PUNTA GOING MAINSTREAM

[dre]

Punta Rock hit it stride back in the middle to the end of 1990's, that is plain to see. With albums and shows from Aziatic, Punta Rebels, Ibanyani, Belizeans and Garifuna's had a chance to put themselves and their culture on the road to Mainstream Hood. Unfortunatly they didn't have the resources, dedication nor the drive to continue. So they fell asleep and started to dream of Splitville.

So who picked up on it. Other Caribbean Artists of course. Punta is rocking the Caribbean right now with bands from Honduras, that has no Garifuna musicians in them, Trinidad and even Jamaica. Yep Jamaica. Jamaican artist are incorporating the sounds of Punta in their music, check it out and listen closly.

Today our artists are so lost they don't even know it. They started out with a plan, but when the tough got going they split. Little they did realize the tough times is what makes you strong. When it was most important for them to stick together and fight through mediocrity they fled.

First Punta Rebels split up. Why? Creative differences and the need to make more money. Damn, if they had work out your their creative differences and hanged in there, they would have all been making money together.

Then Ibanyani changed their name to Punta Cartel. That I can understand to a certain degree. New ownership, new manager, new name. But I tell you what they don't have the same impact they did when they were Ibanyani.

Now I read somthing about the Aziatic leaving Sta-tic. What? It will be only Sta now? How can we have Sta-tic without the TIC?

Get it right fellows. Others are outdoing you on what your ancestors created. You took it to the next level, true. Now you're abondoning it and letting others take over? Are you leaving it up to non Belizeans, non Garifuna to benefit from your culture?

Investigate the concert name Kings of Punta. Guess what, its been copyrighted by a non Garifuna Entertainment Production Company from Honduras. And guess what? Non of their artists are Garifunas.

The money making entity of the Garifuna Culture has began. And it's not being done by Garifunas.

What a shame. While you were fighting among yourselves, the thief came by and stole your precious queen. Now their getting ready to make a lot of babies and those babies will make them a lot of money.

Thats all. Good night, sleep tight . . . Oh I forgot. You're already sleeping. Wouldn't want to wake you from your precious dreams.

So I'll just sneak out.

[bemetu]

well said dre..

[hd]

There is a difference between Punta and Punta Rock. Since the conversation is about Punta Rock, I will gear my response toward that topic.

Dre, you bring up some very good points in the response you posted. In saying that, I have to give you a bit of feed back. I'll ask you to remember that this is my opinion on what you stated.

Please remember the beginning of Punta Rock occured in the 1980s. I was and is music with great rhythm, but it seems to have lost its social edge. Punta Rock made listeners aware, politically, of things going on around them. It asked for the people to open their eyes to see not just the things that are going on in their everyday life and that affect them, but the things that are going on within their towns, within their district, within their country, and globally. Very few Punta Rock artist are continuing to produce music to make the listener aware of his/her surroundings and how the government is trying to make a big impact on their everyday life, whether it’s going to benefit them or not.

I don’t believe the artists are sleeping. All artist have a style that they copy or recreate as their own. When Garifuna Kids (now known as Garifuna Legacy) first came out in the early to mid 90s, the tempo was so fast, it was a physical workout just to dance to one song, but people got use to it. Other musicians followed, but not all. Punta Rock changed a bit from social awareness to back biting and imitating peoples styles. It changed from being about the listeners to an extent, to being about the musicians.

You mentioned how different groups have split up for “creative differences” or financial reasons. I don’t know the personal opinion of each band member, but if you feel like you’re not making head way in a situation, you have two choices, you either stick it out and hope for a change, or you part gracefully and complete the journey in your own way. Money is the root of all evil. It can tear families, individuals, and groups apart. It should not be the most important goal of the group however. If that is the case, the situation has to be dealt with in order to come up with a better solution beside dissolving the group.

Let’s face it, our musicians don’t make the money they should make on the albums they bring forth. We as music lovers have to take a stand individually that we will not “bootleg” Caribbean musician’s music, especially Belizean musician’s music. We are hurting them and our culture. How can we expect the artist to continue to produce music when we would rather “burn it” instead? R& B, rap, country, gospel, and other “well-known” music categories have enough people purchasing their music to not be made “broke” by “pirates,” but our musicians haven’t built that big of a base yet. They are fighting for recognition, and slowly but surely, it is occurring. I’m not saying that you should “bootleg” anyone’s music, but to consider the facts. I prefer the real deal and discourage the fake. My thought on burning music is, if you burn it, send the musician a money order of a check for at least $10 (US currency).

With all art forms, money will be made. It may be that the Garinagu (Garifuna is a language, not a group of people) are missing out on their due, and that’s something that needs to be addressed and action taken upon.

That analogy about the queen being stole… was sickening. I read from that another way for women to be degraded. That should have been kept to yourself. Remember, you’re from a woman.

I hope that you’ll take the time to strike up a conversation with a more mature Garinagu entertainer, someone like Mohobob Flores might be a great start. He’s a seasoned musician with a broader outlook on this matter. One thing I can say about his music is that it always give me more to look forward to.

Take care,
hd

[Empress]

Those were both very good points, wish I had read it earlier, this is my first time being able to sign in, in months.

[dre]

HD, I relate to what you were saying in the begining. I believe you went off track later though. I respectfully disagree with several things. "Money is not the root of all evil", the "Love of Money Is the Root of All Evil". And my analogy of the queen being stolen, was said to cause a reaction in the reader, that something so precious (garifuna culture) should never be taken for granted, it was not meant to disrespect women. Sorry you took it the wrong way. We as Garinagu should guard our heritage and not "Sleep" at the wheel.

Regardless due to the fact you addressed it my goal was achieved.

[hd]

Good afternoon Dre,

Thank you for answering back. I've checked the site a couple of times looking for one. Any who, let me proceed to "answer back."

Your correction of the "Love of money is the root of all evil" is very correct. I read over your statements and when I wrote my response, it was my intention to stay as close to the topics you brought up as I possible could and then give my opinion on them. It took me some time responding because I wanted to make sure it came across the way I intended it to. After reading your response, I too accomplished my goal. Kudos to you for doing the same! If you re-read my statement, you will notice that I didn't use the word "disrespect", but the word "degrade."

Never apologize for the way a person took something you said. Instead, I think (my thoughts) that you should state it in a way that if you believe it will be taken incorrectly (they way you intended it to be received) that you give more clarification. And in your response to my response, you did that, but it was after the fact. You get what I'm saying?

Empress,

I'm glad you're finally able to log on. Congratulations!!!!! (Not sarcastically said.) I look forward to responding to a topic I found quite disturbing about "skin color" and the prejudices spoken of on that discussion topic. Dre, have you read over some of those comments? If not, check it out.

A good day to all,
hd