In part two of his interview with US-journalist Matthathias Schwartz about the »Tivoli Incursion«, Bigblackbarry talks with him about difficulties getting information from the US government about the operation, the involvement of the US in the operation, as well as the next steps he would like to see happen.
We need to know what happened. All evidence must be released. This includes videos, ballistics, autopsies, and records kept by the U.S. government, the Jamaican government, and the security forces. If it appears that the law was broken during the attack on Tivoli Gardens, and, based on the evidence in my story, I am convinced that it was, the guilty must be brought to justice.
Bigblackbarry also asks everyone to pressure the Jamaican government to seek answers related to any of the questionable killings which took place and included the phone number for the Office of the Public Defender in Jamaica, Earl Witter, and international contacts in his blog post.
Almost two years after Jamaican security forces assaulted the West Kingston neighborhood of Tivoli Gardens during the »Tivoli Incursion«, Bigblackberry sums up what the events leading up and subsequent to May 24, 2010, taught him about Jamaicans and Jamaica:
One of the things I confirmed was that a significant number of our populace have goals that extend only to eating their next meal. [...]
I also confirmed that the social, political and class divides that Edward Seaga and many others spoke of over four decades ago are as pronounced and perhaps even more rigid than they have ever been, regardless of the superficial proclamations of »Out of Many One People« which has become a meaningless mantra. [...]
But honestly speaking, the most important thing I learnt was the extent to which the value of a Jamaican life is determined by how far above or below HWT one resides.
In addition to his own observations, he publishes part 1 of an interview with a Non-Jamaican journalist who reported his story on »The Massacre in Jamaica« for The New Yorker, Mattathias Schwartz, who is still
frankly surprised how easily the Jamaican public appears to have written off the killing of dozens of Jamaican citizens by their own security forces.
In an interview with the New York Times (via Ross Sheil), director Kevin Macdonald talks about »Marley« – his new documentary which can be seen in theaters and through video on demand from April 20.
»If Scorsese can make four hours on Dylan, and he’s not even dead,« he said, »I think Bob deserves two and a half«.
– via New York Times
It’s official: Snoop Dogg did not not only go to Jamaica to get high at Niyabinghi sessions, but to record a Reggae album at Gee Jam with the likes of Diplo and Switch:
It’s like Snoop Dogg and Major Lazer together. It’s all reggae and he’s singing and he’s doing a fucking awesome job and I never knew it, but he had his heart in every song. [...] We’re going to get back into the production of it next month, and I’m really proud of that record. It’s the first record I’ve ever executive-produced and his crew is amazing.
– via MTV
This picture suggests that Mixpak-founder Dre Skull – who did an awesome job on the record he made with Kartel – is on the crew, too.
According to this blunted Youtube statement by Dogg i-Dogg himself, the album is going to be called »Reincarnated – Peace, Love & Soul«. Time to transform your Lion into a Dogg paw and kick back with a »Rasta Mixx« Snoop made in JA:
We are really happy to share with you a preview of some madness SoulForce and BRNGTN are about to unleash on the earth: »The Greatest« is a tribute to Christopher Wallace, the Don Dadda of rap music, who was shot 15 years ago today. B.I.G. tune!
