Roots Archives Forum

This is a topic that comes to my mind every now and then...

It bothers you when you know an artist does not practice what they preach ?

I think this is important when we talk about reggae, because the message in most roots music is pretty moral, so what happens when yo get to find out that certain artist do drugs, commits robbery, carries guns and the like? Even when an artist sings against alcohol and then we find out that he do drink alcohol? I mean it is not a crime and I won't judge if someone drinks alcohol but my case rests on consistency, I mean, practise what you preach? Is it important ? What do you think ?

Blessed

Is so hard..How many times you or i say that we ain't gonna do something and end up doing it?? I believe is more to encourage oneselve to face the things in what we struggle....


Bless

Yes there has been rather hypocritical artists.It does bother me because they do sing about rightousness and do and be good.I do realize they are only human though,so i wonder if i should take anything they sing or say serious.
The differnece between you and I not doing what we believe is right is that we dont preach to do right.If we did we would have no friends and family would avoid us,i know i would if had a friend or family like that.

Maybe they know what is right and wrong but they don't experience the situacions.Perhaps when is time to make the choices the humanity in the artist take over and they fall as any human do.!!?

Do you think that it is more important that "artists" practice what they preach than it is for "ordinary people"?

Hypocrisy is universal. A musician is just another person, and what they have to say is no more important than that of the average person on the street. They are both just as responsible and their opinion is just as valuable.

IMO artists should not be held to a higher standard. If they are held to a higher standard, it is because people over-estimate the artists' importance.

How many average ppl on the street sing into your ear about the virtues of life and its lessons??

would you a trust a preacher or a teacher to your kids that leads a double life ,one that doesnt coincide to what they teach and preach?

artists are the peoples teacher/preacher and why shouldnt they be held to their words?If not then their words are meaningless.The true peoples tecaher/preachers do walk what they talk.

But your right,everyone is entitled to do and say what they want and they are human ,so let them.

I understand the point of this thread and think it is important to point out that some artist DO live an honest and upful life. As we all know, this can be hard. Big up to people like Burning Spear and Albert Griffiths who continue to be good examples to all of us.

@Bill,

(1) You choose who you listen to. You choose your role models. Musicians, artists, football players, whatever, are not usually the best role models. They are just people that have been blessed with gifts-- certainly hard work is laudable, but there are many, many people about who work hard, but do not have the skills that garnish wealth.

(2) No, the words (of hypocrites) are not necessarily meaningless. There is a huge difference between the message and the messenger. The fact that a person cannot live up to the message does not nullify the message itself.

(3) I trust people. But I do not trust people in the same sense that I trust God. Great people do not necessarily create great art. Great artists are not necessarily great people.

(4) As much as I love great art, I do not worship artists. They are just as human and fallible as the next person. The artist is merely a vehicle.

Do any of us live up right?

Can any of us keep a high standard?

I have experienced that whenever we criticize someone for something, we very soon end up doing that very same something ourselves.

This is no doubt what prompted Jesus to talk about the removal of planks in our own eyes versus that of specks present in others'

But does this mean none but the pure should preach? Of course not. Even if we can't manage to do what is right, at least if we know what is right we are somewhere further down the path than he who knows not what is right, nor cares.

Glad to hear others are bothered by this as well.

Yes, musicians are "just human," and they are getting money to produce what sells... in other words, the consumer dictates what kind of lyrics many artists will sing/dj. If gun/punanny tunes never sold very well, then how many artists would be voicing them? So in this light, should we blame the artist, or the record buyers?

That is why I have no problem with guys like Kartel, Movado, Bounty, etc. At least they are not hypocrites. They have never claimed to be righteous and upful. I would prefer to live in a world where violence isn't glorified, and women are respected, but that's also my choice not to buy those records.

On the other hand, I think artists who try to walk both sides are total scum. The guys who claim to love Jah, but then turn around and pull gangsta shit... Sizzla, Beenie, etc. Even guys like Buju, Capleton, and Anthony B are doing way too many punanny tunes for my taste. That just rubs me the wrong way. Not much gets me angrier than a hypocrite who calls on God just to make money. I have stopped buying their records, and that's my little form of protest.

In debates like this one, people will always say things like, "But they are just human," and, "Nobody's perfect." Although these statements are 100% true, they are also a complete cop-out, and mostly bullshit. What ever happened to character? Has being "human" really come to mean not having to accept responsibility for your words and actions? What happened to integrity?

I am the first to admit that I am not perfect myself, but there comes a point when I have to say, "That person is acting like a scumbag, they are a hypocrite loser, and I'm not supporting them by purchasing their records." Just because we humans are imperfect doesn't mean we should start pretending we don't know right from wrong.