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Top 10 Most Politically Significant Bob Marley Songs

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:31:26 +0000

Today is Bob Marley’s 67th Birthday. Even though Bob Marley died thirty years ago, his songs still have a great impact on society spiritually, emotionally and also politically. Marley’s songs not only dealt with the politics of his native Jamaica, but Africa and the whole world. Here are ten of his most politically significant songs.

10. War. Bob took a speech from the Emperor of Ethiopia, Haille Selassie at the United Nations and made it a song that showed how racism was the cause of the many wars in Africa at the time.

9. Concrete Jungle This song represented the struggle of the urban poor in the third world. Though the song refers to Arnett Gardens, a garrison in Jamaica, it could represent the poverty and tension found in any ghetto.

8. Redemption Song This epic ballad represents the fight for freedom in the face of great adversity.

7. Africa Unite During the 70s when Africa was ridding itself from colonialism, Bob made an anthem that would call for its countries to join forces in Pan-Africanism.

6. Revolution Another song that calls for both a mental and physical revolution, wiping out wicked ideas from society.

5. Rat Race While accusations of the CIA operating in Jamaica were common place, Bob addressed the issue in this song, “Rasta now work for no CIA.”

4. Belly Full. Bob goes into the poverty and drastic wealth inequality between the rich and poor in both Jamaica and this world, and the tension that they cause.

3. Get Up Stand Up. Though this song deals with the Rastafarian faith, ithas become an anthem for sufferers everywhere.

2. Zimbabwe This song represents the hope excitement of independent Africa and celebrates the fighters who fought against colonialism.

1. Ambush In The Nigh Bob was shot in 1976 and he addresses it in this song. He did not blame any political party despite accusations that the U.S. backed JLP was behind it, Bob did not blame any party but the climate of political nepotism and violence that lead to the attack.

Bob Marley’s Family Wins Case Over Use Of Musician’s Image

Happy Birthday, Bob Marley!

D.L. Chandler — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:16:07 +0000

Today, Bob Marley would have been 67 years of age.

In the 31 years since his untimely death, Marley still remains the most-popular figure in Reggae music. Succumbing to cancer at age 36 in 1981, Marley had become a global ambassador for the music he helped make famous.

Marley’s passing shook the reggae and music community to its core; yet, his legacy remains intact through his timeless music catalog and talented children.

Marley was born in the village of Nine Mile in Saint Ann Parish in Jamaica (also the birthplace of Marcus Garvey). Marley’s father was a white Jamaican man of English descent and his mother was a native of Jamaica. Discovering music as a teenager, Marley befriended Neville “Bunny” Livingston (aka Bunny Wailer) who shared his dreams of becoming a musician. Through singer Joe Higgs, the pair met Peter McIntosh (aka Peter Tosh) who also had similar ambitions. Recording his first songs in 1962, Marley and his friends would eventually be renamed The Wailers, after being discovered by a local record producer.

Marrying Rita Anderson (now Marley) in 1966, Marley and his bride made a sojourn to the United States to live near his mother in Wilmington, De. Marley soon teamed up with American singer Johnny Nash (“I Can See Clearly Now”) and nabbed a deal with CBS Records. Marley and the Wailers went on tour with Nash before their label deal went sour and the band ended up stranded in London in 1972. From there, Marley contacted Island Records’ founder Chris Blackwell and was advanced funds to record the hit album “Catch A Fire.”

Shortly after the release of their major-label debut, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh went their separate ways for still undisclosed reasons. Marley continued on recording under the Wailers name, employing his wife Rita on vocals and formed an entirely new backing band. Bob Marley and The Wailers released thirteen albums between 1965 and 1983, with the last, “Confrontation,” released posthumously.

Bob Marley converted to Rastafarianism in the 1960s, enraptured by both the Pan-African message of his hero Garvey and the story of Ethiopian regent and emperor Haile Selassie I, the latter revered as the messiah in Rastafarian culture. Marley’s music was first modeled after American pop and soul styles, becoming increasingly militant as he grew into his faith. His last studio outing with the Wailers, “Uprising,” is considered his most-religious work and spawned the hit song “Could You Be Loved.”

Marley had several children with various women. His oldest son, Ziggy, is an accomplished musician himself as the front man for his Melody Makers band with brothers Stephen and sisters Sharon and Cedella.

Marley’s youngest son, Damian “Junior Gong,” has enjoyed success as a “deejay” (dancehall rapper) and vocalist under the tutelage of older brother Stephen. Other members of the Marley clan have dabbled in music and have deep investments in their father’s legacy and image.

