August 23, 2009

Wisdom To Do What Is Right

“For a person without conscience life seems easy. For a person striving to be pure the journey is hard” these words were taken from Buddhist wisdom by David Crosweller.

How many time you had to make decision you know is right for you and become the target of other in the form of hate, and mindless gossip. Knowing that if you didn’t make the decision to rid yourself of these people your life would be in fact ruin both financial and mentally.

They are always quick to tell you how much you hurt them and completely forget how much they hurt you, hiding from reality and refusing to accept responsibility for their actions, by first blaming others for their own fault. I had to run for my life from those wicked guys.

In the eyes and mind of those people you have no right to make up your mind of what best for you, they know what right for you. I have no regret in not putting out a documentary on Burning Spear that I feel didn’t represent the life of I man Burning Spear even though my lost was plenty.

Their dream wasn’t my dream and we have since move on. In time we will complete the documentary from the top with the right crew nothing never happen before the time, we are happy with our decision.

Sometime the way people would like to belittle us and try to flex their muscle of control thinking that we reggae artist have no right to tell them no, or think for ourselves, while they are using our name as a means to promote themselves it take a lot to control our emotion and remain calm.

Over the years we have had to dig very deep and accept our responsibility in taking chances with the wrong people. It was I man who say that Christopher Columbus is a damn blasted lair he never discover Jamaica he was nothing but a pirate, so are those and them that the blood of Christopher Columbus run through their vein they are a damn blast lair.

They never discover Burning Spear they came to conquer and destroy Burning Spear to gain fame in a Babylon. So Jah drive them back from whence they cometh. If you stand for the right it’s a big problem not because someone say something don’t mean it’s true, we cannot let others define who we are, the eyes always say it all.

If someone cannot look you or I directly in the eyes them something is wrong. Hate and greed and the ability to create fear among people will not get anyone anywhere.

It’s the ability to rise up and stand firm in the faces of adversity and to forgive that what will get you or I the peace we so desire. Forgiveness don’t mean that you surrender to your enemy or tormentors, by forgiving them you have reclaims your power back from them, now they have no power over you or I.

After reading this book I learn that I cannot sit on the nail and mourn about the things I feel is hurting me, if the nail hurt me I must get off the nail and my mourning will be over.

So we write the name of 6 people that we feel did their best to make our business and personal life miserable and we needed to rid them out of our life for good, Sonia and I say a prayer and throw their name in the sea off the coast of St Thomas Virgin Island, We them thank the spirit of our ancestor for the sacrifice they made for us, and acknowledge that if they could survive the journey we too will survive our journey.

We promise them under the Caribbean stars that we will never compromise, and I Burning Spear personally thank them for anointed I man with music and for their protection, as the tears flow from our eyes we know that freedom always come with a prize, it maybe one are two we all feel it the same way.

As an artist you have to be very careful with whom you surround yourself with. If you don’t have the right person in your corner its over for you. Fame come with a big prize and I always say fame is not worth anyone life, I would rather to be poor and humble than to be rich and unhappy.

I am not better or above anyone we are all the same. Some ask me the question do I miss being on the road I say no I am enjoying the simple things in life that so many people take for granted. I have nothing to prove to anyone or regrets. Yes I love my fans that have support me all these years without them I wouldn’t be here today. As you all know reggae artist get very little royalty, so I made my living from touring. And it makes me sad to see some of my peers still touring in order to make a living. Now when I take the stage I have more energy due to the fact I am doing limited dates.

We are working on our record label what could be better than to sell your own music, and get paid. Yes we are face with challenges and that ok, we are staying the course of freedom. I say to my fans I now need your support in another way. Honestly never in my wildest dream did I think I would be the first reggae artist to win a Grammy on his own label.

Jah is Real was created with so much passion, and each and every day I can see that Jah had a plan in mind for this album. How many time I have seen and feel that Jah is real he help Kevin daily as he recover from Brain tumor, September 13, 2009 will be one year.

Kevin never gave up or loses his faith in Jah. So many wonderful people have done so much for us old friends have become new friends and we thank them so much from our heart for again returning into our life.

I had to ask a few to forgive me, and they were happy to do so. This was love true love from real friends that know Burning Spear. Without them and their hard work I Burning Spear the artist would not be here today.

Ego is dangerous to have it give you a false sense of victory, while it’s slowly moving you into destruction. “Without realizing it is easy to carry out bad deeds. However, retribution will come, as certain as you would burn your hand if you placed it too close to a fire.” From Buddhist wisdom by David Crosweller. Let not take ourselves so serious.

Jah Is Real.

June 20, 2009

Everywhere I Go

Everywhere I go, Jah send someone to keep reminding I Burning Spear aka Winston Rodney that no weapon that forms against me can prosper.

When going up a steep hill it hurts and we might be tempted to turn back, yet we know that we must face the pain we feel and continue up that very steep hill, no matter how challenging it gets.

Resistance and strength is needed to overcome any struggle we are facing. There was a time that I and my partner would feel that we were used by many to fulfill their dreams and the moment we didn’t go with their plan for us we became their enemy.

What we learn was that we are not responsible for other people actions towards us, and no weapon they form against us can prosper this is a very rough business with many wolf in sheep clothing.

We have overcome many obstacle with our determination, our will to survive and this confused many after all they had done to us business wise how we still continue, we continue with our faith. Taking all they send our way, and learning from them what never to do again.

Victorious we stand as I write these lines to you my friends. It’s took me a while to write this blog, I no longer wanted to write from a place of hurt or anger. Jah have given I man so many blessing I have all reason to be happy.

We all have to be very careful with people we come in contact with, learn to draw the line.

Once again we attend NARM and I must say this was a wonderful experience we had meeting with many wonderful people that understand the need for us reggae artist to develop our own record label, how important it is for us to protect the legacy of Burning Spear, many really compliment Mrs. Rodney (Sonia) for her strength and determination and focus to accomplish all she did on her own.

Many great friendship and business relationship was made at NARM. We can make it if we try, slow and steady will win the race, we are the face of changes to come into the music industry.

Sonia also had the pleasure of running with a group of NARM runners at 7AM in the morning, this was somewhat an experience and bring both of us some real closure without saying more love and peace was the order of the day. Many respects to all the NARM runners, Sonia is now training for Chicago.

The only way to find ever lasting peace with yourself is to accept responsibility for your action. There are no mistakes in life we are right where we need to be. If a person doesn’t love themselves, then they cannot love you or I.

Everyone make choice, and will have to stand and face the judgments of the choices they make. I man always believe in losing first, them to be the winner later.

We have learned to sit back and watch the movie of life make note of the actor and actress and their directors, what a joy just to be part of the audience of life.

I man know that Jah No Dead, and this African postman will continue to deliver Jah telegram to all the people of the world in music. I am just a man not a rich man a Rastaman, Jah had a plan for I man, that none could have ever predict, Jah took I man from the Hills of St Ann’s Bay to travel the world.

To quote this sister I met on Tuesday “Great Man no weapon that forms against you can prosper”. I man feel so humble and bless to be a messenger of His Majesty.

Boston are you Ready for Burning Spear and The Young Lion.