I should point out that our brilliant experimental Jackie 60 MC Paul Alexander is from Jamaica.

As is Grace Jones.......

Honestly, there's a hell of allot of 'fierce' out there... that's why it's home to me. its a place of extreem which i adore, even if I disagree with it. You know I like my Ho's to look like Ho's my biggots to look like Biggots ... it's all out there.

As for your views on it all being stuck in the 70s I disagree. I think what you mean is that people are still saying the same thing about LOOK at the ghetto, look at the violence or rude bwoys. I think Jamaicas are incredibly proud of their identities its one of the few countries in the Caribbean that hasn't fully embraced American brands (McDonalds, Sean John, Hillfigure all failed in the country, but local designers and food chains thrive). I think in the JA visuals everyone wants to identify and their story to be heard as its a pretty much voiceless society really (people aren't all on the internet etc). What you see on those videos might be a cliche to you but that's life to the people there and these are Jamaican artists you are looking at and that's what they want to show THEIR story. Most commercial scenes are just one note. (And these videos are commercials they aren't arthouse for a reason they are selling products). I didn't think the Alborosie video was negative actually the sunsets the people kissing the kids and the vibe in the record store I felt all 'homesick' but then again that's me... some young fairy might see a video of some chelsea bar in full fagulocity and feel the same feeling for that (while I look and think oh so one note).
I get yer point.
Anyway, our Kassa is here next wk so u can nag him in person about it.
He's dying to do some REAL film work!!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Anna Nicole,

You make a good point A.N.
It is their culture.
I guess I have the same problem with Japan for example. It's like they never got over Godilla. Everything is just a sci-fi cliche with them.

Jamaica has always had a very fierce identity.
Very "upity".
It has such an interesting history -the Maroons, Marcus Garvey, Haili Salasi, Rastafarism etc.
Jamaica was the only colony as far as I know that fought back and essentially beat the Spanish, then the English. Jamaica just became a sort of "Iraq" for them.
(Jamaican history is VERY good reading BTW if you like that sort of thing like Hatches and I do. Check out the Jamaican Maroons and the Tainos!)

So I see your point A.N.
What seems like a cliche to me is really their culture.

It's just that sometimes this history of culture turns into a self fulfilling prophecy.
People stop thinking "outside the box".
It like the ghetto bullshit in this country.
Kids think they have to be a certain way because that's all they see on TV, in movies and in ads etc.
I guess that's what it is that bothers me.

I would love to meet Kassa.
I can bitch to him in person.

I think the dif with his work an allot of others in that genre is that his women in his vids aren't 'hos' they are sassy in control women. He never has guns in his videos or bling (unless the artist really insists, and they do!)

He calls me today to tell me about the many butterflies he's seeing today - four different colored ones in his apt already today! That's the kinda tinker he is!

As for the history you are right....
Annie Palmer is my heroine
And Nanny of the Maroons - she was an 18th century female warrior who fought off the British. She was believed to have supernatural powers. amazing woman

Very fierce!

Granny Nanny

Am here in Kingston Town - as is my want from time to time when I need to get some grounding, when I need to re-ancor. One thing that I truly relish here is the need for people to talk to one another.... its a lost art in America. As someone who is verbally incontinent (as y'all know), its a treat for me to shuffle around town seeing ole an new chums and just - TALK. Talking in the US has to be around dinner, around an occasion or even around music or a tv. Here talking is just sitting, mainly in the yard or somewhere.

Yesterday, I stopped by the legendary Alan Skill Coles house. For those of u who don't want to google. He was the David Beckham of his era, (Played professional soccer in Brazil) he was also Bob Marleys ole manager and collaborator on many project. He's a fascinating well travelled, well read, humble, warm and loquacious man. Just to stop by that man's yard where he sat with two elderly rasta men and instantly be welcomed and talk for hours about poltics, Bob, the world and the consumerist society was a real tonic. I can never see how those kind of shared thoughts goes on these days in the US without it having to be a contrived set up meeting. That's what I love about it here. The pace and the exchange. Plus the vibracy of the people. Alans in some trouble right now and might face some jail time after they found a large amount of ganja in his house. I don't know truly what went on, but I hope he'll be alright.

Got drunk last night.... made some of those awful dialing when drunk calls (lawdhavemercy).