Marley’s hypnotic voice and poignant lyrics still resonate within the hearts and minds of Reggae fans the world over. Marley has the distinction of being the most-universally loved Reggae artists of all times, with some fans saying their only exposure to Reggae music came by way of Bob Marley. While his children may have captured their father’s honeyed vocals and potency at times, there has never been an artist like Bob Marley since.

Happy Birthday to you, Bob Marley!

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Bob Marley Heirs Sue Half Brother Over Name Use

Associated Press — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:34:40 +0000

MIAMI — A feud has erupted within the first family of reggae, with the widow and nine children of Bob Marley suing his half brother to stop use of the Marley name to promote an annual Miami music festival and profit from other businesses in his native Jamaica.

The lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court contends the half brother, businessman Richard Booker, and several affiliated companies are violating copyright and trademark laws by using Marley’s name, photographs, lyrics, symbols and other intellectual property without authorization.

The lawsuit says people could be deceived into thinking those uses are officially endorsed by Marley’s widow, Rita Marley, and their children. Booker and Bob Marley shared the same mother.

The entities include the Bob Marley Movement of Jah People Inc., which promotes the music festival, a restaurant in Jamaica called Mama Marley’s and several businesses with the name Nine Mile – the part of Jamaica where Marley grew up and is now buried. One Nine Mile business offers a tour of the area, and the music event is known as the Nine Mile Music Festival.

In addition, a recent press release about the music festival included this headline: “All For The Love Of Bob Marley.” The 19th annual festival is scheduled for March of next year on Virginia Key, near Miami. Three of Marley’s kids – Stephen, Damien and Julian Marley – are scheduled to perform.

Marley, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, died of cancer in 1981 at age 36. Some of his best-known songs are “I Shot The Sheriff,” “Jamming,” “No Woman, No Cry,” “Get Up, Stand Up” and “Exodus.”

The lawsuit, filed by Fort Lauderdale attorney Bruce Hemerlee, seeks unspecified damages and also asks a judge to stop Booker and the companies from using any Marley-related references in the various ventures. Hemerlee represents Rita Marley and the children through a Bahamas-based entity called Fifty-Six Hope Road Music Ltd.

Booker, whose home and businesses are in Miami, did not immediately return a telephone call Friday seeking comment. A spokeswoman at his business said a statement may be issued later.

According to the festival’s website, the event’s roots date to a Bob Marley fan club begun in 1981. That gradually grew into the music festival and related food drive that has collected more than 2 million canned goods for shelters in Miami and Jamaica.

The lawsuit says that Rita Marley and her children have long opposed Booker’s attempts to trademark Marley-related business names and that at one point they reached a licensing deal, but Booker reneged on the deal.

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Bob Marley Song Re-Released To Fight Famine In East Africa

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:26:01 +0000

A song recorded by Bob Marley has been re-released to highlight the famine that is going on in East Africa.

A video has been created for the song “High Tide or Low Tide” by acclaimed director, Kevin Macdonald ,and the song is available to download on iTunes to raise money for Save The Children’s East Africa Appeal.

Several celebrities have pledged to support the song and the cause.

The Huffington Post reports:

Other stars supporting the campaign include Eminem, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Beyonce, David Beckham, Kanye West, Britney Spears, Madonna, Tinie Tempah, Coldplay, Shakira, Bruno Mars and Jennifer Lopez, who will all be posting the song on their Twitter, Facebook and other website pages, so it reaches as many listeners as possible.

Reggae Legend Bob Marley Remembered 30 Years After Death

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:10:40 +0000

NEW YORK — Today marks the 30th year since we lost reggae legend and activist Bob Marley. People across the world today are remembering the legacy the 36 year-old artist through celebration of his life and craft.

Jamaican-born novelist Colin Channer shares his memories of Marley with the Wall Street Journal:

The first time I saw Bob Marley perform I was eight years old. But the last time I see him will always be tomorrow.

What were your first or best memories of Bob Marley?

VIDEO:

Read entire article at WSJ.com

Bob Marley’s Family Wins Case Over Use Of Musician’s Image

Police Officer Maces And Assaults Bob Marley’s Son Rohan On Tape

Ziggy Marley’s “Marijuana Man” Comic Book Will Drop On 4/20

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:13:39 +0000

JAMAICA-Reggae star Ziggy Marley, son of reggae legend, Bob Marley, will be releasing a comic book called “Marijuana Man.” The comic book is based on Marley’s idea will be released on April 20th (2/20) and will be released by Image Comics. The L.A. Times reports:

The plot presents an extraterrestrial being whose home world is in desperate need of THC and whose giant bong spaceship crashes on Earth. Taking up (and toking up?) with a green-minded band of freedom-fighters, Marijuanaman begins a mission to save our planet’s weed from destruction by the evil corporation Pharma-Con and its minions, among them robo-biker assassin Cash Money.

