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Jahbar I Rollin' on the Reggae Frontier

Jahbar I is one of the koolest rockaz in Reggae right now. Jamarado caught up with him to find out about his newest tracks Keep My Soul, Legal Scamma and Friendly Foes, featured on the Pon Di Grind Riddim EP with Richie Spice, Junior Kelly and Iyah Sample. We talked about the science and spirituality driving his musical mission, growing up in the Reggae moonlight and his take on Reggae's new horizons. 

Discover his music on full Jamarado in So Hot Right Now, Now Beatz, Rebel Rockers and in a few surprise places.  All tracks are also available for download on Itunes. Follow  @jahbari. updates @jahbari.dehya  


We like real talk at Jamarado … tell us about what’s going on for you right now? I’m releasing a couple of singles – Keep My Soul and Deliver Me – you can tell from the titles, they’re conscious tracks and I want them to spread positivity amongst the youth. I’m also really looking forward to a show with Capleton in St Mary. It’s called St Mary Mi Come From which is on 10 November and anther show A night of Magic about breaking the stigma of depression. This show is with the Firehouse Crew, Mortimer, Mackeenan and Davianah. 

Earlier this year, I released a track called Friendly Foes on the Pon Di Grind Riddim back in June. Other artists on the Riddim are Richie Spice, Iyah Sample and Junior Kelly. 

I’m also featuring on Ras Haitrm album with The Firehouse Crew on It’s not for Long. He came to Jamaica my father produced all the tracks on the album and I produced two songs.


 

 

How did you start out in music? I was born into it.  As a child watching my Dad (George “Dusty” Miller) working fascinated me.  He’s the leader and drummer in the Firehouse Crew and in the 90s they were the resident band for Xterminator music. It was an exciting time. At the time, they were very young.  In 1990, they went to England. They had their first number one with Courtney Melody in 1987 in Jamaica – Ninja Mi Ninja.  My Dad got to work with many great artists including Sizzla, Luciano, Shabba Ranks, Shaggy, Beenie Man and Gentleman. Growing up, I loved the energy and militant approach of the artists.


By the age of 14, I had joined the Knockout Crew. We would DJ and freestyle playing on the decks at school. I remember the summer into 9th Grade, I recorded my first song entitled Why are people so mean and conniving. I guess it was written in brave innocence and I often look back to it as a reference point. I set out to make conscious music that show truths of life and I will continue to do so.  After tenth grade, I gravitated towards to being a Rastafari radical. I was also very influenced by Super Cat at that time and read an interview on him. I wanted to DJ like him. He’s so totally himself. Very unique and confident in himself. I also admire Macka B from that era.


I always wanted to do music. Especially producing. I learned the art of producing and arranging very early and I started writing songs first conscious and positive. I’m even more conscious now. 


You’ve mentioned musical inspirations, who else has inspired you? My father and Dean Fraser on the production front. I love Rap too and Kanye West is definitely on my list for his progressive production and genius in his work. Pharrell Williams, he’s just himself - his music is bouncy on the production side.  I grew up old skool really, and loved the essence of music and how it works with feelings and emotions. Jimi Hendrix was also a great influence on me…… experimental and unique himself. Like magic. We never knew much about his childhood – it was like he came into this world fast and left.  Other artists, I like are Usher, Common and Mikey Fletcher.  Jackie Mittoo as well. And Scott Storch a great producer and lyricists, King Tubby’s and King Jammy’s Steely and Clevie on the 90s/00s

 

Above all, I look for energy from people and the earth around.


 

 

Legal Scamma was released in February this year, what’s the idea behind the track? It’s the concept that so much that goes on in our society that is considered “legal” is actually simply about scamming or exploiting people. People in politics, corporates and positions of authority actually scam people all the time they just do it under the guises of legality and through the institutions that support these structures. 


The whole society we know is based upon lies when you really break it down. Who writes history? A lot of people can see the truth but don’t know how to understand it or how to follow it.



 

Does your music have a mission? It has to be about empowering people and encouraging them to be themselves and to think for themselves. 100%. I worked out a long time back that to be happy in our lives, we have to accept and love, and realise that everyone is different. I think today there is huge pressure on young people to be somebody other than themselves. It’s like with social media and consumer culture, people are being hijacked.  We have to dig deep to ground ourselves in life and I want my music to bring messages to people to ground them in what really matters – it’s all about the power of music. 


