Can the Black Lives Matter movement lead to real change? Reggae artiste Tilibop believes so but it is vital that minorities keep up the pressure against racism.
“Right now, change in the system and an end to racism at forefront of everyone’s mind. But the hardest part is to keep the conversation going,” the talented young artiste said.
“We have to make sure that this isn’t a couple of weeks of news and then we move on to the next thing. A lot of black youths are getting some money and attention in the pandemic, and hopefully, access to better educational and health resources. It is a sad state of affairs that it took a pandemic, and protests , for some of us to get heard, those with the power have to stay indoors right now, while the real talent a step forward, now we will see who is the sheep and who is the shepherd. Apart from that, there is no real change in the city of New York, a portion of us will have to continue to unite for real change to come in time.”
Protests against racial prejudice and inequality have taken place in the USA in the wake of the death of 46-year-old George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May. Four officers involved in Floyd’s arrest have been sacked and charged over his death. There has been a cascade of reforms in recent weeks in police departments in the US, including requiring officers to intervene if they see another officer using excessive force.
“Yes, the pandemic caused some change to happen this because for the first time, you have ten or 20 like-minded people at the same spot, instead of doing something else, running to a job” he said.
Now, Tilibop is promoting the lead single, ‘All That’, in Jamaica where the song has immediately caught the attention of the reggae listening public.
“The song makes people feel empowered, the words are impactful and the melody is light and airy. People tell me that the song gives them hope and inspiration through the pandemic, the racism, the police brutality, the degradation of the black race, it makes them feel we can overcome All That,” Tilibop, whose real name is Marvin Amos, said.
Tilibop wrote the ‘All That’ song in 2017, but pre-released the single on Jamaican radio about a month ago and immediately got a major buzz. The song will be officially released on July 23rd, the birthday of H.I.M Haile Selassie, on the Freeworll label via all digital download platforms.
‘All That’ is the lead single of his debut 11-track album, I Am Reggae.
“The ‘All That’ video premiered on HYPE, RE and World a Reggae earlier this week. The song is playing on HITZ, ZIP, IRIE, I am getting a lot of love all over, from the Caribbean, Africa, the feedback has been tremendous. Everyone loves the imagery of the video with the smoke which signifies the tear gas and fight for freedom of the Black Lives Matter Movement,” Tilibop said.
Other standout songs from the album include Pirate, Psalms, and Promise.
He said that he went into a trance to do his album, recording non-stop for over three months.
“I shape my music right now, my whole being is focussed on a different vibration, it is on a light form right now, when I was recording the album, it is like an out of body experience, like a vessel carrying me, and the music just a pour out of me. Is a thing to be one with your spirit and stand for a cause. I just try to deliver music in the simplest form, simplicity of melody and lyric, you just get one with your spirit and it comes out pure,” he said.
Coming from humble beginnings, Tilibop had an appreciation for music, as a young child from St. Mary, Jamaica, he grew up amidst the turmoil in the streets of August Town, Jamaica. He attended Mona High school where he began to impress his peers with his vocal skills. He migrated to the USA in 2016 where he continued to fine-tune his craft.
He continued to write his songs and then he crafted a new sound which he is ready to unleash on the world.
“I am ready now, I had to shed a lot of negative energy to get here and be one with my spirit, but the journey led me to this moment,” he said.
