WORDS:           Christopher “Icey Jace” Campbell                                             DATE: August 1, 2007

                        Freelance Writer

Ø     For those of us who may have been caught up, “excessively so” I might add with the incarceration of Hollywood stars Paris Hilton, and good girl gone bad Lindsay Lohan I say this to you. “Since you have so much time fi watch, listen and read pure foolishness bout two spoil rotten picney mek we hold a reasoning bout one of our own stars”. Siccaturie Alcock better known to us as Jah Cure, the incarcerated singer that made waves in the industry with the prison recorded single “True Reflections” was released on June 28^th after serving 8 years behind bars. Mr. Cure was sentenced to 13 years back in 1998 for armed robbery and rape but was released on parole for what can be deemed good behavior.

Ø     Now I saw it fit to put “pen to paper” sorry I mean “finger to keyboard” because back home in Jamaica sorry I mean “Jah Mek Yah” their were mixed reactions to the early release of Jah Cure. The media showed the joy of family and friends at his prison release press conference but word on the streets mainly from women was that he should have served all 13 years for such an atrocious violation, and truth be told one cant help but agree. “Quiet frankly If it was any common criminal we would all agree and draw cell pon him fi 5 more years” but this is Jah Cure. Being convicted on both counts at age 19 saw this extraordinary talent being confined to a new life of only basics, no luxury, no wants only the necessary. “Mark mi neva go prison yet but mi watch Oz, Undisputed and a show name Prison Break already and the levity don’t look too proper”. So to a youngster who was sentenced by a judge to do “X” amount of years it is only fair in his eyes if another judge or board of correctional officers see if fit to set him free that he be treated as a regular citizen of his homeland. As a writer I appreciate balance because it allows you room to view from all angles. “The man do the crime then do the time so leave him mek him do him rhyme”. Is it that we all crave justice to the point where we don’t recognize change or the process of rehabilitating and not just incarcerating? I put to you “would the world be any better off without a song like True Reflections or would it be better off with George Bush leading his right foot in front the left and walking away from government”you tell me!. Balance I tell you is key to all things. In a prison interview last year Jah Cure asked that we separate the man from the music but can we? I can, only because I’m willing to appreciate a positive message in a song without judging the singer for being “gay like Elton John, black & white like Michael Jackson or gangsta like Tupac Shakur”. Let’s not forget many of our celebrities and young pop stars today are guilty of illegal activities yet we enjoy their music without judgment. “I wonder if is a racis… ting!! Na… could never be cause we all loved Tupac despite da fact him was charge for a similar crime as Jah Cure, so what then no the same spoon sturry two pot”.

Ø     I believe in the power of music and it would be self defeating if we incarcerate this artist for years and don’t allow him to make a mends for past wrongs by sharing his experiences and encouraging other young men not to go his route. As he said “Prison anno bed a roses the levity it makes you bawl, Not cry or weep BAWL” A man is just that “a MAN” and we all have regrets for one thing or the other. Let’s watch and see if Jah Cure will live up to his promise to be a better man. I’m willing to give him that chance based on the fact that he can inspire a positive change in my country if not the wider world with his musically gift. I hope women can appreciate my reasoning behind the matter and see that I gave balance to the situation.

BLESSED LOVE again to all readers of my article and NUFF RESPECT to Orlando for allowing me a CORNER to vent my thoughts. You can read more of my commentaries at dancehallsoca.com

Please direct all suggestions and feedback to jamiceyjace@yahoo.com

-          represents jokes, exaggerations & Jamaican patois

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