Jamaican based Guyanese reggae artiste, Mortimer Softley, popularly known as Natural Black has asserted that Jamaican reggae musician Chronixx refused to let him be on the bill to perform at the ‘Plant it Guyana’ concert which was held at Guyana in August 2015 because Chronixx was afraid he would have outshined him.
The ‘Plant it Guyana’ Concert was presented by Rastafari Achieving Creed Empowerment (RACE) Productions as a way to promote farming in Guyana.
In an interview with Blakk Rasta on the 3FM Urban Blend reggae show on Wednesday 6 February 2024, the Natural Black recounted his musical Journey from Guyana to Jamaica and shared his experience as a non- Jamaican doing reggae music in Jamaica.
According to him, the music body in Jamaica didn’t know Natural Black so to them, he was coming from some part of Jamaica until ten years later when he became very famous and disclosed in media interviews that he wasn’t a Jamaican. He was very well received and celebrated because many thought he was an indigene, so he was fortunate.
“When someone comes to Jamaica and cannot manage what is happening in Jamaica, he will have to look elsewhere. Jamaicans are serious about Jamaica and reggae music,” Natural Black stated as the reason why non-Jamaican reggae artistes seem not to feel appreciated and supported by Jamaica.
When asked whether switching his style of music from root reggae to dancehall and shaving his dreadlocks have adversely affected his music career, the ‘Far From Reality’ hit song maker said “I will not have to complain, because it is all about work. The more work you put in, the more you are able to win. It seems I am knocked out because I have been working but haven’t released the music yet.”
It has been alleged in the media that Chronixx didn’t want Natural Black to be on the bill for the ‘Plant It Guyana’ concert because he had shaved his dreadlocks and switched from root reggae to dancehall. However, Natural Black thinks that is not exactly the point.
“I don’t think so. I think that they always have the fear about the music and who is going to do better than who. That is the issue” he told Black Rasta
Natural Black also disclosed that he has a new twelve track album titled ‘Conqueror’ coming out soon as well as the Natural Black Earth Strong Party in New York City on March 22nd 2024.
By Samuel Afriyie Owusu|3news.com|Ghana