Dominican Republic

Reuploaded 11/28/2025

For the Dominican Republic I am presenting music that is polar opposites. We will be able to hear the traditional music of Quisqueya or Española from its earliest incarnation to 21^st Century modern, all from one island & much of it in one style. From its origins as the dance of slaves working in the sugar beet fields, connected to one another by a chain strapped to their ankles that made them walk in such a manner as to drag one leg to becoming made the official music & dance of the Dominican Republic as dictated by El Jefe himself Rafael Trujillo, meringue has helped shaped the life of all Dominicans. Here are examples of its earliest form as social dancing to the latest hip-hop stylings of Merengue Urbano.

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Music from the Dominican Republic is a fantastic collection from Smithsonian Folkways Records. It spans four discs & provides a great listen to the musical history of the DR. It was recorded by Verna Gillis with Ramon Daniel Perez Martinez. The first three were recorded in 1976, the last one in 1978.

Record 1 - The Island of Quisqueya.

"Lying midway between Puerto Rico & Cuba in the West Indies is the Dominican Republic, a country which occupies the eastern two-thirds of an island it shares with the country Haiti. The aboriginal name of the island was Quisqueya, which means ‘mother of the earth’. When Columbus discovered the island in 1492 he renamed it ‘Española’. In Santo Domingo, founded in 1496, one still sees the remains of the first church built in America. Here is the house where Cortés kept the court records before he had even heard of Mexico. From here Ponce de León set out in search of the Fountain of Youth..."

Music from the Dominican Republic: Vol. 1, The Island of Quisqueya, 

Ethnic Folkways Records FE 4281, 1976.

Side 1 –

A Novena – drummers & singers from Samana

O Reina – Heraldo Enriques, Pablo Jiron, & Saturnino Enriques

Instrumental, with vocals – Isabel, Santos, Colon, & Damito Jimenes

A Novena – locals recorded at the home of Sr. Amable

Side 2 –

Merengues:

“Apagame la Vela” – Nicole Guitierres, Porfirio Rosario, & Santo Peña

“Merengues” – Seseco Martinez, Bicolo Avila, & Goyo Caminero

“Cuando Yo Vine del” – Tomás de Leon, Maria Isabel Trinidad, & Licinio Modesto

“Julio Ven” – Erasmo, Julio, & Virgilio Errera

“Las Mujeres Son el Consuelo de los Hombres” – same as “Apagame la Vela”

“Merengues” – same as “Merengues” above

Record 2 - The Island of Española.

In the Dominican Republic, syncretism between African traditions & Catholicism often manifests itself in songs & rituals. On this disc "Sarandunga," a celebration that honors St. John the Baptist, offers an excellent example. Another selection, “Guay, guay, guay,” features melismatic singing & polyrhythmic percussion created by palos drums (a cylindrical drum of African origin). "Morena Linda" & "Caminan las Nubes" feature strummed guitar, maracas, & call-&-response between male & female vocalists. Liner notes include a brief overview of the history of the Dominican Republic, track notes, & pictures of the palos drums.

Music from the Dominican Republic: Vol. 2, The Island of Española, 

Ethnic Folkways Records FE 4282, 1976.

Side 1 –

Los Chuines – Ernesto Marine, Armando Perez, & Ventura & Santiago Guerrero

Sarandunga – Amanica Perez, Carlos Enriques, Manuel Ventura, & Raphael & Carlos Peguero

Side 2 -

Morena Linda

Caminan las Nubes

Istrumental – Tomás Aguino de Leon & Maria Isabel Trinidad

Guay, Guay, Guay

El Tobaco

Tonada

Salves – Elvira Diaz, Pablo Jiron, Mildred Alberto, & Bederminio & Saturninio Enriques

Record 3 - Cradle of the New World.

Cradle of the New World continues in the vein of prior volumes in the series, offering songs that range from religious salves in praise of the Virgin Mary to dances such as the cumbia, the national dance of Colombia. Palos drums, which can reach up to 5 ft. in height, are featured prominently in both secular & religious songs. They provide percussion for accordion & vocal melodies. Liner notes include a brief overview of the history of the Dominican Republic, track notes with lyrics in English & Spanish, also pictures of the featured musicians.