Read The Whole Story

Bob Marley’s Family Loses Rights To Songs To Universal Music

Bob Marley’s Family Wins Case Over Use Of Musician’s Image

NewsOne Staff — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:50:33 +0000

Las Vegas–A Reno-based company intentionally interfered with business relationships established by Bob Marley’s heirs and must pay the family at least $300,000 in damages, a Las Vegas jury ruled Friday.

Jurors ruled that AVELA, a corporation based in Reno, and owner Leo Valencia, a San Diego resident, intentionally interfered with the family’s business relationships and engaged in unfair competition by selling T-shirts and other products bearing Bob Marley’s image. The products have been sold across the country at retail stores such as Target, Walmart and Wet Seal.

“The verdict sends a clear message to anyone who would challenge the integrity of our father’s legacy,” Rohan Marley, son of the late reggae musician, said in a written statement. “Preserving it remains one of our top priorities and we will continue to aggressively pursue legal actions against those who attempt to unfairly profit from his life and legacy.”

Jurors awarded the plaintiffs $300,000 in damages on the claim of intentional interference. U.S. District Judge Philip Pro is expected to award additional damages after he determines the amount of lost profits caused by the unfair competition.

The jury found that all the defendants willfully engaged in unfair competition, but the panel found that JEM and Central Mills did not intentionally interfere with the Marleys’ business relationships.

Read more at LVRJ.com

If Alive, MLK Would Be Married To A White Woman, Living In Africa

RK Byers — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:04 +0000

Every idiot likes to speculate on what the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. would be thinking or doing if he were alive today so I figured, why should I be any different?

So here’s what I think: Dr. King would be married to a white woman and living in Africa if he were alive to day.

This probably leaves you with two questions immediately: why a white woman and why Africa?

Well, you may not know this, but Dr. King actually contemplated marrying the white girl that he was seeing back while he finished up his doctorate at Boston University.

He was as engaged in the concept of Civil Rights as he was when he eventually became famous, but weighing the pros versus the cons of presenting the world with a dynamic mixed-race couple at the forefront of Civil Rights and becoming and iconic black family man, he ultimately and maybe even wisely chose to marry Coretta Scott.

Also of note is the fact that the overwhelming bulk if not every last one of the women that Dr. King was alleged to have had affairs with were white.

The guy just had a taste for white chicks.

Sorry.

Plus when you consider that a lot of Black, militant and angry OGs—Frederick Douglass, Ishmael Reed and Quincy Jones immediately come to mind—either finally marry white or consistently marry white, it wouldn’t have surprised too many people if, after Coretta passed in 2006, the Dr. pulled a “Hef” and got a young, hot one.

Now, why Africa?

Dr. King was so bitter and disillusioned with America near the end of his life that he was probably only a day or two away from flag burning.

Everybody remembers him questioning near the end whether or not it was indeed wise to “integrate into a burning house”, but almost nobody picks up on one of the most amazing things he ever said in the last public speech he ever made on the last night of his life.

Think about it: “we as a people shall get to the promised land.”

He wasn’t talking about Cleveland, my Damies (shout out to Pootie Tang)!

All the great Black minds from Marcus Garvey to Bob Marley argued in favor of repatriation to Africa with two men in particular, men that King definitely respected and one that he actually ran with, having done so; W.E.B. Du Bois, and King’s ace boon… you know, Stokely Carmichael.

Doc would be an 82 year-old naturalized citizen of Ghana right now somewhere with an ex-playmate on his arm, watching sports, mad that the Falcons lost, but rooting for Lovie Smith and Mike Tomlin to make it to the Super Bowl.

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Police Officer Maces And Assaults Bob Marley’s Son Rohan On Tape

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:17:01 +0000

Rohan Marley, son of Bob Marley and the father of Lauryn Hill’s children was maced and assaulted by an of duty police officer in Los Angeles at the Club, Voyeur according to The Urban Daily. Sources say Rohan got into an argument and fight with another clubgoer and was restrained and maced by an off duty officer who was working for the club.

