Reggae music’s popularity continues to grow. The overall demand for the music has increased because of a connection established through the music’s message, which appeals across all segments of society. With the fan base growing by leaps and bounds, so has the number of DJs and reggae shows.
Many claim that because the music has become so widespread, some of its realism has been lost. Recent years have seen the rise of successful reggae concerts attracting thousands of fans and minting cash for organisers.
In all this seeming success lies an industry whose players are battered by allegations of monopoly, prejudice and burdened careers. Word has it that as a section of DJs continue to rake in the cash, another has been quietly languishing and pointing an accusing finger at these ‘commercial DJs’ who have little knowledge of the music and only joined the bandwagon for monetary gain.
Some have pointed an accusing finger at the Dohty family, Supremacy Sounds and new comer G -Money as commercial acts who as one of our sources claimed, “...took reggae, put a spin on it and, all of a sudden, we all started doing the same thing, and that created a void for the real thing.”
According to Ken Dohty, one of the founder members of the Dohty family who has since gone solo, the main problem has been as a result of the demand for more that has created what he terms as “bedroom DJs.”
“Most have been practicing in the comfort of their bedrooms and later on claim to be reggae DJs,” he says.
“We started out way back when reggae was considered music by people from the ghetto. We had no laptops and technology like the Internet and downloading music was unheard of. We did it for the love of it and not for the money,” he confides.
However, claims have emerged that most reggae DJs have abandoned the conscious bit and opted to go commercial to stay relevant.
Kriss Darlin, for example, holds a series of up to seven shows a week at various spots around the country. He has also headlined most major concerts featuring Jamaican acts even beyond the region. He recently toured with Alaine to neighbouring South Sudan. G Money has played a big role especially given his contacts with international acts.
But as the competition seems to get stiffer with new kids such as DJ Kalonje and Machwani attracting a younger, hip audience, slowly some veterans have been bailing out and seeking alternative options. It is claimed that veteran JahKey Marley has since relocated to Australia after a shooting incident involving a club owner, which left one dead. The incident slayed his otherwise successful weekly show at a club along Baricho Road.
“He had one of the best, well-packaged corporate gigs after G-Money’s Uptown Thursday,” says Jeff Njoroge, a reggae diehard. Word also has it that Supremacy Sounds deejay, Simple Simon, also relocated to the United States some three years ago and only shows up for concerts.
According to Supremacy Sound’s emcee Fullstop, reggae is no longer exclusive as it used to be when reggae clubs enjoyed exclusivity. “Originally, people would pay to enter the reggae clubs like Monte Carlo, Achievers and the like. Nowadays reggae is everywhere and its authenticity has been compromised. Most clubs have reggae nights, which has also seen the emergence of phony emcees and deejays only out to make money.
“They have completely spoiled the kind of reggae we would listen to in the good old days. Majority of the people in those filled-up city clubs are just doing it for the hype.”
However Ken Dohty adds that it all amounts to good branding.
“When you are a good DJ and you package yourself well, you will reap richly. Now we are living large unlike previously when people associated us with the slums,” he says.
Some of the longest serving emcees and deejays who were the pioneers of reggae music have left the country in search of greener pastures, save for a few including Papa Charlie of King Lion sounds. Others such as Papa Lefty and Shashamane’s King Monday have passed on.