Music from the Dominican Republic: Vol. 3, Cradle of the New World, 

Ethnic Folkways Records FE 4283, 1976.

Side 1 –

Mummies – Theophilus Chiverton, Gerald George, Alfredo  Paris, Manuel Arab, Jesus Manuel Román, & Agripino Hernandez

Los Congos:

“Espirito Santo” / “Camino Reale” medley

“Ensilla Mi Caballo”

“Lambe los Deos Manteca”

“Le Vamos A Dar la Gracias” - Bienvenida, Victoriano, Vincente, & Donatilia Vargas & Albertino Graciano

Side 2 -

Baile, Cum, Cum, Baile (a Bambula) – Nino, Benjamin Perez, & Dona & Jorge Bertilia

Ave Maria, Bena de Gracia (a Salves) – Nino, Benjamin Perez, & Dona Bertilia

Yo Traigo un Lirio – Nino, Seseco Martinez, & Jorge Bertilia

Viejo Luis (a Bambula) – Dona & Jorge Bertilia & Benjamin Perez

Three Children’s Songs

Navidad sin Mi Madre (a Cumbia) – Nicole Guitierres, Porfirio Rosario, & Santo Peña

Record 4 - Songs of the North.

Bordering the Atlantic Ocean, the northern areas of the Dominican Republic are home to the Cordillera Septentrional mountains & the farmlands in the Cibao valley. Songs such as "Canto de Hacha" and "Tumbando el gri-gri" are intended to accompany woodcutting. They feature overlapping a-capella solo & chorus singing. Also included are dances such as "Bolero," which features maracas & Spanish guitar. Liner notes include track notes with lyrics in Spanish & English.

Music from the Dominican Republic: Vol. 4, Songs of the North, 

Ethnic Folkways Records FE 4284, 1978.

Side 1 –

Canto de Hacha – Fransisco Sanchez

Canto de Hacha - Santo de la Cruz

Canto de Hacha – Andre Rodriguez Pena

Báquini (death song)

Rosario (song of supplication)

Rosario (death song)

Rosario – Juan Pablo Paolin, Santo de la Cruz, Feliz Gomez, Juan Maria Pena, Petrolina Clase, & Tomas, Aquilino, Llario, & Mercedes Sanchez

Chuin (social song) – solo & chorus

Side 2 –

Bolero - Tomás Aguino de Leon & Maria Isabel Trinidad

Improvised Lyrics – Miguel A. Burdie, Carlos Antonia Pena, & Amado Salo with chorus

Salve - Juan Pablo Paolin, Santo de la Cruz, Feliz Gomez, Juan Maria Pena, Petrolina Clase, & Tomas, Aquilino, Llario, & Mercedes Sanchez

Comic Song – Francisco Burdie, Juan Jorge Cruz, & Fausta & Augustin Taveras

Chuin (love song) – Tomas Sanchez & Juan Maria Pena with chorus

Bolero “Obsesion” - Francisco Burdie, Juan Jorge Cruz, & Fausta & Augustin Taveras

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Omega (Antonio Peter De La Rosa) was born on the town of Bonao, Dominican Republic. He is the son of Ercilia de La Rosa & Sergio Peter. He grew up in Pantoja, one of the neighborhoods of central Santo Domingo, the capital of the country. It was there that he was introduced to the thrill of meringue music.

Omega y su Mambo Violento is a modern merengue group who are most generally classified as a ‘mambo’ band because of their name. They are based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Since 2007 the group which is led by singer Omega has enjoyed increased popularity in the Dominican Republic & in the Dominican-American communities in the United States. They have also enjoyed an increased popularity in Spain. Lately that popularity has spread to the rest of Latin American.

Omega (or Omega el Fuerte, as he is also known) has helped create & popularize a new form of merengue, called Merengue Urbano. It is a blend of merengue with hip hop, rap, &  R&B. This new genre has been adopted by many artist from diverse backgrounds such as Cuban-American Pitbull & Colombian-born Shakira. Omega y Su Mambo Violento has become one of the leaders in the urban merengue scene eclipsing earlier acts like Julian y Oro Duro, El Jeffrey, Sr. Jucafri, & other groups of the genre.