Bob Marley’s Family Loses Rights To Songs To Universal Music

Bob Marley’s Daughter Sentenced To 7 Years Probation For Marijuana

Associated Press — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:40:23 +0000

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — The youngest child of reggae legend Bob Marley will spend seven years on probation for growing marijuana in her Philadelphia-area home.

A Chester County judge offered 29-year-old Makeda Jahnesta Marley a choice: a shorter prison term or a long stint on probation. She opted for the latter and risks being jailed if she violates her probation terms.

Marley was arrested in 2008 after police say they found her removing plants from her basement when officers arrived on a domestic-dispute call. She pleaded guilty in September.

Marley’s probation calls for her to undergo random drug tests and stay away from drug users.

Her attorney, Thomas Schindler, tells the West Chester Daily Local News that won’t be a problem. He called growing marijuana an “aberration.”

Bob Marley’s Family Loses Rights To Songs To Universal Music

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Bob Marley’s Family Loses Rights To Songs To Universal Music

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:14:42 +0000

Reuters is reporting that Bob Marley’s family has lost a lawsuit seeking the rights to several of his most popular recordings.

U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in Manhattan said the UMG Recordings unit of Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group is the rightful owner of copyrights to five albums that Marley had recorded between 1973 and 1977 for Island Records.

The albums “Catch a Fire,” “Burnin’,” “Natty Dread,” “Rastaman Vibrations” and “Exodus” were recorded with Marley’s band The Wailers. They include some of Marley’s best-known songs, including “Get Up, Stand Up,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” “No Woman, No Cry” and “One Love.”

Read The Whole Story

Bob Marley’s Master Recordings Destroyed In Ghana Fire

Bob Marley’s Daughter Pleads Guilty To Growing Marijuana

Associated Press — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:57:06 +0000

The youngest child of reggae legend Bob Marley has admitted growing marijuana in her Philadelphia-area home.

The Daily Local News of West Chester reports 29-year-old Makeda Jahnesta Marley pleaded guilty Tuesday to having nearly a dozen large marijuana plants inside her home in Caln, about 30 miles west of Philadelphia.

Marley was arrested in 2008 after police say they found her removing plants from her basement when officers arrived on a domestic dispute call.

At a February hearing, Marley told the court she had exhausted a trust fund she received from her father’s estate when she turned 18.

Text continues after Pictures of the week gallery:

Sentencing is scheduled for October. Marley’s attorney, Thomas Schindler, told The Associated Press he will seek probation.

Insulting Black people has become a publicity stunt

Bob Marley’s Master Recordings Destroyed In Ghana Fire

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:22:13 +0000

The Toronto Sun is reporting that Bob Marley’s master recordings and personal belongings were destroyed in a fire in Aburi, Ghana.

The tapes were being stored at the solar-powered studio established by Marley’s wife Rita, who has lived in Africa for the past decade.

The studio complex, Studio One, was set to officially open in June – a month after it was ravaged by a blaze.

Rita Marley insists she will rebuild the complex. She reveals the lost items include footage of her late husband performing in concert.

Jamaican Police Call Off Annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash

Bob Marley And Earth Wind & Fire Inducted Into Songwriters Hall Of Fame

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:48:27 +0000

From BlackAmericaWeb

Earth Wind & Fire and the late Bob Marley are among the 2010 inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, which will hold a ceremony Thursday in New York City.

David Foster, who will also be inducted Thursday, cited “After the Love Has Gone,” a song he co-wrote for Earth, Wind & Fire, as one of the defining moments of his career.

Click Here For More

Jamaican Police Call Off Annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash

Associated Press — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:36:28 +0000

KINGSTON, Jamaica — An annual concert that draws hundreds of tourists to celebrate Bob Marley’s birthday has been cancelled for the first time since its inception in 1992 over noise complaints.

Police denied promoter Clive Pringle an event permit because of several run-ins with police and residents in Negril, superintendent Dezeita Taylor said Thursday.

The Bob Marley Birthday Bash that Pringle organized every Feb. 6 regularly exceeded the 2 a.m. curfew established under the Noise Abatement Act, she said.

Text continues after gallery…

Last year Pringle was fined $560, police said.

Pringle said he appealed, but doubts the concert will be held.

The show was launched in 1992 in Negril – a seaside town west of Kingston – and has attracted up to 3,500 people, Pringle said.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett recently called for a revision of the Noise Abatement Act to extend time for events popular with tourists.

Bob Marley birthday bashes are held worldwide in places including London, Hawaii and Miami.

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OPINION: Police Give the ‘OK’ to Kill 50 Cent

RK Byers — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:39:10 +0000

On Redemption Song, Bob Marley sang “How long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look?”

