As Black Music Month approaches in America in June thanks to former president Jimmy Carter who on June 7, 1979, decreed that June would be the month of black music, I have decided to post up the stories of  the roots of Global African or global Black music so we can stop, look, listen & ingest our global roots & culture without the constant debate of what came first or who birth who. Jamaicans say “Out of Many, One People”, but I say “Out of One Africa, Many People…Many Global Fusions”!

From Garvey to Marley to Maroon roots of Jamaica -Africa has always been preached & respected as the foundation of the people & in the people. If we understand & know history and science then why are we surprised or bother to debate about the fact that there is similarity in reggae, salsa, meringue, bomba bachata, blues, jazz, hip-hop etc., not only within themselves but also within African music, chants and use of voice and sound?  We may  adapt  and be socialized into foreign & new cultures, but the roots will always be the foundation that will always be preserved for true growth of mankind globally. There is no denying the roots of music came from  Africa; therefore the descendants of Africa no matter where they land, reside or call home, the roots of their foundation can always be  heard in their sound, seen in their features and felt in their soul!!

Bonus Tracks:

It seems Nina Simone’s words “An artist’s duty is to reflect the times. how can you be an artist & not reflect the times?”,  needs to be heralded more than ever because there are way too many stories that are not being told. The world is in a massive mash up of class wars globally, being turned into racial, religious & regional wars. Our leaders have become unaccountable for their treacherous treasonous actions against we the people, we the everyday citizens of  nations, we who they call their own people, as the people bare the brunt of the suffering from their lies & deeds for greed & power masked in the tainted cloak of freedom & democracy.

We need a generation of artists who speak for the people as their mouth piece to let the world know the global trials & tribulations of the everyday man that you may not see or hear in the propaganda that is fed to the people to pacify them in complacency. Stephen Marley is surely one of those artists who will lead us & the music back to conciousness. How many artists in good times & bad times will stand up & offer up their homes to bailout their felow man? So many have lost the spirit of botherhood , but there are so many more of us who will not let the world  forget our humanity. Bob Marley’s seeds will continue to plant trees of righteousness & humanity.

There is a global need for our artists to become a reflection of the times in enlightening, educating & mobilizing the people to true peaceful revolution. None but ourselves can free our minds! Where are our Bob Marleys, Nina Simones, Marvin Gayes, Peter Toshs, John Lennons & Buju Bantons to take the baton in taking the music to new heights..the world needs them more than ever now to tell those often UNTOLD STORIES…

May the roots soul & power of Buju’s Maroon ancestors guide & protect him through his current tribulation! I hope we all take heed to the the lyrics of the 3 songs below, Destiny, Politics Time Again & Untold Stories- as we go through our global massive tribulations in making sure that the truth about our untold stories see the light of day!

Verse 1:
The rich man’s wealth is in the city
Destruction of the poor is his poverty
Destruction of your soul is vanity
Do you hear
I and I, I wanna rule my destiny
I and I, I wanna rule my destiny

Chorus:
Destiny, mama look from when you call me
Destiny, mama look from when you calling
I wanna rule my destiny
yeah, yeah oh help I please Jah Jah mek mi rule

Verse 2:
I’ve been blessed I’ve been touch
I love Jah so much
They keep fighting me I’m not giving up
May the realms of Zion fill my spiritual cup
Wisdom overstanding can never be too much
Give I protection Day and night

Chorus:
Cast away their cords from us
you have them in the region in the valley of decision
Restraining the heathen with a rod of iron
you know not the destiny of a next man
Why hold him set him free too long

Verse 3:
My destination is homeward bound
Though force try to hold I down
Breaking chains has become the norm
I know I must get through no matter what a gwaan

Why my people suffer so bad ?
Who is it that should really be sad ?
Is it… Is it the misplaced melancholic ?
Whoa…

[Chorus:]
Well is’t politics time again
Are you gonna vote now ?
My people you ah talk
It’s politics time again
Are you gonna vote now ?

My god…

[Verse 1:]
Rise up falling suffer
Rise and take your stands again
He who fights and run away
Will live to fight another day

[Chorus]

Make love and not war

[Verse 2:]
It’s the time to duty
Haffi see the chance to vote
Fire bun dem constitution
Long time we need ah choose
Fed up with promises
And hopeless hope
Why the box must be empty
For those clothes
No one harm no one
True the color of the clothes, now
But some just plain greedy
No matter how we teach them
For get easy… yaw

[Chorus]

It’s the rasta them talkin’
New gear, new gear

[Verse 3:]
Bloodshed…
From rema-a-and
Down in the valley
Can them hear ya-a-ah
Crack down…
(it’s) Has become ah gunman compound
Now bless all people who has seen this shit
Lord
Dem cry reliclesly yeah
You keep on moving
Every minute every hour
Gunshot fall like shower
Whoa like new clear power

[Chorus]

[Verse 4:]
And the likkle want, we want
And the likkle preach, we preach
Selcter buzz thier big on the street, lord
Kill people
What dem really seek?
Who is it that I man speaking?
Who is it that is controlin’ the system?
Three parties and I’m not dancing
Who is it then?
Who is she then?
Now who is the Mr. In?
Yeah, it is the pain time
Again now… Whoo