 Omega y su Mambo Violento – Omega y su Mambo Violento, Allegro Music, 2006.

Tracklist –

Son Tan Solo Dos
Me Engañaste
Mamboteo
La Goma & Gorrito
El Mambo Del Drink
Dólares y Cacho
La Macaste
El Rabo Del Lechón
Noche De Travesuras
Son Tan Solo, Mamboteo, El Mambo Del Drink (Remix)
Alante Alante
Motoconcho
Paleta
Por Teléfono

Omega has recently had several run-ins with the law in the DR. Early this year he did prison time for assualt but was later released & his accuser was charged with perjury. Perhaps his criminal mischief had something to do with Akon signing Omega to his record label Konvict Musik (appropriately named???).

 Omega el Fuerte - En Vivo-Fiesta de Fin de Año 2012

Tracklist -

Intro
Dandole
Con Biberones No
Acualta
Porque Me Tratas Asi
Chambonea
Paleta
Dollares Pa Ti
Ratata
Un Dia De Suerte
Escudo De Dios

Enjoy,

NØ

Puerto Rico

Reuploaded 11/28/2025

Raphy Leavitt (born September 17, 1948) is a Puerto Rican composer & founder of the salsa orchestra La Selecta.

Jíbaro Soy is some of Leavitt’s finest writing. It features strong Puerto Rican 70s salsa while also using the national folk music known as decima.

The song “La Cuna Blanca” is a shining example of Leavitt’s fantastic compositional skills. The song is based on a tragic incident in Leaviitt & La Selecta’s lives. On their way to a dance in Connecticut in 1971, the band's van had an accident, killing trumpet player Luis Maisonet & severely injuring Leavitt. Leavitt sustained several fractures to his ribs, vertebrae, & his hip (he has walked with a severe limp ever since). He was placed in intensive care. As he recovered from a comatose state, he had a persistent vision of an empty white crib, from which baby cries could be heard. Somehow he associated the vision with his trumpet player, unaware that he had died in the accident. Maisonet was reportedly dressed in black, & was telling Leavitt, “Raphy, I'll help you from here”. When fellow band members mustered the will to tell Leavitt about the Maisonet's death, Leavitt claimed that he already knew about it.

After seven months of recovery, Leavitt & his band recorded the tribute song, with Leavitt writing dramatic lyrics interpreted by Sammy Marrero, arranged to an upbeat, heavily contrasting cha-cha beat. The bittersweet feeling evoked by the song has made it a popular farewell song at Puerto Rican funerals. Marrero's daughter's death from a stray bullet at a reggaeton club in 2005 brought the song back to light in the collective Puerto Rican conscience, as Marrero sang it in a tribute concert by La Selecta the day immediately after her death.

“En Memoria de un Hermano” (with the uncredited help of Ismael Miranda, of The Fania All Stars fame) was another Maisonet eulogy in this enduring & highly requested recording that has remained one of their most in-demand efforts.

 Raphy Leavitt y Su Orquesta La Selecta - Jibaro Soy, Borinquen ADG-1236, 1973.

Side A –

Jibaro Soy

Perdoname Cariño

Cafe Colao

Señorita Tentacion

Side B –

La Cuna Blanca

Consentida

Ecos de Danzon

En Memoria a un Hermano

Enjoy,

NØ

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Negros Vivos are from Cabo Rojo/Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. They were formed in 2000 by several members of one of the most important Puerto Rico ska, Los Pies Negros broke up. After Los Pies Negros disbanded, Juan ‘Paíto’ Rivera , Alexis Matos, & Willy ‘Black’ decide to re-group under the name of Negros Vivos.

In 2001 Negros Vivos released their first album titled Viviendo en Otro Lugar. This released garnered them a lot of attention in the US, Mexico, Spain, Venezuela, & Argentina in particular.

Their sound mixes ska with jazz, blues, soul, calypso, & reggae to give the band its distinctive sound. They were part of the most important compilation of local Puerto Rico bands, titled Uno Mas, produced by Phat Productions & PulsoRock.com .