Well Bob, it looks like they’re at it again. And we’re just gonna stand aside and watch this one too.

I’m thoroughly insulted that the New York Police Department is trying to tell me that there is basically no way they can guarantee the safety of rap superstar 50 Cent when he appears at a free concert that is to take place on August 30^th in his old Queens neighborhood.

“We can’t control the area,” said one law-enforcement source.

“Someone’s gonna try to make a name for themselves,” said another of these clowns. “They’re gonna take a shot at him, and they’re either gonna hit him or they’re gonna miss him and hit some poor, innocent kid or grandmother.”

Now, what are they really saying here? If it’s not, “G’head, killers! Take your shots and we won’t even try to stop you!” I don’t know what it is.

And we’ve seen this before, far too recently with the deaths of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. The two biggest stars in music at the time were killed virtually before our very eyes and the police are still yet to make a single arrest in connection with either murder.

You know what that says? If you are a State and there are murders in the State and you do not arrest the people that participated in the murders; that means you’re ok with the murders and heck, you might have even sanctioned them. Considering this, it only makes sense for rappers to carry guns. Big guns. Hell, if law enforcement won’t even arrest your murderer, you might as well try to stay alive! (shout to T.I.)

Writer Isis Wisdom recently (and rightfully) asked in a blog “Are Black Men Cowards?” She used as a stunning example the situation that Casey Gane-McCalla posted right here on Newsone.com of an elderly Black woman being slammed on her head by the police and while there were plenty of Black men around to film the scene on their cell phones and provide commentary, not a single one rushed to her aid.

Now that the police seem to be telling us to kill 50 Cent, I’ve got to hope that we’re sophisticated enough to see through this gross insult to our intelligence and let the brother come home, party, and leave in peace.

OPINION: Black America, Do You Recognize This Man?

RK Byers — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:09:04 +0000

I used to keep a tight look on my face whenever the intro to Public Enemy’s “Night Of The Living Baseheads” played because they start that song with audio from Louis Farrakhan who’s saying about Black people that we’ve “lost our religion, our culture, our God…”

Well, yeah, we lost all those things. We’re still losing things to this day. And I mean, not just misplacing them, we’re losing them like we never even had them.

Enter James Marshall Hendrix. He’s gone too. So gone, that I was once listening to one of those moronic music video television channels that was not BET and they were saying something along of the lines of “Jimi embraced his white side…” I started screaming “What white side??? The (N-Word) had TWO Black Parents!”

But that’s part of the brilliance of American Racism, I guess. It pulls the old George Orwell trick on you of making you believe that the thing you had up until five minutes ago was never yours to begin with. So when we go to mixed college parties and we hear Bob Marley (also gone) and Jimi, we might recognize Bob as the guy that made good “high” music for white boys but we don’t know Jimi at all. And who’s fault is that?

Oh, but I haven’t even told you who Jimi Hendrix is yet, huh? Google him, for Christ’s (also gone) sake! Check out his Wikipedia page. The man was the greatest guitarist of all-time and he was Black and if you can name more than three of his songs you either grew up around white people or you have really, really eclectic taste.

I’ll give you a few videos here at the bottom to get you started, but you’re really gonna have to do the bulk of this assignment on your own, friends. It’s worth it. At this rate, somebody like Zac Efron is gonna star in “All Eyez on Me-The Story of Tupac Shakur” and nobody’s gonna think there’s anything wrong with that at all.

OPINION: The Fall & Fall Of Lil Wayne

RK Byers — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:06:43 +0000

Shakespeare wrote, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown”, and not since Leon Spinks was briefly champion of the heavyweight division in 1978 has a top ranked dude looked so utterly baffled as to how to conduct himself as Lil Wayne.

This past year, not only has Wayne had to deal with standard rapper BS like drug and gun charges, but he’s made some bizarre personal choices as well. Already a father of two by two different women, the rapper reportedly now has another two children on the way and dueling prospective baby mamas in actress Lauren London and singer Nivea. Now, while this is certainly Wayne’s personal business and even biblical in a “King Solomon” kinda way, it’s also gotta be a bit of a distraction for a man that wishes to stay at the top of his game.

And not even Wayne’s professional career has made too much sense as of late. After inexplicably recording a song entitled “Whip It Like a Slave,” he appeared on the BET Awards this past Sunday night and as April Silver so brilliantly pointed out, by performing a song about wanting to sex every girl in the world while there were adolescents running around on stage, he actually flirted with encouraging pedophilia!