[Chorus]

[Verse 5:]
Everything race
But we won’t live in fret
But the air we breath becomes thick with dead
Then we know Jah ah guide
We will never fret
When ever you ready ready
No more sparge
Whenever you light or heavy
Ah pure respect, lord lord lord lord
Now war, now war

While I’m Living
Thanks I’ll Be Giving
To the Most High You know,

[Chorus: ]
I am living while I am living to the father I will pray
Only he knows how we get through everyday
With all the hike in the price
Arm and leg we have to pay
While our leaders play

[Verse 1:]
All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no own no payroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole.
I could go on and on the full has never been told

[Repeat Chorus]

[Verse 2:]
Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who can’t…they will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say… When mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
It’s a competitive world for low budget people,
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told

[Repeat Chorus]

[Verse 3:]
All I see people a rip and a rob and a grab
Tief never love fe see tief wid long bag
No love for the people who a suffer real bad
Another toll to the poll may God help we soul
What is to stop the youths from get out of control
Full up of education yet no own no payroll
The clothes on my back have countless eyehole
Could go on and on and the full has never been told
(On and On)
Though this life keep getting me down
Don’t give up now
Got to survive somehow
Could go on and on and the full has never been told

[Repeat Chorus]

[Verse 4:]
Who can afford to run will run
But what about those who can’t…they will have to stay
Opportunity a scarce, scarce commodity
In these times I say… When mama spend her last and send you go class
Never you ever play
It’s a competitive world for low budget people,
Spending a dime while earning a nickel
With no regards to who it may tickle
My cup is full to the brim
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on the full has never been told
I could go on and on….
The full has never….

Been…..
Toooooold.
SOURCE :Lyrics on Demand

The is dedicated to Global Fusionists World Wide because all around the word same song! This song speaks to the state of our world today. You can’t keep people hungary for too long & keep blaming the minum wage because “The whole world’s about to errupt.. I tell you revolution is a must…you no see sey people hungary & though some living in fear them still hungary.. ”

“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is in an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” —Frederick Douglass

As President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil said “We either speak frankly about the situation we are facing or we continue creating these emergency policies like it did in Haiti“.

“The Mayor of Freetown City Council Herbert Williams at a press briefing held at the British Council hall on Monday 25th told a battery of journalists that the proceeds from the Morgan Heritage concert scheduled for December 28-29 will be used to purchase school buses in order to bring a durable solution to the problem of transportation for school going children in the municipality. In his concept overview, the city father said he was contacted by a group of people to partner with the Freetown City Council to host the sensational reggae ace band the Morgan Heritage Family….“After serious consideration by the council, the council consented to take the venture due to the findings about the Morgan Heritage”, Mayor charged and disclosed that “research fostered by the Freetown City Council revealed that the Morgan family traced their roots to Sierra Leone and because their songs are morally correct and upright, this is the more reason for the Council’s choice...” READ MORE

“I may not be familiar with ur language, but I sure would like to cross over ur bridge.. Said I may not dress in a style as the men in your town do, but I sure do know how to say I love you..I want to love in the morning.. love u in the evening too.. even when ur lonley.. I’ll make u happy when ur feeling feeling blue..I am just a stranger in your town once in awhile I’ll pop around..” Until we meet again we will be friends that never end awaiting for you to pop around!

“Gregory Isaacs — one of the most popular and versatile reggae singers of the late-Seventies, and the smooth-voiced dancehall crooner behind the genre’s landmark 1982 LP Night Nurse — passed away this morning at his London home following a year-long battle with lung cancer, the BBC reports. Isaacs was 59. “Gregory was well loved by everyone, his fans and his family, and he worked really hard to make sure he delivered the music they loved and enjoyed,” Isaacs’ wife Linda said. “He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.”..Over the course of his prolific career — in which he release an estimated 500 albums within Jamaica, the UK and the U.S. — Isaacs collaborated with reggae, dub and dancehall icons like Lee “Scratch” Perry, King Tubby, Sugar Minott, Freddie McGregor, Dennis Brown and Errol Holt. After spending the Seventies building a reputation as both a top-notch roots reggae singer and a soulful “lovers rock”-style crooner, Isaacs recorded his masterpiece Night Nurse at Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Studios in 1982, the year after Marley’s death….” READ MORE

“Nicknamed “The Cool Ruler”, Isaacs was a dapper-dressed performer who almost always sported a distinctive fedora and three-piece suit on stage. He co-founded his own African Museum label, on which he released much of his prodigious output. His commercial peak coincided with an addiction to crack cocaine and a spell in prison after being found guilty on a firearms charge, after which both his health and career faltered. Despite eventually losing many of his teeth, which affected the quality of his voice, he continued to tour until the last year of his life. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph in 2007 he declared: “Drugs are a debasing weapon. It was the greatest college ever, but the most expensive school fee ever paid – the Cocaine High School. I learnt everything, and now I’ve put it on the side…..”READ MORE

“what more can I say..sad 2 know that ur leaving but Jah will guide u out & coming in..after u made my day..hurts to know that ur going away..”RIP Gregory Isaacs (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)

‎”If u want 2 B my # 1..Let me know Ur future plans!” -Praises to 2 Legends!