In 2006 they launched their second release, entitled De Vuelta Atrás. This lead to their first tour of foreign countries, helped their music reach a larger audience.

In 2012 they released their third disc, the self-tiled Negros Vivos. It was well received & they were signed to play at Festival Vive Latino in Mexico held in March 2013. They became only the fifth Puerto Rican band to perform at this prestigious event.

I was going to post up their latest self-titled release, but the back cover had a warning from the F.B.I. against illegal useage. Knowing the close ties that Puerto Rican money interests have to the U.S., I thought I better heed the warning, punk band or not. Always figured you could trust punk bands for a bit of anarchy, but I was never too sure about ska. Hope this one is safe. Hate to get this far on our journey & then get pulled over by the sheriff.

Negro Vivos are: Juan ‘Paito’ Rivera - vocals & guitar; Alexis Matos - keyboards & vocals; Willy Black - guitar & vocals; & Evan Troche – drums.

 Negros Vivos – Viviendo en Otro Lugar, 2001.

Tracklist –

No Vale Encessarse

Busca Bien

Volverte a ver

Viviendo en Otro Lugar

Porque Dudas

Desolación

Correl el SKA

A tu Lado

No Puedes Juzgar

Canticos a la Raza

Calles Obscuras

Bares y Alcohol

Enjoy,

NØ

U.S. Virgin Islands

Reuploaded 11/28/2025

While conscious reggae music has enjoyed a revival in creativity, popularity, & appeal since the mid 90s, many reggae fans lament the small number of female voices. Here to help fill that void  is Dezarie, from St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. Her angelic voice & powerful songwriting have gained her notice throughout the Caribbean & here in the U.S. In the summer of 2001, three of Dezarie's songs were released on the Nemozian Rasta CD, the first collaboration project between the Midnite Band & I Grade Productions. These songs received significant radio play in the Virgin Islands, Washington D.C., & Atlanta. Dezarie was named Best New Artist at the 2001 Atlanta Reggae Music Awards.

Dezarie's long-awaited debut CD, Fya, features thirteen new songs along with two from the Nemozian Rasta disc. The roots riddims on the album were arranged & performed by I Grade Productions (guitarist/producer Laurent "Tippy" Alfred, bassist Kenyatta Itola) & the Midnite Band.

The all-live instrumentation on Fya harkens back to the classic Jamaican roots sound of the 1970s, solid roots drum rhythms, heavy bass lines, with crisp bubbles & skanks. The musicians on Fya include the I Grade Productions duo mentioned above along with the core members of the Midnite Band: songwriter Vaughn Benjamin; keyboardist Ronnie Benjamin; bassist/drummer Phil Merchant; & drummer Dion "Bosie" Hopkins. Fya also features the rhythm & lead guitar playing of Tuff Lion (who has performed & recorded with some of the top bands in reggae including the Abyssinians, Junior Marvin, & Midnite).

Dezarie – Fya, I Grade Records IGLP002, 2001.

Side A –

Zion                

Omega                        

Don't Cry                   

Most High                  

Love Yourself                        

Flesh & Bone

Side B –

                       

Fya                 

All Ova                      

Walk Wid Me                        

Rebel              

Sing Out                     

Iron Sharpen Iron

bonus tracks (from the extended CD release IGCD002, 2001) –

Jah Throne

Mind Yu Own

Fya Dub

Dezarie followed up this amazing release with 2003's massive release, Gracious Mama Africa on the Afrikan Roots Lab label. She toured extensively in support of the album, culminating in a performance at 2004s Sierra Nevada World Music Festival. Dezarie is quickly becoming known as one of the foremost female roots singers in the world.

Again working closely with the I Grade production team & with contributions from the Midnite players of instruments, Gracious Mama Africa maintains that Midnite trademark sound: momentous bass lines, classic one-drops, bubbling keyboards, & sharp lead & rhythm guitar playing. (lead guitar – Abijah Hicks)

Dezarie is the only sister in the reggae field to come with such a combination of vocal beauty, lyrical fire, & musical thunder. The lyrics forge new directions in Dezarie’s songwriting development. If you liked Fya, check this one.

