Fantan Mojah Says He’s Doing Dancehall Because ‘Jamaicans Aren’t Taking To Reggae’
Rasta Got Soul singer Fantan Mojah says his fiery and controversial segue into Dancehall is the result of Jamaicans shoving Reggae music to the side and his own need to have a hit song on the island.
“It’s been a while off the scene of Jamaica, but the (rest of the) world know Fantan a do music cause Fantan never stop, but fi get back pon the scene a Jamaica, the people dem nah tek the reggae music,” Fantan told host Alrick McKenzie on the December 5 episode of The Alrick Show.
“Me and you know dat. Dem nah tek reggae music a Jamaica and dem nah tek it right now. Dem nah grab it in. A music we do, so wah? We a do a hit song, we want a hit song fi her current wid we young fans dem. So mi do a song name Fire King…a nuh holiness mi go inna music. Mi come fi entertainment mi fans, a nuh holiness…” he explained.
Upon its release in February 2021 under the Gold and Goals Production label, the Fire King single raised eyebrows for what some fans of the Rastafarian artist described as the objectification of black women. Fantan, who had previously criticized the raunchy lyrics of Gage and Alkaline at Rebel Salute 2015, defended himself against the backlash. The singer also claimed he only intended to connect with a younger audience through the trap-infused song.
Fantan’s attempt to enter the Dancehall arena was further criticized by popular dub poet and broadcaster Mutabaruka, who charged that the song and video were not in keeping with the principles of the Rastafarian Bobo Ashanti order. Fantan clapped back with an inflammatory Instagram video and Mutabaruka immediately threatened legal action over the comments that were made.
“Whenever you sing dancehall and come over dancehall, it’s a few people feel like them control dancehall and own dancehall market,” Fantan told The Alrick Show.
“So, dem find out seh yuh have a yute weh control the craft and can do it good, dem have a jealousy inna dem self. (Just) ‘cause you is a big artiste weh get a lot of award…mi check him fi do a song before all a dis come down wid Muta and everything, and him never do a song wid me. Me a track him fi years ago, until mi go back go link him, and me see him end up go do a song with Muta after. So mi a seh, ‘oh, unuh only act. Mi nuh like whole heap a hypocrites inna music. Dem nuh have no love…” the singer added.
The reggae/dancehall act was quick to defend his Rastafarianism when he was cornered with allegations that he isn’t a true Rasta.
“Why dem woulda seh that when mi nuh hate? Mi have love fi everybody. Nuff a dem who sing the music and seh dem holy, dem nuh holy ‘cause me know of nuff a dem a road and know how dem live and know dem lifestyle. They are so corrupt, and dem know dem self and know a dem mi a talk. From the artiste to the management team, to the booking agent team…nuff a dem a Jamaica corrupt bad,” he accused.
The Most High Jah singer also said he has faced a lot of sabotage with landing international bookings because of said “corrupt” individuals.
“Dem will get call from overseas for a Fantan or certain artiste, and first comment dem use a, ‘Fantan hard fi find and him give a lot of problem,” he said.
“Me give a lot of problem? Why unuh want fi tell lie when unuh know if yuh book mi fi 10 grand, me ago find out seh yuh book me fi 10 grand. Me is not like other artiste weh a go question or ask weh me a work fah. So if yuh book Fantan fi 20 (thousand) and tell mi seh yuh book mi fi 15, and yuh tek the five, and yuh still want yuh 10 per cent out ah dat,” he continued on his rant.
In May 2021, Fantan told DancehallMag that he would be releasing a 12-track Dancehall EP. “Even though an EP is supposed to be 7 songs, ah 12 mi ah go, if it’s an album, it would be 15 songs cause I believe in giving people value for money,” he had said.
The project will include songs such as Have Dem a Fret, produced by Krav Music, Pum Pum produced by dancehall singer Carlton ‘Ghost’ Jackson, and All Over Again for Down Sound Records.
Despite the adversities, the entertainer said he remains unmovable and relishes in the success of two of this year’s breakout Dancehall stars.
“Yuh fi firm inna yuhself. Even if yuh nuh firm fully, yuh fi practice fi be firm…Do weh yuh supposed to do. So, just tell yuhself seh yuh aguh do weh yuh haffi do. A the first song get such a big views from the year start (Fire King). The two yute weh a gwaan good inna Jamaica a the yute weh name 10Tik, weh me know him from him a baby and Yaksta,” he continued.
Watch the full episode below.