When Bob Marley sang “I’m a soul rebel”, he literally meant it in the fact that his early recordings with the Wailers leaned toward the sound of Soul, Jazz,Blues & Ska more reminiscent of the heyday of Motown or better yet the 1960’s heyday of UK’s Skinhead culture of music & style, more than the classic reggae sound & style that he popularized globally. From is low cut pre-dreadlocks hair to the staple black suit & tie uniform reminiscent of The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight & the Pips & Little Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley & the original Wailers band was Jamaica’s classic soul group.

Most people have no idea about Bob Marley’s early recordings which brought out the bluesy Al Green type of hot like fire gritty soul in his angelically powerful voice. Yes yall, Bob Marley was a blues & soul singer who introduced the world to Reggae music much like Fela Kuti was a Hi-Life musician who introduced the world to Afro-beat. If you don’t already know, get to know Bob Marley & The Wailers early soul recordings at Studio 1 because you will find yourself falling in love with the man named Robert Nester Marley in a whole new way. Bless Up!

“Skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class youths in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and then spread to other parts of the world. Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, the first skinheads were greatly influenced by West Indian (specifically Jamaican) rude boys and British mods, in terms of fashion, music andlifestyle. Originally, the skinhead subculture was primarily based on those elements, not politics or race. Since then, however, attitudes toward race and politics have become factors by which some skinheads align themselves…” READ MORE

“I don’t have prejudice against meself. My father was a white and my mother was black. Them call me half-caste or whatever. Me don’t dip on nobody’s side. Me don’t dip on the black man’s side nor the white man’s side. Me dip on God’s side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white.…” READ MORE

It’s been awhile since we heard a new album released from Carlton Errington Grant AKA Spragga Benz. Well it has been well worth the wait because after the death of his son in 2008 at the hands of the Kingston police, along with all the recent uproar & blood shed experienced in Spragga Benz’s hometown over the extradition to the United States of Christopher “Dudus” Coke & the “Don culture” that has taken over the Garrison communities of Kingston, Jamaica, you better believe that Kingston’s native son from the JamRock of Franklin Town has a lot to get off his chest! With his first single  ”Livitication”  - a special dedication in celebration of his beloved son Carlise- Spragga bears his soul as a father & comes out heavy  in his classic “Rude Boi/Fresh Boi/ Shot Caller” stylings with “Shotta Culture“, a reference not only to the cult classic movie which both he & his deceased son Carlise starred in, but also an education on the Jamaican culture that he grew up in, part of which made headline news around the world last May! Spragga Benz is back better than ever bringing a new celebratory balanced conscious vibe of real news with hard hitting gritty dancehall beats empowered by ancient calls of African drums with classic hip-hop fusion, creating a perfect trilogy  in balance of some fresh new music that we have all been waiting for!

Stay Tuned for  Episodes of Global Fusion TV’s  ”Back Story” “ Featuring Spragga Benz

“Since that Event everything been so different…Leave all vengeance”..Bless up Carlise-Rest In Power! A Father celebrating the memory of his beloved son!

We all need to stop, look & listen when great artists like Morgan Heritage speak truth to power with conscious lyrics that we should all heed to in order to truly reflect on what goes on in our world, so we can be proactive & not just strictly reactive. All my Global Fusionist in Jamaica -Stop, Look & Listen & Find your Peace – Is a human right! RESPECT!

“Tell me how come here in Jamacia so many people still a fight Rasta..Tell me how come down east west dem a neva charge Beenie Man but dem charge sizzla..Tell me how come people a support da street not enough to love the Prime Minister..Tell me how come those in power dont seem to care..Its cause life is so unfairin this sweet Paradise..and this is what we swear out a many one people..tell me can you see that any where everyone treated equal and this is why so many die leaving so many to cry…”

What we need is love“A nation without any history is like a tree without roots & that kind of tree can never bear no fruit” Morgan Heritage.

As certain American states vote to ban ethnic studies from public school curriculums & rewrite history to suit their personal agenda, it has become even more important than ever to pass down our history to our children, generation after generation as it had always been passed down in African oral tradition. We can not count on the school system to mold our children & to teach them who they are & where they come from because our history is deep within us as family & distant relatives, but before we can pass down history we must be educated on history. Change starts with you & Knowledge is power!

“Makes me wonder..I wonder why the road turns.. it’s clear different meditations..difference of opinions..color & race..different ppl..different cultures yet thru the same thing we all can relate..where there is survival there will be man trying 2 gather as much as they can..with that said I see nothing wrong.. get up get up get up my brother man.. maybe I am just 2 concerned.. maybe these things make my heart burn…maybe I am a dreamer believing visions that will never b, or maybe I am just another optimistic soul.…

“life is one big road with lots of signs so when u riding thru the ruts don’t u complicate ur mind..wake up & live y’all -wake up & live now..rise oh rise mighty people ..wake up & live”