Playing "Dancehall Principle" with Garnett Silk on
Heartbeat Records. Welcome back to the Reggae Beat 97.5 KPOI something
we have been waiting several weeks for has finally happened. I
like to say he is proabaly he is one of the most respected deejays
in Jamaica and the world..
Hello . . .
Tony Rebel: Yes I am here How you doing..
R.M.B: I am doing fine Greetings and Aloha. I wish I can say welcome
to Hawaii, but right now the phone is the best next thing
T.R: Yes, I want to say greetings to all of the people of Hawaii
too!
R.M.B: Well there you go . . . How are things out there in Jamaica
for you . . .
T.R: Well things are fine right now. Jamaica has a very good football
team and tonight was the night we when we play in Los Angles.
We played Guatemala; we won 3-2. . . . So it's football thing
in the air. The other day we drew Brazil in Miami. Brazil is the
world champion, and for the Reggae Boyz to draw . . . Brazil,
I think that's a great achievement. So every one in Jamaica is
celebrating so it is like a football mania.
RMB: [There are a] couple of singers out there that are going
to dedicate songs to the football team; are you looking at doing
the same now?
T.R.: Well, what is happening is that every time the Reggae Boyz
are playing, especially in the stadium, and the entertainment
is being dealt with, they always use my song "Jah Is by My
Side." It is like a theme song for them.
R.M.B. Wow, Congratulations . Well you know your voice and message
are not strangers to the us in Hawaii, right now we still rocking
to "If Jah . . . " What are some of your favorites tracks
on that LP?
T.R. Well some of my favorite tracks are "Love Fountain,"
"You Been Warned," "Jah Never Let Us Down",
and "Jah By My Side." At least the whole album is my
favorite. But one of my main songs that I, . . . two of my main
songs that I love apart from "Jah By My Side" is "You
Have Been Warned" and "Love Fountain."
R.M.B. "Love Fountain," That's right and that was on
the Bob Marley's riddim . . . "So Much Trouble In The World."
T.R. Yes , that's right you got it.
R.M.B. I know there were special celebrations for Bob Marley on
the 6th of Feb. Did you participate in anything or in Sumfest
or Sunsplash?
T.R. Well, actually last month I had one of the biggest show in
Jamaica, which is called Rebel Salute, which is a actually a commemoration
of my birthday and that was held in Mandeville-land. We had over
20,000 people. And because of that, because of that you know it's
like it took so many energy out of me I wanted to rest, so I did
not participate, and the Sunsplash I think tonight will be the
last night of Sunsplash which is the Gospel Night. And also there
was a lot of activity around. I was suppose to do a lecture up
by the (Bob Marley) museum in Kingston. But because it was a football
match in Miami, with Brazil, Brazil and Jamaica , I was there
so I did not get a chance to participate, but my sprit was there
in everything. People from most everyone to Sunsplash the night
before last, like last night and Sugar Black and Lebancuhla went
to Nine Miles to participate in that celebration that they had
at Bob Marely's birthplace.
RMB: Wow, wow. Now with your Rebel Salute, you have accomplish
[something] that I am really really impressed with. You know you
had over 20,000 people, but you served only Ital food and no alcohol
you and still had a huge crowd. That is really impressive. Now
you can tell us . . .
TR: What well
RMB: I am sorry go ahead.
TR: Well what happen is that is our kind of concept. Cause I am
not a vegetarian, and I don't drink alcohol beverages, and therefore
I would not want to sell people that to make money. So it actually
our concept manifesting in reality in the form of a show. Where
we don't deal with no form of profanity within our lyrics and
that's kind of music that we wanted at the celebration for my
birthday. And also I want to serve something I would serve in
my house.
RMB: That is right so true. Too bad more promoters don't feel
that way, [they're] just after a quick buck. Ahhh along with your
"If Jah" LP for the past two weeks we have been playing
every cut on your pre-release cd . . um I do not know the name
of the cd. [It] has Jah Mason , yourself, "Hold Meditation,"
President Brown. Can you tell my listeners when that cd may be
will be release?
TR: Well actually right now we're about to release those sounds
in Jamaica onto 7", and very soon we will be releasing it
on cd. But first I want you to get enough pre release play out
of it before we release! We, we, want you to exercise that privilege!
