Chronixx And His Teachable Moment
Take a surf over to chronixxmusic.com and have a look at the work of Chronixx.
I decided to surf over to his site to satisfy my curiosity on this new chart topping reggae artiste and see what all this kerfuffle about. The banner on his site stood out like a hand raised in the air in defiance of racial oppression . The banner said “The Dread and Terrible Project” celebrates a year!
Dread and Terrible. I thought that was Interesting. The banner had a scroll explaining what the phrase meant and it stated it was a year ago that Chronixx released independently his first music. His first musical effort was done unconventionally and managed to earn over 14, 000 sold units and over 2 million streams worldwide. Chronixx, from the very start seemed to be anti-status quo. His music and lyrics is testament to that. Chronixx was never once to speak the language of the status quo either. He was not the usual mouthpiece, neither was he the messenger of words that many wanted to hear.
Whilst everyone and their ma were fawning over the visit of the POTUS Chronixx made a subtle statement:
….”City too busy. Everybody is distracted…somebody have to watch the gates….” ( Chronixx Twitter account)
Distracted they were, some calling the visit historic while the average Jamaican excited to see their favourite country flex their political power and Presidential trappings all over the corporate area. It was exciting times but Chronixx was having none of it.
Two days into the visit it was alleged that Chronixx posted the following on his social media page:
“This man…Still have a criminal record in The United States and we glorifying some waste man!”
This seemed to have angered a lot of his “readers” and there was social disruption. Calling his words “disrespectful” and “out of line”, his naysayers, headed by the lovely Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna, was seen in her video response asking her ‘friend’ Chronixx to quote ‘call me, you hear Chronixx..” hand gesticulating to make it look light hearted.
At the outset I asked the question what did Chronixx do wrong? Why is the Minister quick to respond to a Chronixx statement and not to other pressing issues that relate to Jamaican youths? Was this old grapes coming to the fore again? Is this the new distraction for our people to hide the obvious anti-climatic visit of a sitting President? Chronixx it seems was the sacrificial lamb. How dare he speak ill of our hallowed visitor , especially one from foreign?
Chronixx spoke his mind. He was exercising something called “Freedom of Speech”. The POTUS has been called and referred to in worse terms by his own politicians, members of his own party , fellow black men and members of the opposite side in the US Congress and Senate. He can handle any criticism, and he has done quite well and frankly he does not need Minister Hanna to come to his defense or anyone for that matter.
The Freedom of Speech that we are alluding to, and no one in this part of the world really understands, is a borrowed American term. Chronixx is a young man who speaks, like his generation in straight, non decorative, to the point language. His message was heard by those who understand him and share his views on the futility of the visit. Those who disagree can go ahead and make all the references they want. But what everyone seems to miss is that Chronixx was never one to feign affection by sweetening his lips. The secret to Chronixx’s life and for those who listen to him is his honesty, something you cannot fake.
Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, speaking truth , living truth , and loving truth. As he sees it, he sings it. The Chronixx disciples would understand that. The Lisa Hanna quorum doesn’t. How many of us when given the chance have ever spoken against the status quo? How many of us are unable to say what we really want to say for fear of repercussions? How many of us are suckers for pretty talk and are so called “gracious hosts’ that we cannot even speak our mind on something that hurts us financially or otherwise? How many of us really exercise our freedom of speech? How many of us actually exercise our freedom of conscience because with freedom of speech there is freedom of conscience.
Jamaica, let me tell you a little secret. Listen carefully. The world has changed. Despite our refusal to think so the world has changed drastically. We may not like what we hear all the time, but language reflects “Freedom of Thought’ . Change your thoughts and you will change the world.
Those who do not agree with me or even Chronixx for that matter can say so and I encourage the freedom to comment exercising our freedom of speech. But I also hasten to remind you that Freedom of Speech is like oxygen to the American – it is an American ideal that a lot of us Caribbean people are trying to exercise and understand . Some of us are still afraid and ignorant and use Facebook and other social media as a cloak and dagger to hide and speak your mind. Great. But all big changes of the world come from words, the spoken word, backed by a clear conscience and the power of the soul standing in defense of the words.