My music will always be about pushing frontiers and living a Rockaz Lifestyle. It’s very inspired by the 70s vibe  which saw movements that were new and experimental, and about pushing the frontiers of the mind and other space.  The youth today are looking back to the past for guidance in very unstable time and within themselves.  It’s all about feeling the energy 


You released a track called Long Live Africa, what does Africa symbolise for you? It symbolises not just a physical place a mental place. Spiritual place. Frame of mind. Africa is rising right now too. Reggae is big over there and growing as is Dancehall with the merger on the Afro-beat riddims with artists like Wizkid and Pato Ranking.


You talk about the Rockas Lifestyle what do you mean by this? My way of life. As a youth, I wrote down how I wanted to live. Rastafari is a levity. Very spiritual or militant. Rastafari encourages you to tap your inner wisdom – without this you can be easily influenced down negative paths. From Rastafari, I created my own codes and observed teachings that I use to govern my life. These draw on Rastafari that has elements of order and codes of behaviour that help me structure my life and find inner peace. Yes, it’s about the search for liberation and freedom, but hedonism and reckless pursuit are removed from this search.




If you could sit down to an evening of food and meditation who would it be with? King Selassie I, Marcus Garvey, Nikola Tesla (scientist and innovator) and my grandparents. They all represent different core aspects to my life. King Selassie I - Spirituality and Wisdom, Marcus Garvey - Liberation and Self-Worth, Nikola Tesla - Science and Innovation and my Grandparents - Family and Foundation. 


What’s Reggae about for you? Reggae music is a spiritual force – it’s about the liberation of hearts and minds. And it’s a lifestyle – it’s more than music that takes and independent path. The conscious Reggae focuses on positivity (and by that I don’t mean naievity or ignoring the truths) it’s a deep path on how to live in honesty and happiness in a world that pushes against most people who want to do this. So, it’s rebellion against the system. Anyone going into the Reggae movement has to realise that you are going to have to fight hard for this music. 


Where’s Reggae at now? It has the potential to be great and to grow.  We all know what it stands for and we need to push it through to higher levels.  People across the globe love it and its messages. There are more and more festivals and we’re seeing its influence on mainstream music and culture. We just need to strengthen our own economic foundations and recognition that we get for this so people who make, live and enjoy the music can prosper.


All tracks available to download on Itunes. Follow @jahbari.updates and @jahbari.dehya 

Jahbar I

Rollin' on the Reggae Frontier

Jahbar I is one of the koolest rockaz in Reggae right now. Jamarado caught up with him to find out about his newest tracks Keep My Soul, Legal Scamma and Friendly Foes, featured on the Pon Di Grind Riddim EP with Richie Spice, Junior Kelly and Iyah Sample. We talked about the science and spirituality driving his musical mission, growing up in the Reggae moonlight and his take on Reggae's new horizons. 

Discover his music on full Jamarado in So Hot Right Now, Now Beatz, Rebel Rockers and in a few surprise places.  All tracks are also available for download on Itunes. Follow  @jahbari. updates @jahbari.dehya  


We like real talk at Jamarado … tell us about what’s going on for you right now?  I’m releasing a couple of singles – Keep My Soul and Deliver Me – you can tell from the titles, they’re conscious tracks and I want them to spread positivity amongst the youth. I’m also really looking forward to a show with Capleton in St Mary. It’s called St Mary Mi Come From which is on 10 November and anther show A night of Magic about breaking the stigma of depression. This show is with the Firehouse Crew, Mortimer, Mackeenan and Davianah. 

Earlier this year, I released a track called Friendly Foes on the Pon Di Grind Riddim back in June. Other artists on the Riddim are Richie Spice, Iyah Sample and Junior Kelly.

 

I’m also featuring on Ras Haitrm album with The Firehouse Crew on It’s not for Long. He came to Jamaica my father produced all the tracks on the album and I produced two songs.


 

How did you start out in music? I was born into it.  As a child watching my Dad (George “Dusty” Miller) working fascinated me.  He’s the leader and drummer in the Firehouse Crew and in the 90s they were the resident band for Xterminator music. It was an exciting time. At the time, they were very young.  In 1990, they went to England. They had their first number one with Courtney Melody in 1987 in Jamaica – Ninja Mi Ninja.  My Dad got to work with many great artists including Sizzla, Luciano, Shabba Ranks, Shaggy, Beenie Man and Gentleman. Growing up, I loved the energy and militant approach of the artists.

