Roots Archives Forum

I don't understand you guys... You criticize Eek-A-Mouse for not being true, but you adore ranking dread, who was a gang leader, mass murderer, crack smuggler,... How can you be a rastaman while you do all these things? Sorry, I just can't fall for this...

Maybe because of the usual gap between rumours and truth?
Who really knows about the circumstances?

I like the musician Ranking Dread, but I don't know his moves as a human being.

I don't see the problem, Matejko. I personally love his music but abhor him outside of the music. If I, as a music consumer, had to take to account the life of a musician outside of the music it would have been very difficult to listen to a lot of great music. Also the life story of Ranking Dread is interesting without one having to admire or agree with any of his choices. There's a reason why movies/books on crime sell and a lot of them have anti-heroes in the lead (one example being The harder they come).

Also ... I don't think it's so wise to make the assumption that there are only "rastamen" here on R-A. I would even assume that there really are more fans of the music on a secular level than there are rastamen (albeit many might have a deep respect for rasta).

It seems to me you didn't read first part of my message. I said it's funny that people criticize Eek-A-Mouse and adore Ranking Dread (who has a lot of cultural messages in his songs). I didn't say anything about people here being rasta, you made that assumption by yourself.

I did indeed. I misread that part and thought you were writing about how board members could adore RD and still be rasta. So disregard that.

But I still think that people don't adore RD's actions but rather his music. The same would probably go for any artist with unscrupulous behaviour but wonderful music.

And I would like to add that the type of person who would not buy RD's music knowing his actions contradicted the message are of an admirable stock.

beetle juice!!! there is rumor he is still alive. british papers had some stories on him in 2003 and 2002. i belive hes still alive. you knew him????