By Howard Campbell—
While in South Africa for the International Poetry Festival last October, Malachi Smith tuned in to local radio stations. He liked what he heard.“Dem play everything…pop, rock, reggae and poetry. In Jamaica dem don’t do that; is the same over an’ over,” he said.
Smith, who lives in South Florida, will be in Jamaica this month to promote his fifth album, Wiseman, which is scheduled to be released on iTunes May 18. The 13-song set will also be out on compact disc.
The 60-year-old poet started his career in 1978 when vinyl was vogue. He sees benefits in digital and physical distribution.
“With the Internet, somebody far away can listen my music jus’ by downloading it. At the same time, mi still love give mi product physically to someone,” said Smith.
Danny Breakenridge, a veteran of the South Florida reggae scene, produced Wiseman, which has songs like Yard, Breakaway, Sticky Situation, and Concrete Rose.
They cover diverse issues which Smith describes as “journeys”. “I like to take journeys through my poems; it takes you out of your comfort zone,” he said.
Born in Delfland, Westmoreland, Smith actually started his career as a deejay with the song Kimbo to Kimbo produced by Kenny Garrison. But after hearing Oku Onura’s Revolution Red and Everytime I Ear The Sound by Mutabaruka, he got hooked on dub poetry.
He plans to perform songs from Wiseman at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in St Andrew on May 30, on an event promoted by the Poetry Society of Jamaica.
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