“Mi Deh ya fi 35 years and mi just nah run, 35 years and mi just cya dun!!!”
With passion and confidence oozing out, he chants in the studio, rocking side to side, as he begins what could very well be his next big hit. All this happens while he’s is working on promo for his latest album ‘Reggae Music tun up’
An album he released that makes a certain statement: ‘Reggae music is still alive’
He is Paul Elliot ‘The chosen one’ a veteran Reggae artist who has been in the business since the 1970’s and rose to superstardom with hit singles ‘Save Me Oh Jah’ and ‘Jah Mek Mi Stronger’. No ordinary musician, a survivor of Jamaica’s brutal crime underbelly, when his mother and two of his brothers, were forever ripped away from him by gun shots. Paul who almost shared their very fate was christened ‘The Chosen One’ by the people of his community. He refused to let his anger deceive him into negativity and focused his anger, his passion, and everything he had; into Reggae music. As such, he delivers fierce, raw and uncut truths, singing for the plights of the people and always aiming to keep the youths focused.
“How yuh fi revive reggae if it never dead?” he said sharply. “Third World still working, Burning Spear still working, and so many others.”
With the enormous popularity of Dancehall and the high criticism it presently receives, some may say the music, including Reggae is going down, down, down…and needs a revival at least.
Paul then points to international Reggae Band, ‘Magic!’ for their high riding single ‘Rude’ , he also points to movie star Eddie Murphy whom finds the time to make reggae music. Ziggy Marley, another Reggae superstar, continues the Marley family’s Grammy winning spree.
“Reggae is alive and well, and ‘Reggae Music Tun Up’ is the album to prove that”
With songs such as the upbeat title track ‘Reggae Music Tun Up’, the nostalgia bait ‘Real Thing’ and the other sweet tracks like ‘Same Set A People Dem’, ‘Rain’, ‘Live It Up’ and many others; it’s hard to disagree with him.
“I do positive music inno, I want my music to reach everyone in the world, all those going through trials and tribulations, from Jamaica to the Middle East, to those in Baltimore today…stay rooted in the positive”
He started his musical career at age 9 with his first song ‘Mini Van Man’, hailing from the community of White House, West Kingston. This community is like a Mecca when it comes to Reggae and Dancehall music, with so many famous acts having their roots there. Half Point, Admiral Bailey, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Jammys, King Tubys, and Black Uhuru whom won Jamaica’s first Grammy award. All these people and more from White House share history, or have had an enormous impact on Paul career.
Between 1981-1982, going by the name Culture Paul, he started working with the Jah Lifetime Record label, and his rise began, now he enjoys international stardom; spreading awesome music throughout the globe via the passion and fire in his lyrics. Paul puts love over money, as he views the money as a major detractor from the production of good and substantial music. He does his music independently, it’s a struggle with limited resources, but he gives God thanks, and he has no plans to stop, as he declared on the first take of the new song, he’s currently polishing for release; “35 years mi deh ya and mi just cya dun! Hahaha”
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