WINNING IS NOT ALL THAT MATTERS
Talent show contestant JAH BOUKS proves what matters is content – and his lyrics have enough of it
The audience voted, the decision has been made, the winners have been announced and the crown for Jamaica’s new King and Queen of the Dancehall and a JA$1 million cheque has been passed on to this years winners. Both, equipped with nuff lyrics, battled their way through a competition where every contestant has to sing their own songs. However none of their predecessors have made an lasting impact on the dancehall arena yet.
In an interview with the newspaper Guardian the popular UK singer Jessie J said about the Voice – the talent show of which she is one of the judges – that: “winning the show is no guarantee of success”.
Indeed winning is not all. And so has every talent show a secretly admired favourite. This year the title of the secret favourite or better the people’s choice of Magnum Kings and Queens goes to Jah Bouks, a handsome Rasta with a smooth attitude.
“That crown would not fit me, my locks are too nuff fi it,” he said with a smile.
“I’m glad for the exposure though, you can not pay for TV time for weeks. I can safely say that my journey on Magnum Kings and Queens was flawless. There was not one bad comment I got throughout the competition.”
The resident judges, who have been there since the show’s inception in 2008, are not tight-lipped when it comes to criticism. Downsound Records producer, Cordel ‘Skatta’ Burrell, prominent media personality, Miss Kitty and highly regarded veteran deejay, Professor Nuts invite a guest judge to every show, like Ricky Trooper, Mad Cobra or Ninja Man, who do not have to asked to comment.
So has Mad Cobra credited him for his stage confidence, Miss Kitty praised him for being in a lane by himself and Skatta even compared him to Peter Tosh. On point, lyrical relevant and confident has been the verdict throughout the show.
Having his say sums up Jah Bouks’ mission in music too: “We cant vanish from earth without taking a stand. There are people who are defenseless and get pushed around. To ensure that this does not happen again you have to push back and fight if necessary. You have to stand up for what you believe. You don’t fight for yourself alone but to set standards for the generations to come. I want to take black people out of stress.”
As a Rasta, Africa is a central focus point in Jah Bouks’ life, a place he likes to refer to as his birth place, although he came into this world in Winchester/ St Thomas, where the video for his song Angola was shot with the support of Magnum. “To me I was there at the times of slavery. It sounds like me mad right now, but I feel a deep relation with and responsibly towards my ancestors.”
Jah Bouks is due to release a Mama song in time for Mother’s Day.
