Jeremy Marre: Roots, Rock Reggae

“THIS MUSIC ORIGINATED FROM THE CONFRONTATION OF THE STRUGGLE — so the ROOTS, really, is from, a matter of, THE STRUGGLE — that’s where it’s from!!! It’s not even good to be known that you’re from TRENCH TOWN — this is the kind of STRENGTH that you have to really ACCUMMULATE — REGGAE IS A CONFRONTATION OF SOUND, maaan!!! REGGAE HAS TO HAVE THAT BASIC, VIBRANT SOUND, which is — to be HEARD in the GHETTO, is like playing the BASS very LOUD… and the DRUM… you know… those are the BASIC SOUNDS…

A CLASSICAL REGGAE SHOULD BE ACCEPTED IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD!!! In the same sense, FREEDOM — that’s what it’s asking for: ACCEPTANCE — is what it needs; and UNDERSTANDING — you know… THIS IS WHAT REGGAE IS SAYING!!! 

 You have a CERTAIN LOVE come from HARD STRUGGLE — LONGSUFFERING — a CERTAIN LOVE that, through PAIN, gird yourself with that HOPE of FREEDOM — NOT TO GIVE UP…

This may not sound like a reggae now, but it is.”