Roots Archives Forum

Reggae singers lament on sufferation, poverty and life in the ghetto... but who is the artist in your opinion who lived that kind of life............ to his words. in my thoughts the man Junior Byles leads the way.

I believe they all did apart from the very lucky few who achieved the level of popularity and success that enabled them to live a better life.

Most of the artists were paid poorly and were never able to move on from their humble beginnings.

But then imo, had all the artists achieved a comfortable standard of living that got them away from the harsh realities of ghetto life, reggae music would have lost what is its integral ingredient.

It was living the life of a sufferer and singing of the hardships that gave reggae music its rawness and edginess and when you listen to the lyrics you are almost transported into the ghetto feeling the pain with them. "Sufferation" by Tyrone Taylor is a prime example.

Could a successful artist with a comfortable lifestyle really sing from the heart about these issues. I think not.

How often did an artist gain popularity and success only for his music to suffer as a consequence.

So I guess the truth is that the artists pain is our (the listeners) gain.

Dave

Dem all suffer but some say that Jocob Miller no suffer. He was from uptown ting.

Ras Allah suffer still and still a humble man.

Many more artist too said way

I seem to recall that Israel Vibration had hard times and at one point were reduced to living on the streets begging for food..........

Blouse & Skirt wrote:Dem all suffer but some say that Jocob Miller no suffer. He was from uptown ting.

He clearly wasn't going hungry, was he? He weighed what, 300lbs?

dungle wrote:Reggae singers lament on sufferation, poverty and life in the ghetto... but who is the artist in your opinion who lived that kind of life............ to his words. in my thoughts the man Junior Byles leads the way.

Yabby You has permanent leg and back problems because of malnutrition, doesn't he?

barry brown lived poor died poor

I suffer anytime I hear something played by Groundation.

versionside wrote:I suffer anytime I hear something played by Groundation.

LOL.

i think most of the artists from Jamaica where sufferah Jamaica is full of poverty and i'd guess that at least 90% of the roots artists are from ghetto's, which is why you hear all the concious and sufferah lyrics, i don't think anyone takes a medal for being poor, junior byles was just one of many that where documented as living ruff on the streets but many many reggae artists end up in the guta, most of the artists we love from the 70's u check them now and many still live a very poor life in the ghetto. It's only the small minority who made it and still have money left to show for it, u can almost count them on 2 hands...
of course some bands where more well off to start from uptown but the most powerful reggae seem to come from yard.

This little kid sums it up well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZgq4vf-urs