Jah Cure says he’s not in any “holy Rasta” competition
Hell will freeze over before reggae singer Jah
Cure starts dressing like a “1960s Rasta”. The artiste said he has
suffered enough after living among roaches and chinks while serving a prison
sentence years ago, and is not about to miss out on the luxuries of life.
“It’s time to taste the glory of the
work, nobody nuffi get jealous if dem see Jah Cure wear two shoes, drive a
Benz,” he said in a recent InstagramLive. “Bob Marley did deh boutyah and a bimma him did a drive. If Bob Marley did alive a probably fourG-wagon inna him garage right now… Any Rasta waan fake out dem life and gwaanlike dem a deal with Rasta competition fi be the most holy Rasta man, I’m noton that. I take a drink sometimes, I take a smoke, I put on a little one tatpon mi body and mi put on a one earring.”
He added that his fashion choices are catered
to women, as they are the ones who support his music the most.
“Mi dress fi di ladies dem, mi live for
them so please don’t get it twisted,” he said. “Up to now mi ASCAP
cheque dem…di songs weh mi sing for di ladies a dem pay mi di most…so mi
cya stop sing love song. Mi nah stop sing roots and culture but mi a left dat
fi Chronixx dem fi gwaan bask inna.”
Though he’s unapologetic about his affinity
for nice things, he said he’s not governed by material possessions.
“Mi a di only man weh will jump off inna any river or sea with mi millions a diamonds pon mi neck and mi never care,” he said. “Mi will dig weh dirt with mi Rolex pon mi hand; we like nice things but we never worship them.”
His argument comes after frequent uproar about
his fashion choices and ostentatious lifestyle, from his sparkling jewelry,
tight pants, high fashion splurges, and cars that match his fly.
Jesse Royal is another Rasta who challenges
the traditional views of how Rastafarians should present themselves, as he
likes to show some chest and ab-action here and there, fancies a well-fitted
outfit, and is often seen sporting jewelry.
In his 2018 song No Guarantee, Protoje also tackled antiquated philosophies of the
Rastafari lifestyle, arguing that it’s perfectly okay for Rastas to drive luxury
vehicles as Emperor Haile Selassie owned several Benz vehicles.