RMB: Thank you , Thank you , Thank you last week we played every
cut and this week so far we played 3 cuts, and we have 2 hours
left in the show so we're just gonna play, play and play. The
vibes are great, the rhythms are great. When you go into a studio,
do you sit down and does the music come first or do the lyrics
come first?
TR: Well, actually for me it's like sometimes when I am home everything
comes. Next time if the riddim is there already then I sing something
to put on the riddim. Because the riddim speaks to you. When you
hear a phrase or a bass line or a specific drum pattern, it like
it brings out a melody and from a melody you must find lyric,
because there is so much things to say. It's a variety of ways.
So it's sometimes you have the lyrics first and then you match
it to the music. Sometimes it's the music first, and sometimes
it happens simultaneously.
RMB: I see, I see. You started out as a singer, not a deejay.
Did that change lead to your unique deejay style called 'sing-jay?'
TR: I think so, I think so. Because I can do them both then I
tried to incorporate both of them at the same time, and I end
up with this kind of melodic sound which they called sing-jay.
Which I love very much.
RMB: Are you the originator of sing-jay or is it something that
has been around for a while?
TR: I don't want to blow my own trumpet.
RMB Blow it Blow it!!
T.R.: Laughing I think so I really thinks so because when I heard
the deejays deejaying straight and hard. I was not doing that.
If you can go as far back as "Fresh Vegetable" or "Mandela
Story," then you see will that it is a a long time now I
have seen a lot of deejays moving on that pattern, which I love
very much.
MRB: Much respect, there you go.
TR: Yes, you can say that you can say that (laughing).
MRB: Much respect to you cause Buju's album (Inna Heights) and
even Beenie Man's album . . . they are throwing a little singing
in there now.
TR That's the way to go. That's the way to go. You have to have
a melody. Once you have melody that people can sing to and people
can remember. If it is just straight people won't remember. After
a few weeks it will be gone. But when you [know] there's a melody,
people will remember a melody in their head.
MRB: That is right. Yourself and Garnett Silk are credited with
bringing, forward cultural vibes to music and Dancehall. We mention
Buju , Beenie Man they have changed their style, they're Rasta,
and their message is more spiritual, more conscious, are you pleased
with the direction the music is going now?
T.R: To a certain extent yes. There is a whole lot of my colleagues
who have turned their musical vibe to a positive -- a more positive
vibe. And I am happy for that. There is also a lot of people who
still doing the slack music and gun lyrics. They are doing it
more subtle this time, and it is very ambiguous, and it is also
getting a lot of prominence. And I think it is time now that they
know they stop, because it is contributing to the deterioration
of our music. I am happy that there are a lot of young artist
like Buju Banton who have done their transformation, Capleton.
You have Sizzla coming; you have Anthony B; you have Jah Mason.
And there is so much other young artist who definitely moving
within the cultural rhymes. And I think in a matter of time for
the 21st century then it will be there to see that culture lives
forever.
MRB Yes that right. Well, who are the singers and deejays you
are impressed with. You mention Buju, Anthony B, and of course
the singers on your label.
TR: Yes, I am definitely impressed with Kulcha Knox, ahh Sugar
Black and Lebanchulah , Ras Shiloh, Honey Comb, . . . I impressed
with Sizzla too.
RMB: Yes we been too . . . aside from you I think we have played
Sizzla the most last year. Now going back, one of the dreams for
many artists is to be signed to a major label. In 1993 you singed
on with Columbia Records. The fruits of that labor was the "Signs
of the Times." Although it was an excellent CD, you parted
ways with Columbia Records. What led to that splitting from Columbia?
TR: Well, I think even though Columbia is a big and respectable
company, they didn't find the method to distribute my songs effectively.
Cause what happen is that I was a popular guy when they sign me,
and so their intention was to put me on the next level. What they
did was forsake the market that I was already popular in. When
I did my album, it could not be had in the areas that I was already
popular, and so they tried to put me into the next area where,
unfortunately, it left promotion and the whole distribution aspect
did not come together very well. For I did not take off in that
market, and then if I was not smart, then I would be off for a
while. So I think it was better for us to part ways and you know
I continued in my career.
RMB: Did they not enlist your help as far as promotion and distribution?
TR: Say that again please . . .
RMB: Did they enlist your help, did they ask which direction you
like to take this cd, which market you are going to look at?
