Cutty Ranks: "I feel I need to talk about those topics, the crisis, the situation in Greece, and other placesin the world."

At the end of your show, you promoted some songs that were released on your 2012 album Full Blast. Can you tell us about this album?

The song that I named the album from is called 'Full Blast' and is a very powerful song in terms of message. I'm not a self-praised kind of person but I love that track. And the one called 'Mass Grave'. Because there are a lot of things going on, on this planet. And this planet is not only for one people. I look at what's happening in Greece with the financial meltdown, in other parts of the world people are suppressed, a lot of things happening in the United States, the crisis in Spain... And then I ask to myself: "Who created those crisis?" That is the big question. There are some big fish behind the scenes who's name we're not calling, they created it. And they don't like people like me, they would like to get rid of me because I'm opening people's eyes. That is why Bob Marley was so great, because he opened a lot of eyes and tried to teach people about awareness. Now, even more than before, people should be aware of what's happening around them. Because the politicians on a global level don't really care about the people, they only care about themselves and their cardboard friends.

Full Blast is also talking about police brutality?

Yes, it is about the human rights and the police brutality that happens to the kids. 'Mass Grave' is a talking about the worldwide crisis where you have a lot of different entities - let me call them entities - that are killing a lot of people on this planet and cover it up or use mainstream medias to hide the truth. We know all of that, we know what's going on. But at the end of the day, I'm not going to go too far on this topic. Because these people are powerful. And they are killers and they don't business or care who they kill. And they have the goons to do it. Any time people try and rebel and stand up for their rights, they send out their goons.

After a period of quietness, you came back as an artist with a message.  Do you leave the dancehall music?

I still have the dancehall vibe in me. Because this is what made me. But at the end of the day, I thought I should put some songs with that one drop roots vibes, where I can drop some message. Some songs that can elevate people. And there are some many things on this planet to talk about.And this is also a way to consolidate my legacy in the music industry, because I never did a full one drop album. There are only two dancehall songs on it. All the rest is one drop reggae.  

That was a style that you didn't use much before. What motivated you to make this choice? 

I did some commercial lyrics for certain people, some gangsta lyrics for other people, you have hip hop or crossover music and finally roots music. I want to control all the areas of music. I don't limit myself to one style. That's why I stay so long in this business. I think people love varieties, people love diversities. Don't they? I think diversity is great stuff. When you can blend different races, come with different ideas and come together out of those different ideas, it's just something powerful, as long as you keep it on a positive level. My music got remixed in various styles like drum'n'bass or jungle, and by people from different parts of the world. I have a lot of Europeans friends, a lot of fans in Japan, African fans, some others around the Caribbean,…even in Russia. The only place I'm not sure if I got some fans there, is China, because Chinese keep themselves to themselves... But in India and Pakistan I have fans. When I go to Canada, a lot of people in the crowd are Indians or Pakistanis.

How do you look back on those gun lyrics from the past?

I still have some of those lyrics.  Look, I believe that everyone have a right to bear arms. Because everyone is doing it. The problem is not the gun, it's the man behind the gun. I'm not the kind of person going around and looking problem from anyone, so I wouldn't get involved in any critical situation.

Who produced the Full Blast album?

I did produce the album. I own that album. It's distributed by a company named IDC (Independent Distribution Collective) in San Francisco in the States. My wish would be for people to go out and get the album and sit down and listen to it carefully. For example here's some lyrics from 'Look Around': 

Can't you see? What is happening around you Can't you see? Babylon a clown you.

In the first verse of the song I say : 

I'm in some deep meditation, It's coming from my heart, Inna dem dirty system we nah take no part Dem better stop the killing and the bloodbath Me know dem love war from the start I see them and their creed a overrun the earth, If you stand up fi your rights,they want put you under dirt Injustice and suppression that nah go work If you're not careful they will take off your shirt, Can't you see?

Are you a revolutionary now?

Well I feel I need to talk about those topics, the crisis, the situation in Greece, and other places in Europe and all over the world. And even in Jamaica. Because it's happening in Jamaica also. Jamaica now is not the Jamaica I used to know before. Everything is changing, the government is using dirty tactics, working for some elements that are behind the scenes and which no one will call the name. Jamaican people know what's going on but they just sit back and they don't get up or rebel or march like the Europeans. I love the Europeans because they stand up for their rights.  

Can you tell us about the label that you created a few years ago?

Yes I named it Phillip Music, because my surname is Phillip. The album was the first project release and I have a new one drop beat coming out soon, called Tax Money Riddim... It features some young female talents like Habi, Haley Aswood. And I also write some songs for other artists who will sing on it. I wrote a X-rated song for myself 'Pussy Haffi Sell' talking about the girls who are selling themselves. And also one for Peter Metro because I want to give him a jump start back in the business as respect for an old-school artist who's been around for a long time. Lutan Fyah and Turbulence are also featured on the Tax Money Riddim.  

Most of your fans know your ragga material and some were surprised tonight to see you perform some roots and culture songs.  How did you feel about the reaction?

I saw these reactions, somehow surprised, but the fans are just getting into it. And I see they like it. Because when they really listen to the real message that's coming from this music, they feel the power coming from those messages. For the rest, those are all lovely tracks that you can listen with your wife or your kids, it's clean and nice music. On the album, I even have some lover's rock. And I did a tune with Beres Hammond and one with Luciano, called 'Long Life and Prosperity', that I wrote myself.  

On stage, we see that you are a part of this generation of artists that sing their lyrics and not just start the song and wheel it!

Yes, when I start a song, I go all out. But listen, I know you liked the show and consider it as a good show but I don't think I went to full capacity. The heat and the air conditioning in the plane and hotel messed up my voice a little bit. So I didn't want to pressure myself too much so I couldn't put the whole power in it. Me, or Bounty Killer, are not like this young generation of artists, who say three words and then get off. After this tour, I'm gonna go and do some exercise again and get that long breath and next you see me I'm gonna be like a beast! And those young artists will have problems...

In the next generation, which artists do you rate still?

Busy Signal is a very very good artist, there's no doubt about it. And I like some of those coming up like Romain Virgo, Tarrus Riley or Turbulence, with who I recorded a combination song that was produced by Roots Survival Records in France. 

Riddim mix : Tax Money Riddim : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqaXGetTEmE

Cutty Ranks & Turbulence - Beware : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ywUiAY1Y2M