Apparently this representative of reggae’s new roots movement is on a different mission than your average purveyor of party tunes. “I come forward to wake the people up and show them some uprightness,” he says, taking a break from rehearsal on a Kingston afternoon. “A fresh mood and inspiration.”
Sung over a classic reggae track known as the “Father Jungle Rock” riddim, “Can’t Satisfy Her” became an instant hit in Jamaica last February — marking a shift from frenetic dance beats toward a traditional “one drop” sound more reminiscent of Studio One than Studio 54. The tune soon crossed over to American airwaves and is climbing up Billboard’s Hot 100. Having signed a multiyear pact with VP Records to release his much anticipated debut album, the 24-year-old singer/songwriter intends to bring forth a change with his newfound northern exposure. Stacked with a host of elevating and infectious tunes like his antiviolence plea, “Living In Love,” and the apocalyptic title track, "Lava Ground" promises to loosen the grip that bling and booty have had on the genre Stateside. It also provides a cultural balance and diversity that roots elders like Fred Locks have been missing in recent reggae. “That youth I Wayne is wicked,” said the gray-dreaded Mr. Locks during a recent trip to Ethiopia. “I love to see him bringing back some longtime vibes to the music.”
Raised between rural Jamaica and the sprawling, low-income housing scheme of Portmore, Cliffroy Taylor has been singing since 1996. He started out with some friends from school before he fell out with them over religious differences, a subject the young Niyabinghi Rasta will debate at the drop of a tam. “I Wayne burn religion,” he says. “Just more life. And give thanks and praise to Emperor Haile Selassie I.” He takes the message within his music just as seriously. “It’s not all about money,” he preaches. “When the folly done, the music still ah gwan.”
Even still, I Wayne knows satisfying his diverse new audience will be no small feat. But he has a plan. “Me nah rush it. Everything takes time,” he says. “I’ll just bring forward the great strength and joy the music used to have.”
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Rob Kenner. I Wayne - Culture Shock. Copyright 2005 Vibe.com.
