I Wayne says radio disc jocks and selectors are failing to exercise balance and fairness when playing music. As a result, good artistes are getting left behind.

“It’s obvious seh a mostly nastiness them a promote. You have whole heap of artistes like Queen Ifrica who is making good music, but some people are making it 30 times harder for us. We see the raping, killing and paedophilia a rise in the country and we, as Rasta, get up and burn it; but dem a gwaan like badness a something good. The majority of people a promote this big nasty contest and some artistes do anything fi get airplay. Dem fi clean up dem ting and remember that kids are listening. Play di goodness as much as unno play Ishawna and Alkaline. From you talk the truth and burn filthiness, you will get punished for it; but mi nuh give dem weh dem want, mi give dem weh dem supposed to get,” I Wayne told the Jamaica Observer.

The singer said he does not rely on radio stations to play his music but promotes it on social media.

He is currently working on the River Nile rhythm which will have 13 tracks. While the release date is not set, artistes like Richie Spice, Queen Ifrica, and Turbulence will be included on the set.

I Wayne is encouraging new artistes to pay homage to their forerunners, and avoid the copycat culture.

“Mi see some yutes a try be Bob Marley; Bob is Bob, be yourself. You can learn from Sizzla but why you want to be Sizzla? Yuh never live the life, a some pirates dem. These things cause grudge too. You can emulate and learn from someone, but when you try to be the person that is just pure evil. When we forward in music in 2004, yuh neva hear we seh Marcia Griffiths and Beres fi stop sing now,” he said.

He said he would want to see more females in the industry.

“Give young yutes a chance, especially the females cause it’s a male-dominated industry. But women, when unno come be positive, nuh go freaky or raw. No ‘skin out’ this or one bag of tracing. Mi just a keep it real, mi nah bash anyone,” he added.

I Wayne (given name Cliffroy Taylor) came to prominence in 2004. The following year, he released his debut album Lava Groud which contains hits including Can’t Satisfy Her and Living in Love. Other albums include Book of Life (2005) and Life Teachings (2011).

— Sade Gardner