Protoje - The Art Of Acceptance (Ineffable Records/In.Digg.Nation Collective)

As for the album title, Protoje explains: "After 'In Search Of Lost Time', in the COVID period, that time of deep introspection, a lot was going on in life and two things stood out to me: acceptance and forgiveness. I wanted to expand on those things, because I felt it would help me to heal and move forward. And obviously acceptance comes before forgiveness! I wanted to dive into that. The music has subtle hints of acceptance in each song. The whole project gives that vibe."

On 'Sword And Shield', a critique of violence in Jamaican society and the spiritual grounding offered by Rastafari, Protoje samples fragments of a speech given by Peter Tosh at the 1983 One Love Concert. However, we were more taken with the thematically related 'Reference', in which Protoje offers a whole history lesson in just a few lines:


Haile Selassie a me reference
Black woman, you a di essence
A just the teachings of His Majesty
Make we see riches a no vanity
Black a order, hold a reverence
In a honour of your presence
Inna the Gideon, no I won't flee
Faith is belief in what the eye don't see

No haffi believe a word that they say
King and Queen get crowned the same day
Ababa Jahnoy deny you, no way
Bless, sanctify these paths we gone take
Never we speak on which we don't know
Search and we seek, we reap what we sow
History will teach of things gone before
Always repeat, mankind we learn slow (Jah know)
Me see how you handle the Mussolini him
Geneva Convention never believe the King
The world never listen when you say fascism
Then three year later Hitler give it to them
Today for you, mi say tomorrow me
Look how you teach about diplomacy
How we need fi reach up economically
But dem nuh watch you plea

Haile Selassie a me reference
Black woman, you a di essence
A just the teachings of His Majesty
Make we see riches a no vanity
Black a order, hold a reverence
In a honour of your presence
Inna the Gideon, no I won't flee
Faith is belief in what the eye don't see

To whom do you belong?
To Abba Aquel
Read me book wid mi highlighter
The moment me sight up, me eyes light up
Yesus Christos never born pon Christmas
Check you history
Wah deh deh fi we discuss?
A discuss how me dash it weh inna disgust
Distrust, di audacity, listen to dis fuss
Selassie deh a di top like meniscus

A king was born
They say it's likely you
July 23rd, 1892
1920 Marcus mek a proclamation
1930 November a coronation

A man weh bun God rate His Majesty
Mi rate His Majesty, mi hail His Majesty as the King
He shook the earth at a frequency
The earth nuh frequent see

Haile Selassie a me reference
Black woman, you a di essence
A just the teachings of His Majesty
Make we see riches a no vanity
Black a order, hold a reverence
In a honour of your presence
Inna the Gideon, no I won't flee
Faith is belief in what the eye don't see

Haile Selassie a me reference
Black woman, you a di essence
A just the teachings of His Majesty
Make we see riches a no vanity
Black a order, hold a reverence
In a honour of your presence
Inna the Gideon, no I won't flee
Faith is belief in what the eye don't see

The cover artwork for 'The Art Of Acceptance' may remind some of Monument Valley in the United States, but it is in fact an artistic reinterpretation by Shanelle Davis of a photograph Protoje took during a visit to the Danakil Desert in Ethiopia.

For this album, Protoje worked with both Damian and Stephen Marley, something he himself was clearly pleased about: "Ragga and Gong… To have them man there bless my music, I can't ask for nothing more! If I never get one more feature, me good!"

But the list of vocal guests on 'The Art Of Acceptance' goes much further. In opener 'Something I Said' we already hear Jesse Royal, while 'The Locusts' features Pressure Busspipe in a darker mood. With Masicka there's 'Ting Loud', riding a nineties-style dancehall riddim that feels straight out of the Steelie & Clevie or Gussie Clarke era, instantly evoking memories of Aswad albums like 'Too Wicked' or 'Firesticks'. And then there is 'Goddess', a collaboration with Shenseea that proves to be a true match made in heaven. Undeniable highlight!

The most personal track on the album is without doubt 'In Your Corner', featuring not only Protoje's father but also the voice of his late grandmother: "I started (that song) before my grandma passed. There's an interlude of my dad talking at one of my birthday parties and my grandma is there (as well). It's very nostalgic."

Those looking for a few familiar touchstones on 'The Art Of Acceptance' should know that 'At We Feet' is loosely inspired by Super Cat's 'Dem No Worry We', while for '1000 Lashes' Protoje used a slowed-down reworking of the riddim from the Black Uhuru classic 'Party In Session'. In 'Love Overflow', a song about choosing love, inner growth and spiritual strength over hatred and revenge, Protoje even nods to Dennis Brown with the line: "Love and hate can never be friends!".

The album closes with 'Ten Times Around The Sun', where the saxophone of Dean Fraser and the trombone of Henry 'Matic Horns' Tenyue play an important supporting role.

'The Art Of Acceptance' is released on vinyl, CD, and even cassette; a move we certainly welcome.

Protoje will present 'The Art Of Acceptance' live on Saturday, June 27 at Couleur Café!