In an unusual form, retired Olympic athlete turned Dancehall producer Usain Bolt criticized the powers that be in Jamaica for selling off the country’s natural resources.
Bolt who was speaking on the JD IN The Duffle Bag podcast said,
It’s hard to see, you know a mean, to see Jamaican selling so much because they sold Dunns River Falls, When I heard they sold it I was like thats one of the biggest attractions in Jamaica, even Jamaicans love that,”
he claimed with a disappointing tone.
So when I found out I was like ‘come on’. So thats hard to see people come into the country and actually benefitting from these things. I am not even sure why they sold it because I am sure its profitable.”
The Jamaican Ambassador further stated.
Bolt has lead several ad campaigns for the Jamaica Tourist board but his disappointment with the sale of Dunn River Falls may be unfounded. When World Music Views checked with high level officials at the Jamaica Tourist Board it was confirmed that it is the Urban Development Corporation that owns and operates Dunns River Falls.
Jamaica 🇯🇲 Beauty.
The water crystal blue… Waves so gentle… Sand so soft… The breeze blows gently, the palms sway back and forth… Food to die for..
Music that makes you move…
The island of forever…. 🇯🇲🏝
~BM pic.twitter.com/oNpPRPIaQD— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) July 29, 2020
Dunn’s River Falls is a tourist attraction in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. It was once part of the 276 acre Belmont property. In 1972, Belmont property was purchased by the Jamaican government and is now run by the Urban Development Corporation.
Rumors of a sale circulated in the media as far back as 2016, but the Urban Development Corporation released a statement rubbishing the claims.
“will not and cannot be sold as it is Jamaica’s prime tourism destination, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors on an annual basis”. per Jamaica Observer
Bolt also spoke about his single “Living The Dream” with NJ and how the song came into fruition.
“A lot of people would come up to me a go ‘yo you did well in life’ and and i am like ‘you can do it’ and a lot of people don’t believe in themselves. I was just trying to show them I am from nothing i didn’t have it but you have to believe in yourself an want your dream and never give up, try to find people to help you and never give up”
During the 58 minute 39 seconds interview the Olympe Rose Riddim producer offered some scathing criticisms of contemporary dancehall music.
“I grew up on hardcore dancehall, it’s hard to see the change and I think that’s why dancehall is losing its respect,” Bolt told Chuckie.
“No disrespect to all the other artist they doing their things they making money, cool, but the respect that dancehall had that everybody want a piece of is different now because it’s not the hardcore like ghetto type of dancehall anymore,” Bolt added.
The 35-year-old said he plans to make even more ‘traditional-sounding’ Dancehall with some ‘old school’ artists.
“I think that’s what we’re missing now. Because people will see me and go ‘yow what’s going with Dancehall music’. Cause now the trap dancehall is taking over. I say ‘I don’t know,’” Bolt added. “I can’t determine where Dancehall go, but now I’m here I can try to change it and try to put more hardcore Dancehall out there.”
Vybz Kartel
Bolt concluded that it was the Any Vybz Kartel’s physical absence from dancehall that led to the music changing.
“Just look at it. When Vybz Kartel was out, alot of people mirrored what he did. But no one stepped up and took over, after he left. Everybody was looking towards somebody.. who’s gonna be that guy that we look forward to your next song coming out. And nobody did. It was just like everybody on the same level. No one really stood up,” Bolt explained.
Kartel has released eight albums from behind bars since 2011.
Bolt continued, “Then the Trap guys came in and people were like cool, let’s listen to what going here. And that’s how the younger generation now start gravitating to that, and that’s how the music just kinda changed. Cause they were stepping up (and it was a group of them) and they were putting out music, like, quick (snaps finger).”
“The main hardcore guys, they, did nothing,” Bolt added.
Similar sentiments were shared by Buju Banton in an interview with Winford Williams, as he promoted his Upside Down 2020 album last year.
“Can we honestly say that our music has grown? Can we honestly ask that and say yes? Because me personally feel say it nuh grow,” Buju reasoned. “Me come out ah work house (prison) and a Kartel me see run the place, same way. Me hear other people, don’t think me nuh hear and a listen but me know music when me hear music. His lyrical content, that’s not my subject. His relevancy, that’s my argument. That aside has he moved?”
