JAH CURE
Interviewed by Jesse I -- April 22, 1999

This interview with Jah Cure was conducted via phone just weeks before Jah Cure was sentenced to 15 years jail after being found guilty of rape and gun charges.  

 

JESSE I: With me right now on the line I've got the man called Jah Cure, one of the hottest young singers over there in Jamaica. How are things for you in Jamaica right now Jah Cure?

JAH CURE: Well, things for me in Jamaica is picking up, y'know? Speedily, because the album is finishing up for next month. Things keep going still y'know?

JESSE I: Okay, so you've just recorded an album?

JAH CURE: Yeah man.

JESSE I: What producer are you recording that with?

JAH CURE: I'm recording it with Beres Hammond. Harmony House label, y'know? I'm doing a likkle ting for Buju Banton still, but Beres is the man. Harmony House productions.

JESSE I: Okay, and when is that coming out?

JAH CURE: Well, roughly like the end of July… June. Probably in June. We have lots of overdubbing to do.

JESSE I: So whereabouts in Jamaica do you come from Jah Cure?

JAH CURE: Well, in Jamaica I normally come from Montego Bay , but I grew up in Kingston, where it's like a small Hollywood in Jamaica , y'know? Small Hollywood for the stars and ting.

JESSE : Right. And you've only been on the scene for a little while. You're still young, yeah? How old are you now Jah Cure?

JAH CURE: Well, I'm just 20 you know, but I've been on the scene from… couple years now, like seven, eight years y'know. Fully on the scene.

JESSE I: How did you get your start in the scene - how did you get your first break?

JAH CURE: Well, I was always in the music. Really and truly, I don't really study of nothing else. Music was my desire, my dreams, y'know. So I started out going to studio and linking with Capleton and Buju Banton, and a lot of artists. Til Sizzla come in the play, and me and Sizzla link, and Sizzla end up getting me doing something for Beres. The first thing people love, "King In The Jungle". And from that we just things going, y'know. Yeah, make a tour of Europe and a lot of places in the Caribbean , y'know.

JESSE I: Fantastic. Well, I love your vocal style, sometimes it's just straight singing, and sometimes you seem to mix a bit of DJ style in there as well. How did you develop your voice?

JAH CURE : It's just musically, y'know. You have to have it musically. Inspiration, y'know. To make music, you need the vibes y'know. Spiritual vibes.

JESSE I : What sort of process do you go through in writing your songs? Where does your inspiration come from? Inspiration from the Most High?

JAH CURE : My inspiration come from the love of the people. Natural things that I see in life. The full Jahment of whole life itself, y'know? From the Earth. When I look at the people and see Jah I relate what I see. Inspiration come from a lot of things… but I always admire mama nature, y'know. The hills and the valley create the vibes, y'know? The scenes of what I see going on in life, in the cities, or whatever. Or, on the people's faces, or whatever, y'know?

JESSE I: Who would you say has been the biggest influence on your career?

JAH CURE: Well… I like every singer. Especially the heavenly singers, y'know. Singers that touch we, y'know? Yeah, like Beres Hammond and Yami Bolo in Jamaica . But I always like the R&B singers, y'know. Like Lionel Ritchie, from them days y'know?

JESSE I: You sing a lot of reality tunes; you sing about the everyday suffering and struggles going on over there in Jamaica . What do you think about the political and economic situation there?

JAH CURE: Well, what I think about it, that's what I sing about it. I said "divide and rule is their only plan", y'know? You cyaan be a fool to let the system overcome, because we a royal people, we are kings. And we've seen so many fall and stumble along the way, so we have to just take it one step at a time, y'know. And be wise, y'know. Know what we're living for, know what we're fighting for. Yuh understand?

JESSE I : Yeah, I understand. As a conscious artist, what do you think when you hear the gun lyrics and the slackness in the dancehall?

JAH CURE: Well, them thing have a bad influence on the people. Them thing there have a whole lot to do with the influence and the system and the youth growing up. The youth them got poisoned from early on. Them thing there catch on to the younger ones minds faster than even the reality sounds, y'know? That's why we have to make songs with very deep melodies... the melody can sooth your soul and touch your heart… even the heart of the baby. Get the singer to conquer over some vibes… But we still have to get rid of some of them slackness and the gun lyrics, cause them have a deep impact on the yout' dem. Influence, because… me see a lot of thing a gwaan through the influence of that. We have to know, because music is always a message, y'know? We have to teach it the right way and proper way. Preach it y'know? Music is higher than us, it was before us. Y'know? My father has said I'n'I each has a small hand to gwaan, y'know? So we just have to do it best… because it's all about teaching the people right.

