Jesse Jendah has developed a reputation as one of the most controversial artists in contemporary reggae. His unapologetic stance on social issues has ruffled many feathers; in 1999, he even offered Prime Minister PJ Patterson two pounds of ganja during a meeting at Jamaica House.
Now living in the United States and managed by Mightyful13 Records, Jendah (aka King Furnace) tones it down on his latest song,
Kween Of The Morning Star. The lovers rock number is produced by California-based Infinity Records and distributed by VPAL Records.
The fiery singjay said songs such as Kween Of The Morning Star are appropriate at this time “because the empresses and ‘kweens’ have been stereotyped as gal, bitch and the most derogatory names. We want to address the real-life issues that put an equilibrium in the relationship between kings and ‘kweens’ ‘earthwide’, in perfect love ‘iniversally’.”
Another of his popular songs, Rude Boy Remember, was recorded in the early 1990’s before he embraced Rastafari.
Kween Of The Morning Star is expected to be part of an upcoming album Jendah is currently recording.
Born and raised in Vere, Clarendon, Jendau said he has been making music since 1977. Several of his songs were for producer Philip ‘Fattis’ Burrell’s Xterminator label.
Some of Jendah’s pronouncements, and actions, have not endeared him to conservatives.
His most controversial move came 17 years ago when Patterson met with music industry figures to discuss the industry’s impact on Jamaican youth. Jendah, an unapologetic advocate for the legalisation of ganja, presented a parcel of the weed to the surprised Patterson, who declined his offer.
He has no regrets.
“Not in a trillion years. What I was telling tell the former PM is what they are trying to do now. How much I would have loved that the PM was the late PM Michael Manley! It is not shocking to I now to see PJ Patterson mobilising the marijuana programme,” he said.
—By Howard Campbell
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