Veteran Jamaican singer speaks gay rights in song

International reggae singer Mista Majah P formerly known Major P may create history with the release of his new song “Rights.”

Mista Majah P was born in Kingston Jamaica, but migrated to Canada at an early age. He was the recipient of the Canadian Reggae music award on several occasions. P now resides in the United States.

Majah P is the first ever Reggae artist to make a song that promotes love for gays. The song “Rights” might create some controversy in the Reggae community, but Majah is an artist on a mission to change the face of reggae music, according to his manager Tony T.

“Rights” covers the touchy topic of gay rights versus reggae music, two sides that has been bitter enemies from as far back as Reggae/Dancehall music goes. But more so now that before, gays are stepping up their pressure against Reggae and Dancehall artist in what they called a campaign against “Murder Music.” This is causing a tremendous fallout in revenue for Reggae and Dancehall artists going on tours.

To further highlight the issue between gay rights activists and reggae artists; Buju Banton hit song “Boom Bye Bye” in the early 1990’s, created major controversies back then and could be seen as the song that single handedly triggered a global response from gay rights activist. Almost two decades later “Boom Bye Bye” is still affecting Buju Banton, since many of his tour dates late last year was cancelled due to protests by gay rights groups.

Just two weeks ago Urban Islandz reported to you that Capleton show in Chicago was cancelled because of gay rights pressure on the promoter. Additionally, last week we reported that dancehall artist Vybz Kartel whose real name is Adidja Palmer was forced to sign the Reggae Compassionate Act while on tour in Europe to avoid his shows from being cancelled.

Tony T said these are the main issues why Majah P was prompted to release the song “Rights.”

“What my artist hope to accomplish is to start a conversation between the gay community, the reggae artists and the world. The reason is my artist is tired of having door slam in his face and the face of all reggae artist and fellow Jamaican who get blame for what a few do or what they think or believe in. You have to remember that not all reggae artist or Jamaican hate or discriminate against gays. My artist biggest problem is he believes he is being stereotype by certain people or certain organization saying that you got dread and you come from Jamaica, right away they single you out saying there is another Jamaican who is using his music to spread hate and death and that has to stop.”



Tony also added, “The motivation behind this song is Mista Majah P believes that these artist who are talking so strongly and discriminating against gays are hypocrites, they say one thing in Jamaica and do another thing when they are out of Jamaica, when they come and perform in Canada or the state, especially in California ninety per cent of their audience is gay, or the club they are performing in is own by the gay community, they close their eye and collect the money and go back to Jamaica or where they come from and pretend and to me that is a double standard. Don’t spew hate and death on gays and close your eye and take there money. That is not right”

Without doubts, the song is expected to create some controversies in the Reggae community. Urban Islandz took the opportunity to ask some Reggae fans how do they feel about the song?

One outspoken fan said, “I don’t think the gay community problem is reggae music, they should focus on their real issues which is the message they are portraying in society and leave Reggae artists alone. This new song by this artist is trying to change Reggae music culture.”

Another fan expresses that, “the song is sending the right message where reggae music and the gay community is concern, and it’s time to deviate from hate lyrics and make amends with the gays and move the music forward.”

Obviously there will be fans who take both sides of the divide, so we ask Tony how Majah P plans to deal with the controversies that will arise as a result of the song.

“If there is controversy and i am sure there will be Mista Majah P and his camp can deal with that Mista Majah P is a very intelligent person plus he is very diplomatic and also he is a born leader he has a silver tongue he is a politician in the making.”

Tony T said they are already receiving positive response from promoters in the United States since the release of the video on Youtube.

“After releasing this video on Youtube we got a call from a promoter asking permission to use the video to promote his label and his reggae show telling us that he was having a very hard time because club and shop owner would not allow him to put up or leave flyer with artist from Jamaica or any body doing any form of reggae show because reggae was now murder music and they will not promote nothing like that can you believe that.”

The question now is, what response does the rest of Reggae artists have for this song?