Reggae/dancehall promoter Stampede Lammie, says he is starting a movement to get reggae music played in the dancehall.
The promoter believes reggae lost its prominence in the dancehall because Kingston DJs follow closely in each other's footsteps as it relates to their playing patterns. He also thinks reggae artistes should invest more time in promoting themselves, himself taking an approach to gang dancehall.
"I have a set of reggae artistes that I am promoting right now called The Five Brave. Wi decide fi attack dancehall brave because it look like the reggae artiste dem coward to di thing," Stampede said.
Stampede's Five Brave is comprised of up-and-coming reggae artistes Nature, Ras Bogle, Indecka, Vyzionear and Classical Eska. Stampede said these five artistes are the few that have made the effort to promote themselves.
"Dem man yah a regular street artistes always trying to promote their music. The thing I notice is that reggae music is not being played in the dancehall and I think that is because you will see as much as 15 dancehall artistes promoting their music, but you will see no reggae acts trying to do the same. So you will find that the selectors play who they see. I decided to do the movement so that I can focus on the reggae artistes. We will attend the dances like the dancehall artistes because you know what they say, out of sight out of mind," Stampede said.
The promoter further stated that the movement has also opened his eyes to the crisis that the reggae industry is facing locally.
"Since I started the movement, so many reggae artistes have reached out saying they want to be a part of it. But for now I can only work with five of them. Perhaps when we have crossed that bridge I will include some more. I know patrons in the dancehall want to hear reggae songs but the DJs just play who they see and who others a play. Reggae music dominates the world as one of the most powerful art form ever. We just need more of it on the air, wi need reggae fi a play back," a seemingly passionate Stampede said.
Reggae artiste Vyzionear believes reggae lost its local popularity because the youth seem to be more attracted to negativity.
"I think they can more relate to negativity because so much negative things a gwaan right now. Reggae music is more on the positive and reality conscious level and a dat dem seem to a run from," he continued.
"I hope we can get people to get interested in the music again and to get unity from the people through reggae music because it is real serious times," Vyzionear said.
The Five Brave reggae artistes are all working on separate reggae projects.
Vyzionear is promoting his collaboration with Capleton called Free Up; Nature is promoting his new single Trying Man; Classical Eska is promoting his video Judgement; while Ras Bogle and Indecka both have new songs in rotation called Woman Of The Year and Rice And Peas respectively.