How silly we all are. Caribbean people never use the liberties they have. They demand freedom of speech and never use their freedom of thought. Chronixx is showing us what happens when thought collides with speech. It’s powerful. It gets attention. If we could only exercise this right when we are voting or when we see our ‘waste politicians’ wasting our time and resources, what a different place Jamaica would be?
Discretion will always be the better part of valor.
People are scared in Jamaica because of the opportunity to travel to the US. If it was the leader of any European country he said that about people wouldn’t acting up like that. It’s all about the visa.
Very well written and a shame some people in Jamaica do not realise the power of freedom of speech, as you say Jamaica would be a different country if they did. Why use discretion when the truth needs to be told.
Very well written and a shame some people in Jamaica do not realise the power of freedom of speech, as you say Jamaica would be a different country if they did. Why use discretion when the truth needs to be told.
keep the fire burning till they see the light
Comments must be made on the basis of facts, not gut. Chronixx certainly spoke from the latter.
This Article is on point. But unfortunately Jamaicans and most of this world have become media zombies and they lack the ability to demonstrate freedom of thought yet alone freedom of expression. They advocate freedom of speech and as soon as one of their brothers or sisters demonstrate that freedom, they are the first ones to ostracize them. With mind like this living among us in the majority, these devilish politicians don’t even have to suppress our freedoms any more, because they can count on the brain washed member of our society to do so. Chronixx reminded them that they… Read more »
There is a time and place for everything. Stop making excuses about freedom of speech etc. that was downright rude.
“No longer is the black man shackled by his feet ate hands anymore”
“Today he is shackled by the mouth” blindworld
“No longer is the black man shackled by his feet ate hands anymore”
“Today he is shackled by the mouth” blindworld
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequence.
Chronixx will never lose me as a fan, we ALL err, but errors attract an X not a tick!
By what imaginable paradigm is the president in the mold of the description offered by detractors? How do you honor the memory of one African by defaming the other? After 50 years of failed USA foreign policy this president has dared to challenge the status quo by reaching out to estranged world leaders through engagement rather than confrontation, subsequently rejecting “American exceptionalism” and arrogance, the very tenets condemned by Rasafarians.
Chronixx need to man up and apologize. What does he know about the President of the United States?
It is right to say wat ever u want to say they give us JAMAICAN to have our free speach and wat we want to say but to some bad wagonis that don’t down for their brother an sister they all for their self and the whiter ppl in the later days black is black an white is white but now black is selling out black for white and these ppl don’t realize they putting ppl over their self for all this place were its nothing like Jamaica they not even realize they need visa to go over they and… Read more »
certainly the truth,the people amaze me
Dare to be a Daniel. Dare to stand alone. Dare to have a purpose firm. Dare to make it known.
Wrong way to go dread,USA don’t run like JA it’s not a one man run thing,you are young .becareful mouth turn crossway ??????
We are all slaves whether we can acknowledge it or not. But house slave are worst than the plantation owners.
Very great article, well said Mr writer….
If we have more people like CHRONIXX we will over throw these so call leaders who are leading us so for CHRONIXX to step up and speak his mind about the POTUS our goverment is looking out of every hole what they have no pund intended to out the fire right there wooooi who to tell CHRONIXX are you the next PETER TOSH
If we have more people like CHRONIXX we will over throw these so call leaders who are leading us so for CHRONIXX to step up and speak his mind about the POTUS our goverment is looking out of every hole what they have no pund intended to out the fire right there wooooi who to tell CHRONIXX are you the next PETER TOSH
It’s so sad….. we are where we are because we still fight against our own. None of you who want to defile president Obama can not even walk where the boss walk. If he is what they say he is, I wana be like him. Waste woman!
Discretion will always be the better part of valor.