Practice what you preach? Artists and consistency

[matty]

Wow, it seems "we got so much things to say right now"...
It so good when people are able to exchange thoughts, expressing different POV's, it is good for all of us.

When I wrote this topic, I was thinking in tracks like "Mystic Man" from the great P.Tosh, "I am mystic man, don't drink champaigne" and stuff like that, I mean, wow, those are really serious lyrics, I know we are only humans, but lately, it I'm finding really hard to listen "those" artists that do not practise what they preach, mainly because I know there were (and there are) artists that do live up to whay they preach like Tosh or The Messenger Luciano.

So it's hard for me to make up my mind, I used to think that what is important is the message and not the messenger as someone said, but when the message is so personal and when we know there are people like Luciano that do practice what they preach, It is hard for me to decide.

Blessed

I get what your saying now, For me it would just be respect that is lost for the artists that don't practice what they preach, I will still respect their works though (if it's good material) "A good tune, is a good tune"

[chromatic]

It's hard to reconcile the fact that we don't respect hypocrisy, with the fact that everyone is human, though we might ask whether an artist makes mistakes, like everyone does, or whether they must be behaving consciously hypocritical (here I'd think of many of the 'rasta' dancehall artists).

But to me the other important question, that no-one's mentioned here so far, is - does the artist themselves sit in judgement on or condemn others? (a prime example, in current dancehall and some roots, is homophobia) If they do, then it's definitely valid to judge them by the standards they themselves put forward. But if they don't, then we should cut them some slack. But what I tend to find is that those who put forth a positive message, or one which opposes downpression and the Babylon system rather than (morally) condemning specific human individuals and groups, generally live in ways that we can respect and aren't hypocritical... which to my mind tells you something.

[dako]

For sure we'll not look any personal lives of artists to see if they do what they preache, but how can someone preache peace, love and unity while carrying a gun for example...I may have problems with my consciousness.

But don't forget that lots of artists just want to earn money to pay the bread and the rent so it's not surprising if most of them just follow the movements like gun tunes or slackness, if it's the easiest way for them to earn money !!

[picaraza]

@chromatic

yeah, I think we agree. I think that it may tell us a lot that the people that most deserve respect are the ones that respect others. Not judging is a really hard thing to do.

@tingjunkie

Yes, I agree songs are a premeditated act and musicians do have a lot of responsibility. But then, young people are exactly known for deliberation or responsibility. And they don't have a lot of experience to draw on either. You stick a microphone the hands of the average young man and you're going to hear all kinds of stupid stuff but very little self reflection.

Anyway, that's what for me makes someone like Burning Spear so extraordinary... it has got to be extremely difficult to keep your wits when you've got so many people worshipping you-- treating you like an idol.

[tingjunkie]

But to me the other important question, that no-one's mentioned here so far, is - does the artist themselves sit in judgement on or condemn others?

Well... Sizzla and his crew do in fact live in a compound called "Judgment Yard"