TR: Well, I think sometimes when you are with those company, even
if you propose they have your proposal as being disposable. (laughter)
They actually sold millions, so they know which direction to go
even when you when tell them it can't work that way. But what
I am doing now is actually is setting up my own company which
is Flames Productions, and if you notice that album . . . that
you there playing, although it was distributed by VP, it has been
produced by Flames Productions, even "Jah By My Side",
and "Ghetto People Songs" (Everton Blender) -- all those
songs on the "LaLa Bella" riddim it is being produced
by Flames Productions. And also the show that is put on here annually
that is called Rebel Salute it is done by Flames Productions.
So we know that this music thing is not a destination, but it
is journey and we decide to take the first step by doing things
for ourselves.
RMB: I see. So that was one of the moves that made you start your
own label called Flames. The parting of ways from Columbia. Why
did you call your label Flames? I know there is a good reason.
TR: Because the kind of sound that we are putting out in the world
is like fire! It's like we're burnin, we're burnin through the
earth with good, and we know good must conquer evil. So that's
it, you know, we're burnin through people's head into their soul.
RMB: Into their hearts that is true
TR: Into their heart. So therefore we are we are Flames, we're
going to burn all things that is corrupted -- all evil.
RMB: You got a really nice family of singers -- Jah Mason, Sugar
Black, Uton Green. How did you come across theses young voices?
Are there talents shows that are happening, and you're walking
around scouting them out?
TR: Not really, we are actually from Manchester, which is central
part of Jamaica, and [when] we were much younger we used to be
on sound system. One of the sound system that we used to be on
is sound system called Destiny Outernational. And there myself,
Garnett Silk, and Everton Blender, and a whole lot more artist
used to be. And then when I left there and came to Kingston, and
I was with Donavon Germain at Penthouse. I met Sugar Black and
Lebanchulah some more other artist. And then when we set Flames
up, artist would come everyday and just like check us out to see
what we can do. And then we hear potential and then we try to
help it as much as we could.
RMB: I see, I see. Now what is Everton Blender up to now?
TR: Say that again?
RMR: What is Everton Blender up to?
TR: Well actually Everton Blender has started his own label called
Blend Dem Promotions. He has a label called Blend Dem. He is on
tour, and he is trying to set up his own thing also.
RMB: Okay, I see, cause we are groovin on vibes of "Ghetto
People Song." On the "LaLa Bella" riddim . . .
So so nice, and it is very nice to see that you are going forward
with the music not a destination but a journey.
TR: It's a journey and every journey begins with a step.
RMB: Now when someone sits down and listens to your cd what do
you want them to get out of it?
TR: Well those who never learn should be [taught] and those who
know, but they have forgotten, I think they should be reminded.
And those who are weak we need them to get strength. I need peace,
love, and unity to be established among the family of humanity.
RMB: Well, I think that with messages such as "With Jah"
and what you are putting out on your Flames Label, you're helping
people to realize what is going on in themselves and in the world
outside. Ah you know much respect to you and what you are doing
out there in JA. I sincerely hope we can see you live one day
in Hawaii. We hope. It's been sort of a dry season for us. The
last show we had in Hawaii was in August. I do not know of anything
that is coming up in the near future.
TR: I am ready for you Hawaii! It's been a long time. I have been
getting a lot of invitations, but it has not manifested. But you
know that it's better late then never and guess what? Patience
is a virtue, but don't let it stay too long or it will hurt you.
RMB: Is there anything you like to leave the people of Hawaii
with?
TR.: I like to tell the people of Hawaii that once you have life
you have hope. You should not worry about nothing. Remember that
the same place Jah comes from that where your soul is from also.
All of them is an experience. So they say behind dark cloud is
a silver lining. So don't let the bad times get you down -- get
down on the bad times. Cause they say nothing beats a child but
a failure. Please don't fail to try, and just remember to say,
"I'm too blessed to be stressed."
RMB: I like that, 'too blessed to be stressed.' Words of wisdom.
Much Thanks Tony Rebel. We are going to close out this interview
with something off your new pre release CD that we are going to
take advantage of. "Hold a Meditation," on Reggae Beat
97.5 KPOI.
T.R. You got it!
8 Feb. 1998
Interview with Tony Rebel on Reggae Beat