New Music Monday: Infamus’ Cry from the Ghetto
It’s been too long since a New Music post. And if today could start a trend, then Infamus’ Cry From the Ghetto is a powerful launch pad. Since first listen, I’ve been steady loving the boom lick shots of his current smash and I’ve been on a mission to discover every snippet about, from and relevant to this artist born Kervin Benjamin.
“This is a cry from the ghetto…”
Powerful lyrics. No room for rhetoric. I felt it deep. It’s still ringing in my sound-system.
I have to reiterate my Facebook commentary here again, the feeling is still raw, still the same:
“I LOVED this outpouring. Just had to go on a quick mission to discover… MASSIVE encouragement to the artist, the director, the collective, so well represented, who make up the blood, sweat and tears of a Federation (a REGION). We are so on the verge of our own ____________. Have to believe/KNOW that we can fill in the blank, write the story, sing the song, speak UP and out, take FULL OWNERSHIP! I have every intention of doing my part. See no reason why TRUTH can’t chart. Platform must be raised and this right here is BLAZING inspiration for years… Hmmm Real ting… real movements… “Liamigua Love” indeed! HEADS HIGH!”
Infamus started singing at the tender age of 10, but it was only in recent years he saw his dream of becoming a professional artiste a reality.
In mid-2009 Infamus decided to pursue a professional career, and with the release of his singles and music videos, including ‘Coke & Hennessy’, ‘Used to Be’, ’21 Gun Salute (We Miss You) and his most recent music video ‘Feel Like Crying’, he had already solidified himself as one of the premiere artistes in the Federation [of St. Kitts & Nevis].
I’m a Kittitian, born and fashioned–proud nuh wah. I’ve set my eyes far and wide, traveled far and wide but the prize is always home. I’ve read through some blazing diatribes, some fed-up, bleeding love for country and the youth that are lost and found in the streets. I’ve been encouraged, inspired, fired up by so many revolutionaries walking the streets, wanting relief, using many a platform to speak their peace. Furthermore, I’ve been warned and forewarned about the state of my home country. I don’t need to list a catalogue. I can’t afford to cast blame.
I have no illusions as I watch: this is my country, these are people, my blood, I recognize every last one.
The reverberation: Who feels it knows it!
“This is a cry from the ghetto…”
And why not! The Ghetto is not some ill-informed place. The Ghetto bears the brunt, is the seed that is sown, the next generation in a word.
To be sure, this is not a Kittitian story and I shouldn’t use that last word, because growing up when you telling story you were perpetrating a lie, so I will restate that this is not just some Kittitian reality. You can’t measure murder in numbers to any real effect until you start calibrating solutions. The cry from the ghetto, is every island, every flag. It is regional. It is Haiti raped and ravaged again and again. It is Chicago under fire. It is Soweto. It is London. It is where you are. It is who feels it knows it!
Infamus feels it: “People would express they are inspired by my music, when in fact I am inspired by the people and their ‘true life’ journey. It is all about life and times, and I am thankful to the people for inspiring me to do what I do. I am thankful to God for blessing me to do what I can do,”
The life and times of this artist is still unfolding, still being told, but if ‘this is a cry from the ghetto,’ then let’s promote it for the good, the better, the best; and while we’re promoting, let us own it and support our artists on the rise. Blessed love each and every time
ABOUT THE WRITER
!
What line gets me is that “life is not a game show”. It seems we humans sometimes have the ability to compartmentalize the suffering of others. We look through the lens that the painful realities of the poor are somehow tolerable for them and that they will get by as if it is their specialty to just barely survive. The other world only becomes acquainted through movies and distant newspaper articles where we pity and move on to wondering what is next on our daily agendas. We get back to the comfortability of choice that the privileged life affords. I like the reminders this song has. Suffering is never comfortable even for those who have had all too much experience with the subject; it is real and it is brutal.
Nichelle, I just love the way you take your time to articulate what is uppermost. I love that you make time. Such good commentary. I love especially “Suffering is never comfortable even for those who have had all too much experience with the subject; it is real and it is brutal.” Too true!
“POWERFUL” video–images show reality of life–the line that stuck out to me was,“DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE”–I. personally do not know what it’s like to suffer, not have food, not have clothes, not have a roof over my head–BUT as a christian and lover of God i think it’s important for me and us all, is to give back to your community–if you need food, i will do what i can so you will have food –if you need clothing, i will do what i can so you will have clothing, if you need a place to lay your head i will do what i can to help you get a roof over your head—i want to be able to put my head down on my pillow at night knowing that i gave back—so yes, the message is loud and clear in this video–i will post it on my blog as well—thnx for sharing!!!
…And so the love keeps on giving. Now that is some real power! Thank you for being you!
Love can only be shared…
Like a wholesome serving of dasheen, you always satisfy!
I really like the format of the video and the gritty realness it portrays. The video screams St.Kitts-Nevis and our artist must and always tell OUR story.
Dear Breadfruit,
It is always nice to have you here. Now to “our artist must and always tell OUR story” I can’t but agree. I’m reading Danticat’s Create Dangerously — the immigrant artist at work. It is the simultaneous motivation of a Danticat and an Infamus, even a you and all who have shared here that creates a certain urgency and MUST do! So beyond yes we can. Love it all!
You would think you could share the same plate as Dasheen eh?
Dasheen
powerful song indeed…the only thing i didnt like about it was..is how he is dressed.…he look a little to posh to be crying from the ghetto.…he stands out to much
Interesting observation Jake. Talk to me though, what should the artist have worn? And did the artist in this case impact the power of the overall song/message? Did his clothing make him less of a truth bearer? Valid discourse…Thank you for coming through and sharing.
Good observation Jake. Dasheen, I like the direction you want to steer the discussion. I’ll keep it short and I hope I don’t sound argumentative with the bullet points:
His dress is nicer than those that cannot afford to eat but it is still street (not white collar — shirt and tie — so he is in a position to talk to the people that run the system with their properly shaved faces and capless heads since he is not one of them).
I look at that and feel like he is a ghetto youth that made it to a point and hasn’t forgotten the people who haven’t made any progress.
All the scenes were representative of ghetto life but he stood out, because he has made progress. Seeing one person make progress then instead of looking for himself only (obviously since he can buy shoes and clothes/he can eat) he sings for those who can not eat. It is also valid if he asks about knowing how it is to suffer if he suffered at some point.
Either way I think it’s appropriate even in a suit and tie if he’s saying the ghetto needs help and he is trying to be their voice, if he says he is crying also, then we have a problem. In the same breath he did speak about taxes and poor decisions though his vote and the vote of his people/the innocent put the authorities in power. He would have those to pay (taxes) so he is eligible to cry along with them.
PS. Just analyzing the video so I hope it’s taken as just that. I would like to hear your thoughts about my thoughts though.
The Mission: “Our artist must and always tell OUR story.” http://t.co/Qa4F71E #culturefeedsimagination