Fantan Mojah: “Reggae Is The Best Thing To Ever Happen To Jamaica”
‘Fire King’ Fantan Mojah rubbished sentiments being expressed in some quarters of the music industry that Reggae and Dancehall are on the decline.
In an interview with DancehallMag following his performance at the Peter Tosh Birthday Celebrations in Belmont, Westmoreland last weekend, the Rasta Got Soul artist said any notion that Reggae, in particular, is on a downward spiral, is a fallacy.
“Nuttn nuh guh suh! When a Fantan Mojhah can still a stream 20,000 per day, it’s good same way in Reggae music. Suh if dem seh Reggae a guh dung, I don’t know of dat,” Fantan declared.
“Reggae is the best thing ever happen to Jamaica. Wi don’t push Dancehall in a corner. Is our genre same way. Reggae music is at the four corners of the world. And they know that the only music that all of these music come from is the Reggae music, even the rap…,” he added.
Fantan, who put on an imperious hour-long performance at the Peter Tosh celebrations, despite suffering from a bout of flu, also said his newest releases — Welcome to Rasta Yard, Confidence and Cool Vibration — have been doing well, racking up “some million views”, testament that Reggae cannot be stopped.
His upcoming 2023 Winter Tour, which he Fantan described as a brief one, begins on October 26 and will span sections of Europe, South and Central America.
“It’s gonna be a little short tour you know. It guh into Europe; it guh into Suriname which is American side and then wi goh back to Europe, suh is suppm like dat wi line up,” he explained of the tour which ends on December 3 in Belgium.
On his ability to give his audience outstanding performances, the Mama Hungry artist told DancehallMag that the energy he receives from them, helps to give him the added drive to ‘go harder’.
“Is a risky thing because you haffi born fi dweet and yuh haffi believe inna yuhself, becaw Fantan get boo before Fantan get buss. Even di great Beenie Man and Bounty Killa even when dem buss and get big, dem still get boo. Caw yuh done know di guh,” he said.
“Wi give thanks, because of the energy weh the crowd give us. I will project it back same way. If you give me a good energy and a warm welcome, I am gonna give you a show, even though you know seh mi full ill right now,” the St. Elizabeth native added.
The St. Elizabeth native, who had beseeched Reggae Sumfest’s Marketing Strategist, Skatta Burrell to book him for the 2023 staging, of that event, says he is ready to grace the 2024 stage, for which he has now been booked by Downsound Entertainment.
“Wi always ready for di show enuh, as long as wi have dat energy and up, wi ready to give dem a good performance. Sumfest you, know you have to come wid yuh best. Sting or a Sumfest or a Rebel Salute, our greatest festivals weh keep on the Jamaica soil,” Fantan said.
Fantan, whose given name is Owen Moncrieffe, initially worked with Kilamanjaro sound system where he performed songs during sound checks. Back then, he bore the moniker “Mad Killer”, after Dancehall heavyweight Bounty Killer.
The Nuh Build Great Man singer was among the top new Reggae acts of the mid-2000s when he was signed to Downsound Records. While in that camp, he released the song Hungry which shot to the number one position in the Jamaican charts where it stayed for eight consecutive weeks straight.
Fantan also released his acclaimed debut album Hail the King in 2005, which comprised hits such as the title track Hail the King, Corruption and, Nuh Build Great Man, which featured Jah Cure.
He later released the albums Stronger in 2008, Rebel I Am in 2012 and Rasta Got Soul in 2016.