 

By the age of 14, I had joined the Knockout Crew. We would DJ and freestyle playing on the decks at school. I remember the summer into 9th Grade, I recorded my first song entitled Why are people so mean and conniving. I guess it was written in brave innocence and I often look back to it as a reference point. I set out to make conscious music that show truths of life and I will continue to do so.  After tenth grade, I gravitated towards to being a Rastafari radical. I was also very influenced by Super Cat at that time and read an interview on him. I wanted to DJ like him. He’s so totally himself. Very unique and confident in himself. I also admire Macka B from that era.

 

I always wanted to do music. Especially producing. I learned the art of producing and arranging very early and I started writing songs first conscious and positive. I’m even more conscious now.

 

You’ve mentioned musical inspirations, who else has inspired you? My father and Dean Fraser on the production front. I love Rap too and Kanye West is definitely on my list for his progressive production and genius in his work. Pharrell Williams, he’s just himself - his music is bouncy on the production side.  I grew up old skool really, and loved the essence of music and how it works with feelings and emotions. Jimi Hendrix was also a great influence on me…… experimental and unique himself. Like magic. We never knew much about his childhood – it was like he came into this world fast and left.  Other artists, I like are Usher, Common and Mikey Fletcher.  Jackie Mittoo as well. And Scott Storch a great producer and lyricists, King Tubby’s and King Jammy’s Steely and Clevie on the 90s/00s

 

Above all, I look for energy from people and the earth around.


 

Legal Scamma was released in February this year, what’s the idea behind the track? It’s the concept that so much that goes on in our society that is considered “legal” is actually simply about scamming or exploiting people. People in politics, corporates and positions of authority actually scam people all the time they just do it under the guises of legality and through the institutions that support these structures.

 

The whole society we know is based upon lies when you really break it down. Who writes history? A lot of people can see the truth but don’t know how to understand it or how to follow it.



 

Does your music have a mission? It has to be about empowering people and encouraging them to be themselves and to think for themselves. 100%. I worked out a long time back that to be happy in our lives, we have to accept and love, and realise that everyone is different. I think today there is huge pressure on young people to be somebody other than themselves. It’s like with social media and consumer culture, people are being hijacked.  We have to dig deep to ground ourselves in life and I want my music to bring messages to people to ground them in what really matters – it’s all about the power of music.

 

My music will always be about pushing frontiers and living a Rockaz Lifestyle. It’s very inspired by the 70s vibe  which saw movements that were new and experimental, and about pushing the frontiers of the mind and other space.  The youth today are looking back to the past for guidance in very unstable time and within themselves.  It’s all about feeling the energy

 

You released a track called Long Live Africa, what does Africa symbolise for you? It symbolises not just a physical place a mental place. Spiritual place. Frame of mind. Africa is rising right now too. Reggae is big over there and growing as is Dancehall with the merger on the Afro-beat riddims with artists like Wizkid and Pato Ranking.

 

You talk about the Rockas Lifestyle what do you mean by this? My way of life. As a youth, I wrote down how I wanted to live. Rastafari is a levity. Very spiritual or militant. Rastafari encourages you to tap your inner wisdom – without this you can be easily influenced down negative paths. From Rastafari, I created my own codes and observed teachings that I use to govern my life. These draw on Rastafari that has elements of order and codes of behaviour that help me structure my life and find inner peace. Yes, it’s about the search for liberation and freedom, but hedonism and reckless pursuit are removed from this search.




If you could sit down to an evening of food and meditation who would it be with? King Selassie I, Marcus Garvey, Nikola Tesla (scientist and innovator) and my grandparents. They all represent different core aspects to my life. King Selassie I - Spirituality and Wisdom, Marcus Garvey - Liberation and Self-Worth, Nikola Tesla - Science and Innovation and my Grandparents - Family and Foundation. 

 

What’s Reggae about for you? Reggae music is a spiritual force – it’s about the liberation of hearts and minds. And it’s a lifestyle – it’s more than music that takes and independent path. The conscious Reggae focuses on positivity (and by that I don’t mean naievity or ignoring the truths) it’s a deep path on how to live in honesty and happiness in a world that pushes against most people who want to do this. So, it’s rebellion against the system. Anyone going into the Reggae movement has to realise that you are going to have to fight hard for this music.

 

Where’s Reggae at now? It has the potential to be great and to grow.  We all know what it stands for and we need to push it through to higher levels.  People across the globe love it and its messages. There are more and more festivals and we’re seeing its influence on mainstream music and culture. We just need to strengthen our own economic foundations and recognition that we get for this so people who make, live and enjoy the music can prosper.


All tracks available to download on Itunes. Follow @jahbari.updates and @jahbari.dehya