Dezarie - Gracious Mama Africa, African Roots Lab 000, 2003.

Tracklist –

Gone Down

Poverty

Not One Penny

Strengthen Your Mind

Law fe de Outlaw

Justice

Gracious Mama Africa

Exhalt

Mother & Child

Travelers

Slew Dem & Done

Judgement Come

Enjoy,

NØ

British Virgin Islands

Reuploaded 11/28/2025

Jon Lucien (Lucien ‘Billy’ Harrigan) was born January 8, 1942 on the island of Tortola, the main island of the British Virgin Islands. By the young age of 16 he played with a group called the Marty Clarke Trio, He was a vocalist & multi-instrumentalist. Lucien is best known for his song “Rashida”, the title track of an album released in 1973, one of two Grammy winning songs on that album (the other was “Lady Love”). He was also well known for his cover of "Dindi" by Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. His smooth baritone drew comparisons with Nat King Cole & Lou Rawls. Jon Lucien died on the morning of August 18, 2007 of respiratory failure.

His RCA album, I Am Now (1970), launched a recording career that won him a loyal following, although his hard-to-categorize style never led to breakout success. Though most generally classified as smooth jazz or quiet storm, Lucien called his style a fusion of jazz, rhythm & blues, Caribbean, & Brazilian sounds. He was really more a performer of sweet soul music.

On Mind’s Eye the musicians are: Jon Lucien – songwriter, vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, & percussion; Billy Butler & John Tropea – guitar; Mitch Kerper – electric piano; David Grusin – piano & percussion; Garnett Brown – trombone; Marvin Stamm – trumpet; Lew del Gatto & Bobby Keller – woodwinds; Cameron Brown – bass; Jorge Fatturoso & Ralph MacDonald – percussion; Steve Thorton – congas; & Richard Harrigan – drums; with Albertine Robinson, Christine Spencer; Maeretha Stewart; & Marti McCall – backing vocals.

Jon Lucien – Mind’s Eye, RCA APL1-0493, 1974.

Side 1 –

A Sunny Day

A Prayer for Peace

Adoration

So Little Time

Listen Love

Side 2 –

The Pleasure of Your Garden

World of Joy

The Ghetto Song

Soul Chant

When the Morning Comes

Enjoy,

NØ

Anguilla

Reuploaded 11/28/2025

Jahmings Maccow was born in Crocus Hill overlooking Crocus Bay on the quiet island of Anguilla. He was influenced from infancy by music coming from the Mississippi Delta & his native Caribbean. Jahmings started singing & playing the harmonica at the age of 5 with a choral group at school in St. Kitts. At the age of 8 he built a steel drum that he tuned himself with excellent results. By the time he was nine everyone in Anguilla was talking about him as one of the best singers & poets in school. Maccow became the leader of the Public Works Steel Band at 12. He became the keyboardist of the band The Flames from St. Thomas a year later.

During the 80s he played guitar & sang with the reggae band Catch-A-Fire. In the 90s, he branched out to become more of a rhythm & blues, rock guitarist, a sound that he infused into his new reggae project, The Enforcers. The Enforcers (featuring Jahmings Maccow released a three-song mini-CD.

The Enforcers were: Jahmings Maccow – vocals & guitar; Conrad – guitar; Rudy Obidali – keyboards; Terry – bass: & Buckey - drums.

The Enforcers (feat. Jahmings Maccow) – Shanty Town Rock, Rebel Productions, 2003.

Tracklist –

Shanty Town Rock

Memories

She’s Gone

As the years have passed, Jahmings’ songwriting has become more polished & more deeply personal. He tells life stories, spins insightful yarns, & asks the big questions of the type typically reserved for the inner workings of the brain. From the musical pulpit he preaches peace & love. He is one of the true voices of a dying generation of reggae music.

I is a stripped down, back to basics album that makes the word simple a good thing again. In mainstream music today, everything has to be over the top, over-produced; too many effects but not enough heart. It’s refreshing to hear simple, beautiful music; guitar, vocals, keyboard, drums. The three songs from The Enforcers appear here in new versions. I’ve also added two bonus tracks.