The hurricane might hit on Sunday so I might not get out... but at least I know I will be stuck with some good conversations!!

Hi AN - hope you are hunkered down somewhere groovy with Dean on his way (and we dont mean Johnson!)

Sending beams -

La Famille

Hello Sailors it's your very own Motherboards correspondent from the Eye of the Hurricane!

Bunkered down in Kingston Town playing dominos drinkin rum and getting into cars with random strangers whats new eh...

Just come back from on the road... music is blasting there's a woman in full wedding dress walking down the road (!?), men playing dominos and drinking rum and slowly people are boarding up business fronts- But I mean SLOWLY. Everyone doesn't seem hyped up as the US. I was totally in a tearful panic these past 48hrs but now I don't give a shit. Everyone is "oh I will check u later" allot of folk have had to go get elders from unsafe areas. I just phoned Goverment blokie and they have a huge issue in that they think the main (very very old) jail might get hit real bad (Yikees).
I felt totally lonely before but am feelin a bit better since more folk are slowly checkin back in with me. I think am just used to being in the US where there are all these crazy plans for emergency and everyone having a job to do and planning and organizing... here it seems we all just wait 'lek nature take it's course" u hear them say real laid back.
I just nipped out to buy some of me fave supplies - Fresh peanut punch (ground peanuts with sweet milk, nutmeg and a dash of rum), Bullah (round hard dough pasteries with sweet spices), bun an cheese (fruit loaf with a slice of processed cheese in the middle) and of course a large bottle of Stones Ginger Wine. I think am set. I don't know who if anyone will check me or if I will just ride it out alone here. If anyone can be 'alone' in JA - I just walked from the supermarket and it was starting to get real dark in a gloomy way with heavy drops of rain. An old man in a flash car pulls up "mi names Shaggy" - course it is, i reply. Mi know yer a friend of Kassa' let me give u a lift yer at the Altamont hotel mi know... I jump in and he chats, offers me a spliff and drops me off refusing money. Kingston town,where everyone knows your name.

Pip pip for now... prayer mats out that one of the lads comes to keep me safe (cue coquettish giggle).

Hang on, we're all pulling for you.

Cheers Seven!
Lovely to read Boards when I've felt a bit billy no mates here.

Post Script- I just took a look at the business card the taxi driver I just got a ride from gave me. A white card, heavy stock with a crudly printed old style almost Helvetica in red ink "Shaggy, celebrity taxi driver in Kingston ..." Now that really warmed the cockles of mi heart. Makes me remember why I love this place.

You're as good as gold, AN! What an incredible life you lead, my girl. Much love from this island to yours.

It's 12 noon and its getting closer and closer! I'm so giddy I just come from a drive! Bad weather, heavy heavy rain, wind just starting u feel it's going to pick up hard any minute...we drove up Jacks Hills (a fancy area on the hill) but couldn't pass the roads as power lines had fallen across the roads. There are huge mansion houses up there which i total worry could slide down that mountain (if huge pilons are falling now with no wind just water what else u know). But still outside Bob Marleys house at 56 Hope Road there's still a man selling the SUnday newspapers to passing cars! As u drive down (my mate has huge truck) waves surge high either side of the car. I doubt we will go on the road again now... but it was an exhilarating jaunt.
So many people are staying put in their homes. Crazy. But then again for so many it's all that they have. I'm terrified for the people on the little strip of land(its like fire island) called Port Royal... just terrified but they are all staying.
Anyway, the country is without power now, all electricity has been turned off island wide. But I have a generator here which stops and starts.
I'm also doing radio reports for the BBC (BBC Radio Merseyside who have tracked me down!) what a hoot!). Seems that most reporters are on Montego Bay so few in Kingston where it WILL hit!
Anyway, am giddy... sort of FINALLY enjoying being a Hurricane Virgin.
PS You will all be glad to hear I did my hair and make up and am wearing a very nice dress. I thought I should dress for this occasion, it was the English thing to do.
May or may not be able to post for a while.
Your very own Mother-correspondent!

We're all pulling for you A.N. and your little Island.
It's the "aftermath" that I'm worried about.
Looting, gangs etc.
If it's like New Orleans (and I think it is),
after the storm could be a lot worse than the storm.
Well, at least you know a celebrity cab driver.
I've known a few and they are always a good omen.

