 --> 00:53:32 so if you have you know if you're
00:53:32 --> 00:53:35 parenting and and caring you have a
00:53:35 --> 00:53:39 responsibility to to kind of um govern
00:53:39 --> 00:53:41 that usage but you know I don't I don't
00:53:41 --> 00:53:43 know what that looks like per se I just
00:53:43 --> 00:53:46 like I said I'm just hopeful that um
00:53:46 --> 00:53:50 that we can find a middle ground of like
00:53:50 --> 00:53:54 utilizing it for the good and then also
00:53:54 --> 00:53:56 not allowing it to completely separate
00:53:57 --> 00:54:00 us yeah so yeah I don't know that's a
00:54:00 --> 00:54:02 that's a we could talk about that all
00:54:02 --> 00:54:04 day we definitely could but the good
00:54:04 --> 00:54:05 thing is I think that's where music
00:54:05 --> 00:54:09 comes in music takes you back into that
00:54:09 --> 00:54:10 that's why you got to play it it takes
00:54:10 --> 00:54:13 you off that technology like bout that
00:54:13 --> 00:54:16 you're on and you just find to listen to
00:54:16 --> 00:54:17 the words it's like you said you get
00:54:17 --> 00:54:19 vibed into the music and the lyrics yeah
00:54:19 --> 00:54:20 100% I I just kind of just got the
00:54:20 --> 00:54:22 chills thinking about that because
00:54:22 --> 00:54:24 that's that's actually the thing that
00:54:24 --> 00:54:26 bonds us all around the world as music
00:54:26 --> 00:54:29 mhm you know we all are everyone listens
00:54:29 --> 00:54:31 to music everyone that doesn't matter
00:54:31 --> 00:54:32 what genre it is it doesn't matter what
00:54:32 --> 00:54:37 it is that that human expression is is
00:54:37 --> 00:54:40 we all we all have it we all do it we
00:54:40 --> 00:54:43 all admire it yeah and a lot of us are
00:54:43 --> 00:54:45 influenced by it there you go rega
00:54:45 --> 00:54:47 influence that's what we're doing here
00:54:47 --> 00:54:49 oh my goodness that was great that was
00:54:49 --> 00:54:52 great so you guys heard it first here at
00:54:52 --> 00:54:54 the regga influence this was the first
00:54:54 --> 00:54:56 debut episode we had Mr Kenny van here
00:54:56 --> 00:54:59 that gave us some good knowledge um his
00:54:59 --> 00:55:02 new debut album and song on the album is
00:55:02 --> 00:55:04 I fly a flag his website is Kenny
00:55:05 --> 00:55:07 vanilla.com check it out for merchandise
00:55:07 --> 00:55:09 check it out to hear his sounds and of
00:55:09 --> 00:55:10 course when's your upcoming tourist tell
00:55:10 --> 00:55:11 us a little more about that so we can
00:55:11 --> 00:55:13 catch you live well that's you know
00:55:13 --> 00:55:15 there's some stuff being worked out for
00:55:15 --> 00:55:18 next year um I might be going to Europe
00:55:18 --> 00:55:21 first um there's some talks again I
00:55:21 --> 00:55:23 can't say too much because I don't know
00:55:23 --> 00:55:24 we we want to know so we have to like
00:55:25 --> 00:55:27 follow you on Instagram Instagram Kenny
00:55:27 --> 00:55:29 vanela I'm the only one in the world Nam
00:55:29 --> 00:55:31 Kenny van so it's I'm easy to find
00:55:31 --> 00:55:33 wonderful all right so yeah we'll check
00:55:33 --> 00:55:35 you out thank you all for tun thank you
00:55:35 --> 00:55:38 so much all right and many blessings on
00:55:38 --> 00:55:41 this uh new show oh yes you drop us a
00:55:41 --> 00:55:42 line for reggae influence that we could
00:55:42 --> 00:55:46 use 100% uhhuh greetings all lions and
00:55:46 --> 00:55:48 lioness this is Kenny vanilla you're
00:55:48 --> 00:55:51 listening to the reggae influence with
00:55:51 --> 00:55:55 Lexi oo I like
00:55:55 --> 00:55:59 it e