The musicians on I are: Jahmings Maccow – vocals, lead, & rhythm guitar; JR – guitar; Jacob Dayda – keyboards; Tafari – bass; & Carlos – drums, with Princess & July – backing vocals.

Jahmings Maccow – I, Letmegoo Records, 2010.

Tracklist –

Horizon Train

Passing Through

I

Set Me Free

How Ya Gwaan Crucify

Free the Pain

Man Redemption

Let Dem Grow

Boys & Girls

Put You Down

Cry for Tomorrow

Dread

Shanty Town Rock

She’s Gone

Memories

bonus tracks –

New Way part II

Journey

Enjoy,

NØ

St. Martin - St. Maarten

Reuploaded 11/28/2025

BettiV is Betty Nisbeth-Karlsson, a singer from the Dutch St. Maarten. She has been dubbed “the voice of conscious reggae”.

BettiV has been singing & performing since the age of 12, when she blew away her local church congregation with her rendition of “Tomorrow” by the Winans. She was known as a shy scrawny little girl. No one ever expected such a powerful, sultry, soulful voice was hiding under the unassuming surface. From that time on BettiV participated in various children’s song festivals, winning the St. Maarten’s Third Annual Children’s Song Festival in1983. She was also a member of the children’s choir The Lollipops, led by St. Maarten’s Ambassador of Music, Ms. Anastacia Larmonie.

During the 90s BettiV sang backup & then lead for bands like Bad Boys, Tonka & Friends, & Phenomenon. As lead singer for Phenomenon, she had the opportunity to perform at a private yacht party hosted by Herbie Hancock & Michael Douglas.

In 2005 Betty joined the renowned international Saint Martin band Youthwaves as female lead singer. They have performed in Dominica, St. Kitts, Tortola, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barts, French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Marie Galant, Le Saint, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, & the USA. They’ve opened concerts for world renowned bands like Kassav, Tanya St. Val, Lovendere, Lucky Dube, Steel Pulse, Digital Express, 727 La Rose, Mary J. Blige, Beres Hammond, Les Aiglon, Wyclef Jean, Njie, & Shaggy, among others.

In 2008 BettiV recorded her first zouk solo track, a cover of “Into You” originally performed by Tamia on their album Voices. As a solo artist, BettiV has recorded her first original single “Hold On” & is presently recording her second single “Spend Some Time”. Her album is scheduled to be released November of 2013. So this is an early warning teaser. “Hold On” is her original first single. The other tracks are all live performances.

BettiV – Hold On & Various Tastes.

Tracklist –

Hold On

Halo

Girl on Fire – BettiV

You Can Do Anything – BettiV & Bankie Banks

Ain’t No Sunshine

No Woman, No Cry - BettiV & Manu

I Dare You

Waiting in Vain - BettiV & Percy Rankin

Enjoy,

NØ

St. Kitts & Nevis

Reuploaded 11/28/2025 

 

Masud Sadiki has been described as “the most influential reggae artist coming out of the twin Island paradise of St. Kitts & Nevis”.

Born in St. Kitts in 1974 as Kevin Donovan, Masud began performing publicly at high school concerts, where he immediately stood out from his peers. Masud quickly gained attention at local gigs & winning local talent shows. This led to sharing the stage with the likes of Buju Banton, Luciano, Dennis Brown, Morgan Heritage, Beres Hammond, Wyclef Jean, Culture, Lucky Dube, Gregory Isaacs, Junior Kelly, Everton Blender, & many other reggae stars.

Masud was a recording artist, writer, & dynamic performer. For four years he was lead vocalist of Caribbean Roots (the house band for Four Seasons Resort, Nevis). He resigned from his lead vocalist role with the Caribbean Roots Band to direct his full attention to his solo career. His mission was always to bring uplifting songs with a steadfast message of universal peace & love to his listeners.

With an exciting blend of roots reggae, ska, a touch of dancehall, a dash of African rhythms, & a sprinkling of other Caribbean musical flavors, he managed to keep his music lively & fun, with catchy melodies & brilliantly crafted music, while still delivering socially conscious lyrics.