Now, if being the top dog since last year’s BET Awards has been Wayne’s psychological hurdle, he should be able to rest a little easier-he’s no longer king. As usual, the BET Awards were the coronation for a new top rapper. The only difference was that this time, despite a token attempt to retain the throne by Wayne, a injury-hobbled grab for the ring by Drake, and a desperate attempt by Hov to be the first man to regain the throne since it bounced around a lot between 86-92, this championship was actually decided off-stage. The new king just sat back and watched the whole show with his queen: regal and in control.

Exactly who’s had a better year than Kanye West? His most recent album, “808s and Heartbreak” was sensational. His song “Amazing” was selected by the NBA as the soundtrack to this year’s playoffs. And every guest appearance he’s made recently, be it on the remix of Beyonce’s “Big Ego“, on The Dream’s “Walking on the Moon” or on Keri Hilson’s “Knock You Down“, has been blistering. Paraphrasing poet Nikki Giovanni, as far as this past year is concerned: even Kanye’s mistakes have been perfect.

So get well, Wayne. As fans, we’re not allowed to dissect a man’s life, only his art. And what’s scary now is that at this point, the only two paths that seem to be available to you are the way of Bob Marley, or the way of the Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

BLACK MUSIC MONTH: Top 10 Political Black Albums

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:43:15 +0000

Top 5 Political Black Musicians

Marvin Gaye Inner City Blues

Public Enemy: Burn Hollywood, Burn

Mahalia Jackson: We Shall Overcome

Top 5 Political Black Musicians

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:24:18 +0000

1. Bob Marley

Born to a poor Jamaican woman and a British captain in a small village in Jamaica, Bob Marley would go onto change the world with his music. Bob became not only the voice of Jamaica, but Africa and the Third World as well, with songs like “Get Up Stand Up,” “Redemption Song” and “Africa Unite.” Though he has been dead for almost 30 years, his music still lives on all over the world.

Watch Bob Marley’s Redemption Song

Obama’s Top 5 Bob Marley Songs

Jamaica Turns Down Bob Marley $5000 Bill

2. Marvin Gaye
Marvin was known more for his love songs and duets before he released the classic album, “What’s Going On?” The album dealt with poverty, violence and the war. With songs like “Inner City Blues,” Marvin Gaye voiced the angst and discontent not only of the Black community, but all of America.

Watch Marvin Gaye’s Inner City Blues

3. Chuck D.
If hip-hop was the CNN for the ’hood, Chuck D. was its Anderson Cooper. He addressed issues like police brutality, war and racism, while giving props to people like Farrakhan and dissing Arizona for not making Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday a holiday. His song, “Fight the Power” provided the theme for Spike Lee’s film, “Do The Right Thing,” and for the growing political hip-hop movement he helped create.

Chuck D. Takes on the “Obama Deception”

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Chuck D

Watch Public Enemy’s Fight The Power

4. Curtis Mayfield
Mayfield, along with his group, The Impressions, would help create music that served as the soundtrack to the Civil Rights movement. Songs like “Keep On Pushin” and “People Got Ready” captured the essence of the dedication and optimism that drove the struggle. Mayfield would continue his social commentary in his solo career, with songs like “Freddie’s Dead,” “I’m Your Pusher” and “Superfly” that addressed many of the issues in inner-city Black communities during the 1970s.

Watch Mayfield Perform People Get Ready

5. Paul Robeson
Robeson was a true Renaissance Man. He was a singer, an actor, a football player and a lawyer. Robeson was a forerunner in the Civil Rights movement, a leader in the labor movement and a crusader in the anti-lynching movement. Because of his socialist views and anti-colonialist sentiments, Robeson was investigated by both the CIA and the FBI. He helped popularize several Negro spirituals and labor movement anthems, which still live on today.

Listen To Robeson Perform Let My People Go

Jamaica Turns Down Bob Marley $5000 Bill

News One — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:07:44 +0000

From Caribbean Net News

Cultural stakeholders in Jamaica say that music icon Bob Marley should have been on the new Jamaica $5,000 bill (US$70) and not former prime minister Hugh Shearer, whose impact, they claim, wanes in comparison to that of the reggae legend.

The Jamaica Observer said that some see the khaki-coloured note as a political counteraction to the JA$1,000 bill, which bears the image of Michael Manley, former prime minister and People’s National Party politician.

“I can’t understand why someone who has done so much for his country has been side-tracked,” Cleveland Brownie, chairman of the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica said in reference to Marley.

Read the Whole Story