JESSE I: Do you think that we're seeing a return to more conscious, roots based reggae now? It seems to be really be coming back lately - the roots reggae in the last few years seems to have made a big return to the dancehall.

JAH CURE: Yeah, that have to come back right now; I see a lot of the artists giving the people the music that way. It's really getting some strength now, y'know? And I really see where we gonna forward that edge, y'know?

JESSE I: Right. Well, Sizzla and Anthony B and Capleton and a lot of these guys are identifying themselves as Bobo Rastas. Would you consider yourself in the same camp?

JAH CURE: Yeah man, I'm a Bobo Man. A Bobo is the fullness, y'know?

JESSE I : Well, for those of us here in Australia who aren't familiar with the distinction, what exactly is a Bobo Rasta? Can you explain that a little for us?

JAH CURE: Well, a Bobo Rasta is a faithful one. Every black man is a Bobo Rasta. Every man is a Bobo Rasta, y'know! Every living man, because Bobo is righteousness. Bobo is holiness, y'know? Faithfullness indurance. Of the Most High. The Melchezidek order, the priests order, y'know? Him teach the ways of the father still, and the principles. The Bobo order is a principle order. The Highest order. Yuh understand me?

JESSE I: Yeah, I understand. Respect.

JAH CURE: Yeah, the Bobo is a man of high principles… and ting. He take is serious. More serious than most Rasta. The Bobo man he have to praise in the morning… he have a special prayer in the morning, a special prayer in the midday, a special prayer in the evening. Y'know, you have to keep the Sabbath holy and ting… the Bobo is not the only man that do that, but the Bobo him emphasis on dat. The Sabbath day is to be kept holy, y'know. A lot of principles in the righteous order tell him, that's good. It teaches that a man of right is Jah in flesh. Y'know? So if he's a man of right, he's got spirit within that flesh. And if he's a man of wrong, is Satan manifesting through that flesh at that moment. You understand?

JESSE I: Yeah man, respect.

JAH CURE: A woman of wrong is a Sataness; a woman of right is a Goddess. Y'know? That's the teachings, y'know? A lot of principles in the order of the Bobo. That's what I see. And those principles are really good for man. Y'know? Especially mankind on the whole, because them principles that really have a power y'know? Yeah man, mind powers, mind force. The powers of life. You have to know the mystics of life to survive. You have to hold certain meditations... to sustain yourself in this Armageddon wha a gwaan. Cause a world crisis a come down now. Jah say that. Yuh understand me?

JESSE I: Yes, a lot of stuff, a lot of trouble going on worldwide, and we hope Jah music is making a difference, spreading Jah message.

JAH CURE: Yes, that's why I have to singer harder . When I see all these things I see, I write harder. I do my best, y'know. Every song I sing is like it's the first and the last. It will never be, but I'm doing it man, as if.

JESSE I: Respect. Yeah we love that music you're putting out, too. So what else can we expect from Jah Cure in the future. You've got the album coming out soon, what else do you have planned?

JAH CURE: Well, just expect the best. What else I have planned is just music, y'know? Great music in the back of my mind, to send forward, in front. Let it out and let the people hear what I have in store. Yeah man.

JESSE I: Right. Do you have any final words to leave for the Australian massive?

JAH CURE: Yeah, y'know. Me say… word of right is always soothing to the soul. So right now, to all the people in Melbourne, Jah Cure is telling you that. Anytime… I'm coming your way… <laughs> you can expect the best from me. Anytime you hear Jah Cure, you will always hear best, and better best. Yuh understand? Because, I'm going to always give the people what they really want, y'know? Like what the West Indies is giving Australia! <laughs - referring to cricket scores >

JESSE I : Respect due to the man, Jah Cure! Respect due. We'll be looking forward to more from you Jah Cure, we'll be staying tuned and promoting your music to the full.

JAH CURE: Alright, well, whenever I'm coming your side man, you can expect the best out of me. And whenever you're listening, new records or whatever… you hear any new songs from Jah Cure it's going to be better best... than before. I always try to come better than before, y'know?

JESSE I: Respect, we'll be tuning in. Thank you very much for taking the time to speak to me Jah Cure. It's been fantastic.

JAH CURE: Yes my brother. Rastafari.