Rule, Brittania

Sending love from your NYC family - keep the reports coming if possible... we are hanging on every word!

Ok so the trees are beggining to fall. The TV is totally off and all the poor banana trees behind my room are flat on the ground. I'm trying to 'rescue' the cats that are here but can't find them. Hope they got in alright. The rain is torrential and I think MIGHT flood my room but that's ok. Kassa might still bring his dog here but I thing at this stage those lads have the biggest challaces that they are smokin that they might not even notice. (The dogs name - Spliffy). He has nuff food there etc and is in the office with the lads.
U really feel it pickin up but the girls in the hotel just left an got into taxis to leave (Which is crazy). Everyone is very chill, its the US news that's over tabloidian. There's a curfew in this area too. I tried to reach my chums up at Mount Edge guest house (real on the edge of the blue mountains) but their phones are all off. Hope they are ok. Should hit any minute now... Rather drunk on Stones Ginger Wine (its an ole lady drink here but I luv it) and getting calls from Ras Kassa and the crew so waggons are in a circle - and of course all the staff at the hotel know me! LOL
I have that nervous giddyness... just pissed I dont have a radio for mi room (might stay up in the small reception area with me bottle of Stones).
Nuff respekt from JA.

By the way, I have now changed outfits to pants a low cut top and a jaunty hat. I plan on entertaining myself throughout this storm even if it is just me working me way through all those outfits I never got to wear. It's also crackin up the staff here who think am....well, nuts.

I must say I am LOVING this Hurricane... i know its terrible but we're all really riding this like a rollercoaster. It's now at the point where as I type i hear endless crashing of roof tiles and trees crashing. It's wonderfully wild in a majestic cinematic shipwrecked kinda way... the fine heavy rain just lashes against the windows like thick waves.
Of course the front desk bwoy is as camp as Christmas and squeels an clasps his hands after each crash. It's a small hotel so it's wonderfully funny sense of banding together. I just called Kassa.. he sounded sooo stoned it was a Robert Crumb comic.. he just was gruffly laughin but u could feel his just 'Irie'
Anyway, an Ackee tree just fell am gonna go check it out with the lads... all this in ballet slippers - quite amazing.

Genius!

Riveted..Carry on...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Chi Chi,

We are soooooooo throwin' you a party when you return, my girl.

Well shiver me timbers!

Thanks for listening.... am sort of bored/lonely actually most of the hotel is Jamaicans an they are all rather jaded about the whole thing... The dining room area has one wall open so a few of us have been sitting there watching the storm like its a big tv screen. It's marvelous and you get rather casual - too casual about it really. Its only when a huge piece of zinc roof the side of a front door comed hurtling into the room an crashes like a piece of tissue paper that you really feel the reality. The national anthem is on the local radio station in between some wicked Dancehall tunes. Only in JA during a state of emergency they are singing about Batty Riders! Madge Madison called and could hear the madness, course he also heard me DJing... whyte Selektor again. Had to stop DJing an move back to reception as I was getting soaked even in the back of the room that only has one wall open - the mists of water just had me soaked. So am back in reception with the bwoys here listening to the radio an hittin up the net. Onto mi second bottle of wine that I merrily carry around in one hand - dainty girlie purse in the other. I can's stay in the room am going crazy in there. Although it did hit a few minutes really really bad an I scurried in there (unfortunately the cat I rescued to stay in my room fled out). But it started up really really bad so I did find myself in my closet - literally with the wine in one hand and the ipod an speakers in another playing FULL blast Damian Marleys one loaf of bread tune over an over again (go to my myspace an u can hear it www.myspace.com/janeneen ) It's a good hurricane track... Daddy and Sammy Jo any good tips for DJing?
Not much trouble going on... just called National Security geezer. All good.
Just finished my dinner - "Mutton an Irish potato with rice an peas" delicious... only in JA kids. Ok must go as my two front desk bwoys are calling me (they insist on calling me by my last name Miss B not my first! it's classic JA formality which is a hoot) "ooohhh miss B ... we have some overproof rum for yer likkle medicinal"
Every ting Kris mon...
Thanks gang for listening an being there....
Billy no mates in Kingston Town