The Fugees: classic, nostalgic!

  Some songs are unforgettable, and timeless. Off course, The international hip hop stage counts today some great nouns who don’t have to blush for their creation or their performances. But when the model is too talented, it is hard to appreciate other musics than old classics, which make the work harder for new artists!

  The Fuggees, who appeared in the middle of 90’s, don’t seem to go out of fashion. On the contrary, they are missed by plenty of fans, ready to sing in chorus their greatest hits: “Ready or not”, “Fu-gee-la” (see video) or “killing me softly”. Great Wyclef Jean, divine Lauryn Hill or enigmatic Pras Michel didn’t disappear, they just lead a peaceful existence, taking advantage of an individual carrier sometimes talentuous, relegating the Fugees time to the past. An amazing but revolved past.

  They surely marked a whole young generation, attracted by hip hop and rap in a time when these types were expanding and tended to express a globalised youth’s frustrations and expectations, admirative of the « american musical giant » and fascinated by some of its most successful symbols : Notorious Big, Tupac, Mos Def or Nas. Then, The Fugees appear like an UFO in 1993, shared between virulent texts, rap samples, sophisticated melodies or amazing covers, which belong more to the 80’s RnB or jazz, and sometimes to reggae.

MADE IN JAMAICA, between Reggae and Ragga

 MADE IN JAMAICA proposes to explain and analyse the birth of reggae music and Rastafarism, which is strongly linked to it, its evolution and the new trend of ragga dancehall music, more rude, offensive and violent than its predecessor. With the presence of Gregory Isaacs, Third world, Bunny Wailers, for the reggae part; and Tanya Stephens, Lady Saw, Capleton,  Elephant man and Bounty killer for the ragga part, the casting couldn’t have been more complete and entertaining.

“Reggae music is life, reggae music is love, reggae music is salvation, reggae music is redemption” said one of the protagonists. The evolution of reggae music is told by new and old representatives of the movement and the documentary offers a perfect mix between history, musical scenes, entertaining and quotations. It permits to understand the philosophy of the movement throughout the eyes of its symbols, who represent the “JAMAICAN DREAM”.

How this little island deeply marked by the print of slavery managed to be heard all over the world, creating a new music style, and a new philosophy, that was to become such a huge phenomenon? The film starts with the murder of one of the most famous stars of the ragga movement in the country, Bogle.  spectators already understand that they will see a disturbing movie, that is going to make them forget all their prejudices about  reggae music, supposed to be full of love and tolerant lyrics.

From Marcus Garvey to Bob Marley, from the struggle against slavery to the furious parties of Kingston, the movie perfectly draws the sliding from emancipation and redemption lyrics, on soft and slow rhythms, spiced by the particular voices of reggae legends, to the violent, sexist and sometimes racist lyrics, on loud, energetic and disorganised rhythms of ragga music. Jamaica is described as a poor island, whose youth remains bored and losing hope and goal.