He performed with the tight eight piece band Kala-Bash from St Kitts. His superb vocal skills & musical creativity are evident on his two independently released albums: Blast Off from 2001 & Sun Down 2 Sun Up from 2003. I am showcasing his initial Blast Off here.

Masud, an ever-popular entertainer, died May 21, 2012 at the age of 37. The local Old Road/Verchilds native was found hanging from a tree in the Old Road Town area of Saint Thomas Middle Island parish, dead from an apparent suicide. This was a shocking blow to those who knew him to be full of life, extremely positive, & cheerful. It has been rumored that Masud suffered from an extended bout of depression, a side of him that most of his loving fans never saw.

Masud Sadiki – Blast Off, self-released, 2001.

Tracklist –

Intro
Love for Mama
I Wonder How
Got to Give Him
Hunting Ourselves
Get Up & Move
More Reggae
Can’t Run
Wicked a Go Dung
I Try
Show Me the Light
‘bout War
Rise
Community We Building
‘bout War (remix)

Enjoy,
NØ

Political Chicken

Maybe it’s just because I’ve been listening to so much reggae musick lately. Reggae always makes me get all political & community-conscious. Oh, I’ll admit it…I’ve just been smoking a lot more ganja. I just think I need to weigh in on the bullshit the Tea-Bagger Party has been trying to pull in Washington.

Man, they sure thump the bible & wave the flag & flap the Constitution all the time. But what happened to “We, the people???”  What about their beloved Democracy. The majority of the American people have spoken & it’s not the crap the Tea-Baggers are flinging. We elected President Barack Obama by a clear majority, you racist asswipes, so live with it.

I figured out the whole thing. The Tea-Baggers just wanna play Chicken with America’s future. Every time the President starts driving us down that road toward a better future, the Tea-Baggers hop in their little minority car & come barreling down on us from the opposite direction in their hyper-righteous game of Political Chicken. The President, being the caring human being that he truly is, swerves out of their way to avoid injury to any of us, even those idiots driving on the wrong side of the road. He’s been doing it for more than four years. All it has done is keep us from our destination & emboldens the Tea-Baggers.

Well, enough is enough. There are obvious flaws in their bravado approach. The President is driving a powerful & large American-made Peterbilt 18-wheeler & the Tea-Baggers are driving their little Third Reich VW. & as they learned to a science during the Dubya Bushie era that they should just lie about every thing…ev—verrrry-thang! They are totally chicken, totally chicken-shit & it was finally time to call their bluff.

So the President decided that he wasn’t gonna budge, he wasn’t going to let a bunch of lying bully asswipes sidetrack us on our path to a better tomorrow. He was willing to gamble that ‘We, the people’ would come out the least injured even in the event that neither party swerved, that neither side was chicken. But in his gut he knew that we were in the right & they were CHICKEN. So he stayed on the road, he never budged, took it right to the last second before impact. & the Tea Party Chicken Party revealed their true self to the last few remaining folks that didn’t already know.

I’m sure they’ll re-group, spin the fact that they swerved to some humanitarian lie that they so don’t believe, & wait until they get the balls (not too hard for the likes of the Palins of their ilk. [She had her husband’s balls removed & bronzed like li’l baby shoes & wears them around her neck]) to try it again. But it only takes a couple times of their chickening out before this all morphs into Bushie’s ‘Fool me once, fool me twice’ nonsense or from a story about Chicken to a story about a little coward ‘boy who cried Wolf’.

Here’s some appropriate (or not) musick from UXA (United eXperiments of America formed in San Francisco in 1977 & later moved to L.A, fronted by the great De De Troit. This is Posh Boy’s second issuing of this with 12 songs instead of the original 10, different mixes).

U.X.A. – Illusions of Grandeur, Posh Boy PBS 104, 1981.
decryption code in comments

Side A –

Paranoia is Freedom

No Time / UXA

Hand in Glove

I Don’t Lose Sleep

You Saw Me

Side B –

Tragedies

Sister Godfrieda

Innocent Bystander

Non-fiction

Immunity

Death from Above

Enjoy it while you can afford it suckers,

NØ