During this police week, the department is aggressively promoting its messages of community partnership and determined competent law enforcement. And, from what we gather, the community supports the department in its quest for betterment because, after all, personal safety, is everyone's priority.
But just as the support for the police is implicit. So too, the cautions against excess must be explicit which is to say, when the cops are wrong, the community is going to be the first to let them know. And now in the tradition of true rebel music that reggae has become famous for, an up and coming studio in the Collet Area has put out a blazing tune that burns fire on the police. Keith Swift found out more about Hotwire Studios and their surprise hit, "Protect and Serve."
Keith Swift Reporting,
Down an inconspicuous alley off Banak Street, it is the last place you would expect to find a studio, which has spawned a hit dancehall single for afternoon radio. However the song is not about beautiful women or fancy cars. "Protect and Serve" is a stinging indictment of the Police Department and it has some names you may recognize.
[Bobbo Youth in studio rapping: - '…What is going with G. Michael Reid? He is defending Babylon when they don't want to ghetto youth achieve…]
Bobbo Youth, Rapper
"It is talking about police and the abuse of the police and what they do to society. Nobody doesn't like what is happening. Everybody already knows that the police are disadvantaging people especially like how this is police week."
Keith Swift,
"Indio what was your input into the song?"
Indio Ras, Rapper
"Well I am just featured on the song but it is a beautiful feature. Bobbo Youth and me were chilling and I heard the song. I heard the introduction and I said it was something we could both collaborate on and get the right message out to the people. Because like Bobbo said, sometimes the police sometimes not as fear as they should be."
Keith Swift,
"Most people would say the song is kind of harsh…"
Bobbo Youth,
"Well I wouldn't say that the song is harsh. It is just the truth I am bringing out."
But more than just a catchy song with an infectious hook, "Protect and Serve" is a way for Bobbo Youth to channel his frustration with the system. And he says this can be example to all youths.
Bobbo Youth,
"Well I chose it this way because I already know that if I go out there and do something wrong I will end up in trouble and in the hands of police. So I write music so the people can get the sense that this is how I feel. I know other people feel this way and not everyone can put it down on paper. But the almighty bless me to put it down on paper for them."
Keith Swift,
"Did you do the song for it become a hit and gain popularity or was it more personal?"
Bobbo Youth,
"Well I didn't intend for this to blow up like how it has. I just wrote the song. I liked hearing in my mind and then I fronted it to Ras Indio and he liked it. After that I fronted it to everybody and they said it would be big. And then we wondered how big."
'Bobbo Youth' and 'Ras Indio' will perform at the upcoming Sizzla concert. Their single is getting heavy rotation on KREM and they hope to also add an edited version to the MORE Fm playlist.