Entertainment
Prison Is Not For Me – Ras Kimono …Speaks On Daniel Wilson
Veteran Reggae Ar
tiste Ras Kimono has disclosed that he was lucky not to have ended up in prison or arrested by law enforcement agents because of the message in his music.
What Gwam’ Grooner noted that his fellow artiste, Daniel Wilson left the music industry because he was under pressure.
Ras Kimono stated that when the industry became hot and the economy became unfavourable, Daniel Wilson could not cope and had to try his hands on other business ventures. According to him, the pressure was not because of reggae music. It was mainly because Reggae music was not attracting shows for him, his records were not selling.
He noted that the pressure was that the economy was not getting better at that time; the pressure was from different angles. He stressed that when he ruled the music industry artistes sang about situations of the country and were very blunt unlike the present generation of music acts who sing about women, drug and alcohol.
He said “I would not say I was fortunate that I did not go to prison do you know how many of my songs that have been banned?, They banned “we don’t want war to stay”, they banned” dragon feet” because it was against all the wicked politicians who were still in power then, the same kinds of politicians are alive today.
He said “prison is not for me”, I have not been to prison but a lot of my colleagues have faced brutality from men in uniform. Do you know how many times Fela was beaten? How many times he faced prison, Do you know how many times they arrested Sammy Ekposon? For singing about reality. If you say anything that offends the government, they will pick you up so we are in a jungle society, he said.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.
Nancy Briggs
