Os Rotuladores Fanáticos!

Who's who in reggae? To what extent is liking "commercial reggae" harmful, if it is harmful at all... For some time now — and not only in reggae — defending a particular opinion has crossed the boundaries of debate, moving into intolerance and, unfortunately, violence. Football, religion, politics and the most recent controversy: Commercial Reggae.

But what is this Commercial Reggae? Some say it is bands that play for money. Others say they are bands without Rastafari-themed songs. Others, incredibly, say commercial reggae is characterized by songs that, instead of addressing militant themes, focus on Love (absurd!). And there are those who think all of this together adds up to "Commercial Reggae." Can this subject be clarified? Let me try.

People speak, often casually, of freedom of expression and the like, but what happens in reality is a great lack of respect when the subject is reggae. In the Roots style, it is not only about protest. Anyone who knows Gregory Isaacs, a world reggae star, knows that most of his songs speak of love. And why crucify these emerging bands? Let them talk about the beach, about bonfires — after all, are these not good things? Is reggae not characterized as music that expresses human positivity to the fullest ("Positive Vibration")? So let each person keep their ideologies and artists, whether Maskavo, Planta & Raiz, Expressão Regueira, To Fly, or Hugh Mundell, Aswad, Augustus Pablo, Max Romeo... in short, do not only speak of freedom of expression — practice it.

What may perhaps bring some indignation to "more experienced reggae fans" is the fact that some groups rising to success label themselves ROOTS and mention Jah and Rastafarianism as if they truly breathed it 24 hours a day... or call themselves a REGGAE BAND and deliver a sound close to so-called "Rap-Core." That does happen. In a way it even overshadows the breadth of "Jah's rhythm." Then I think: is it not more valid to highlight Roots Reggae in other ways, in order to value it before the media? (if that is really important...)

Another point "experienced reggae fans" do not stop to consider: Do you know the band Niominka Bi N'Diaxas? Cedric Myton? The Congos? Eek a Mouse? Ini Kamoze? Well, you may know them, but the overwhelming majority has never even heard of these bands. It is hard to demand that people listen to certain things when they cannot even be found for download or in ordinary physical stores. It takes a lot of research, contacts — obstacles that scare some people away — and Roots Rock Reggae ends up becoming a privilege for few, restricted to the "messiah" of it all, King Bob Marley. Whoever takes the trouble to research will see that Bob Marley is wonderful, but he is only the "tip of the iceberg."

Before anyone puts me on the cross, I use quotation marks around "More Experienced Reggae Fans" because I am mocking those who think that listening to good music by the best reggae artists in the world makes them more important or holders of the Word. Truly experienced reggae fans have unshakable personality and opinion, which neutralizes anything outrageous to what they really like and believe.

If someone likes these new bands and has a fan club for them, great! The only advice I leave is never to like anything blindly — always study your choices, their origins, because with that you end up discovering yourself, knowing yourself and exercising your critical sense. Be sure that this will apply to many other areas of your life. And as for Roots Reggae, seek to know it and take a conscious stand in this disputed "midfield" of the current scene. Arise!