With the song If It Wasn’t for Rasta, recording artist Macka B, who is based in the UK, has added his voice to the debate between Grammy Award-winning vocalist Kabaka Pyramid and Valiant.
“The song is about how Jamaica would be a much more violent place if not for the words and culture of Rastafari. The positive messages and livity and the emphasis on peace and love give the youths an alternative to the negativity that we see in the world today,” he stated.
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According to reports, the dispute between the two musicians began when Valiant released Rasta, which Kabaka deemed to be disrespectful to Rastafarians. Later, Dr. Isis Semaj-Hall, a lecturer at The University of the West Indies in Mona, stated that Kabaka was being hypocritical by saying there wasn’t a public uproar against Americans who sang about Rastafarians.
In response, Kabaka said he anticipated more from Jamaicans since he didn’t think Americans would be honest and know what Rastafarianism was all about.
The song video has Valiant and his crew imitating Rastafarian culture by donning scarves and artificial locs in the classic Rastafarian colors of black, red, green, and gold.
Although there has been a lot of back and forth over the past several weeks, the tune’s producer, Amanda Ford, believes that the music will showcase the positive aspects of the Rastafarian movement.
“This is a song about the contributions of Rastafarians to Jamaica, and the power of conscious reggae music to change hearts and minds. It fits the present moment perfectly with the recent controversy over Valiant’s song Rasta and Kabaka Pyramid’s comments on it. It wasn’t planned, but it bridges the gap between opposing viewpoints, so we thought we ought to get it out,” Ford noted.
The song can be found on the Go With Jah beat, which also includes performances by Micah Shemaiah, Samory I, and Daweh Congo. It’s also the first track of the forthcoming Macka B Meets Samory I Showcase, a collaboration between the artist and the label.
“Samory I is an extremely promising [up-and-coming] singer, and I thought an established and esteemed DJ would make for a great showcase album as used to be common in reggae music,” The project’s producer provided further details.
Numerous singles and compilations with artists like Yami Bolo, Aidonia, I Octane, Little Roy, Masicka, and Abijah are among the countless hits produced by Taitu Records.
“I specialize in roots reggae and dub, with a touch of dancehall. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy dancehall, but I know for a fact that conscious reggae music can change not only hearts and minds, but no less than people’s lives. It may sound crazy to some, but I’m living proof, and I know so many others whose lives have been touched by the inspiration and transformative power in conscious roots reggae music,” Ford shared.
