Positive vibes from Strugglas

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

For some time now, roots singer Strugglas says he has been concerned with the high rate of delinquency among Jamaican youth. Their perceived waywardness inspired him to write John Prophecy, his latest recording which was recently released by Roaring Tone Productions.

Strugglas (real name Tafahee Campbell) believes profanity and suggestive lyrics are too dominant in contemporary dancehall music. He believes it is important for his generation to be exposed to more positive content.

"If they keep on hearing negatives, they will behave a certain way, but, at the same time, if they hear uplifting music, they can also identify," he said.

John Prophecy was produced by Caractacus Campbell, Strugglas' father, who is also head of Roaring Tone Productions, a Waterhouse company which produced songs in the 1980s by grassroots artistes such as high-riding deejay General Trees.

It is one of four songs released on a mini album aimed at breaking the Rastafarian singer. Lie Dem A Tell, Ghetto Love and It's Free are the other cuts on the set.

Lie Dem a Tell, which was recorded in 2008, was Strugglas' first release.

He made his recording debut one year earlier with This Is The Time, but that song never hit the market.

Lie Dem A Tell made little impact, but Strugglas is banking on the parental appeal of John Prophecy to fare much better.

"It is looking at things like teen pregnancy and brutality in the ghetto," he explained. "I grew up in the ghetto with a lot of violence around me and I knew from early the importance of not getting carried away."

Strugglas attended Kingston College but left while he was in fourth form.

He was born in Waterhouse, a tough community in St Andrew that has been scarred by years of gang violence.

Despite its gritty environment, Waterhouse has also produced some of reggae's most influential names such as producer Lloyd 'King Jammy' James, roots group Black Uhuru, and singer Junior Reid.

Strugglas, however, was more drawn to the lovers' rock of Beres Hammond in his youth, though he also admired new wave roots acts like Garnet Silk and Luciano. Like his heroes, he sees nothing wrong doing ballads and 'message' songs.

"All wi want to do is get a positive message across," he said.