Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Damion 'Jnr. Gong' Marley poses at a sign that shows the name of his album which was launched at the Bob Marley Museum, Hope Road, on Friday. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
AFTER UNIVERSITY of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer Dr. Clinton Hutton had spoken extensively about the inner-city images used in Jamrock on Friday evening, he addressed the basis for the gathering at 56 Hope Road, St. Andrew.
"We are not here because Jnr. Gong is the son of the reggae king of the world, but because Jnr. Gong's talent cannot be disputed. If one time you could say him trying a thing because of his father, you cannot say that now," Dr. Hutton said to enthusiastic applause. And a smile from Damian 'Jnr. Gong' Marley, the only person seated at the podium for the official launch of the Jamrock album.
The night was short on ceremony but long on praises from the audience for the artiste and new album. There was a video presentation covering his development from baby stage to confident performer with very long dreadlocks rocking Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest 2005 in Montego Bay, St. James.
And Marley paid homage to his mother, Cindy Breakspeare, saying 'big respect' for making sure that education came before music.
The backdrop to the official proceedings was a cut-out of board and old brick buildings, as well as zinc fences, with slashes of red, green and gold, 'more justice' and 'one love' written on opposite sides. In fact, while tracks from the Jamrock album were played before the speeches began, it was the senior Gong's One Love which immediately preceded the official launch.
Hutton referred extensively to Trench Town in his address and, during the question and answer section which followed, Jnr. Gong said, "Trench Town is the root, so we have to go back to the root."
COLLABORATIONS
When asked how he got the feeling to bring out what he did in Jamrock, without actually coming from a ghetto, Jnr. Gong said, "We meet a whole heap a people and we listen to what them have to say."
He said that the most exciting part of making the album was the collaborations he got to do. "We really work with people we were fans of," he said. Among the artistes who appear on Jamrock are Bounty Killer, Nas and Eeka Mouse.
"Me is a big Bounty Killer fan from school. And Eeka Mouse is the only mouse that sing," he said, laughing.
Paula-Ann Porter, who hosted the function, said there had been an international bidding war for the album, which is a joint effort among Tuff Gong, Ghetto Youths and Universal Records/Motown.
Jnr. Gong said he went with Universal because it already has a significant amount of the family's music, including his father Bob's and brother Stephen's. He noted that going with Universal also allows input in the distribution.
As for critics of the title track of the album, who would say that it is a negative take on Jamaica, Marley said that it is one song from the album with a particular perspective on the island and that there were other viewpoints expressed.
"We have lots of songs that display different sides of Jamaica. Is just that it (Jamrock) get popular. It is great to hear people saying things. The song is meant to provoke thought," he said, to applause.
And as for his choice of deejaying instead of singing, Jnr. Gong said, "Dancehall music was what I was listening to growing up."
