In a recent interview on WMV, reggae artist Chapta Nyne shared his thoughts on the ongoing discussion within reggae music surrounding the divide between so-called “fire starters” and the more commercially accepted “uptown rasta” movement.
Asked whether he had been paying attention to the growing conversation, Chapta Nyne acknowledged that the debate is impossible to ignore.
“You’d have to be on a rock not to see what’s going on,” he said, emphasizing that the differences within reggae culture have become a major talking point among fans and artists alike.
Rather than choosing sides, Chapta Nyne offered a thoughtful perspective, comparing the various styles and approaches in reggae music to different types of fire.
“There’s different fire,” he explained. “You have a matchstick fire, you have hell fire, you have gasoline fire. Some fires are small, some are big. Some fires help us understand ourselves, and some fires make us run.”
Using the metaphor, Chapta Nyne argued that every form of expression has value and serves a purpose within the culture. He pointed to the emergence of artists like Yaksta as an example of the powerful energy currently being injected into reggae music.
“What Yaksta is doing now is like a breath of fresh air,” he said. “I love it. It feels like when Sizzla and Capleton came with that burning fire energy. It’s like a resurgence of that spirit.”
His comments reflect a growing appreciation among reggae supporters for artists who are reconnecting with the genre’s roots of cultural awareness, spirituality, and social commentary.
Despite his praise for the new wave of “fire starters,” Chapta Nyne was careful not to position himself against artists associated with the uptown or more mainstream side of reggae.
When asked if he would choose the fire starters over the uptown movement, his response was clear: “I’m not going to choose nobody.”
Instead, he emphasized the importance of balance and diversity within the genre.
“Every fire is necessary,” he stated. “Every artist has a part to play.”
