Konshens Says Cut The Yute Dem Some Slack
Popular dancehall artiste Garfield ‘Konshens’ Spence has had quite a prolific career in music, spanning somewhere over 14 years now. But before his solo career, Konshens was a part of the duo SoJah with his brother Delus. This short ‘boy band’ phase quickly launched him into the artiste we see him as today, i.e. a seasoned and well versed dancehall deejay.
Like many others in the music industry, the beginning days for Konshens, as anyone can imagine, were the roughest times. He may have had the talent back then but lacking the experience and confidence was something he really had to work on.
A very significant hurdle also comes from the pressure and heightened expectation formed by Jamaican music lovers and industry leaders. These circumstances can ultimately make or break a performer. However they have shaped these Reggae artistes into phenomenal talents and placing them in a league of their own.
Konshens, in a now deleted Instagram post shed some light on this issue. He shared a short video interview of dub plate king, Panta Son responding to a statement from an interviewer; “In terms of performance wise, some of the newer acts tend to struggle on stage”. Speaking frankly, Panta King said “yeh because the first time dem a perform, is the first time dem a touch a stage, a first time dem getting paid to perform is the first time they are actually performing in their life.”
This very profound answer sent the “Bruk Off Yuh Back” sing jay over to Instagram to somewhat reiterate and expand on what Panta Son had said.
In a nutshell, he stated that everyone expects that once an artiste has a hit song, he or she is expected to be skilled in stage performance. He mentioned that many artistes aren’t given the same opportunities either; they have to figure things out on their own. He also admitted, “me use to perform “winner” wid one hand behind me back an fraid fi look pan di ppl”. Indeed, he has come along way and for that, he urges everyone to cut some slack for the young talents coming up in the industry.
Konshens – Affi pause mi promo fi dis @pantason 100% FACTS. Ppl expect seh di ute dem fi get a hot song 1 year an BOOM dem a stage God. But not everybody grew up in music or had mentors, some man jus a dweet demself, me use to perform “winner” wid one hand behind me back an fraid fi look pan di ppl😀. I dont even critique an artiste till bout the 3rd year, when the shock of the hype settle. if after 3 years still no improvement then i will say alright dah one yah nuh really want it enough fi study and put in di work though Some lame fi true an some ketch it faster than some.
Nuff of our legends did super lame inna dem early days, but ig and social media an camera phone neva deh deh fi ketch di bokkle dem an di boo dem.😔Experience, training and repetition. Cut di ute dem some slack.
Fans commented and praised Konshens for taking the time to share his feelings about this matter and also for reminding everyone that like many established legends in Reggae music, he too started at the bottom.