Trinidad Artists Tell Guyanese Fans: ‘Our Violent Lyrics Do Not Reflect Reality’

Some Trinidadian artists have reminded Guyanese fans that their lyrical content is strictly for entertainment, and is by no means a reflection of their personal lives.

The artists, which included Red Gyal singer Christo and Teejah, were speaking during a community tour/meet and greet in one of the more volatile areas of the country on Monday, according to the Guyanese outlet “Big Smith News Watch”.

“I come from the same page, in the hood in the ghetto where life is struggles. It real out there; where a ‘boss man’ (slang for dons or area leaders) does govern the ends. But, let me be real wit’ allyuh…you see the police? No boss man nuh badder dan dat cause (there are) real guns out here. But we don’t like the gun ting. What we want to do is dat make allyuh know dat all weh we doing is just be acting. So when yuh see we and we go ‘anywhere yuh see we, we doe leff 9…we doe have no 9 (laughter),” one of the artists told the fans, who had gathered to see them.

“We doe really have no 9 (a gun). So when allyuh see the music videos and allyuh see we wid big tings, dat is props—that’s like yuh watching a movie, ‘cause tomorrow, yuh going see us normal on the road jus like you, just regula,” he added. “When I come to Guyana and I pass through certain communities, it’s ecstatic to see all di youths age 13 could sing all these songs word for word (of) Fully Banging and we seh, you know what? We don’t want dem to take it in the wrong way.”

The artists also met with the Assistant Police commissioner, Simon McBean, who urged to depict the positive aspects of their lives for fans to emulate.

“A good way forward also, is to put your lifestyle out there for them to see, hey, I’m not just talking this; I’m living a positive lifestyle also. And that will help us tremendously in developing our youths so they will see your music as just music, and not a lifestyle,” McBean emphasised.

The entertainers’ involvement in the communities is all part of a crime strategy in the country to encourage a better relationship between citizens and the police.

Meanwhile, Teejah added to his colleague’s comments and implored onlookers to seek productive ways to a better life.

“Most of the youths in Trinidad focusing on crime…Who shooting, who robbing, most of dem not lasting long. Dey not reaching 25. Either dey in jail or in the graveyard, so we using di music ting as a way to come out ah di ghetto. I come from the same place. Ghetto I born and raise, but the music bring me (to) other and make me get to fly an see different tings around di world. If I did pick up badness, and pick up di tings I singing about, I would not be here today talking to allyuh so. And I jus’ waan yuh understand dat whatever we singing and portraying in di music and di videos all a dem ting is jus’ a act,” the Ghetto Story artist said.

For Christo’s part, he re-emphasised that their music is just an act.

“Although allyuh seeing di guns an ting, we doe really have di guns on we, yuh know? We is good vibes, love…whatever you wanna be, doe ever give up. If yuh wanna be a cricketer, a footballer, you just chase your dream,” the singer told the youths.

Teejah is known for other singles like Nah Tek Talk, Dun Dem, and Knock, while Christo has songs such as Bad Company, Gimme, and Soca Feeling.