Entertainment Macco

Jahbami aka Juicy is a Trinidad artiste based in NYC. He is known for his Reggae music and also for his involvement in the Soca arena. Jahbami has spoken out a lot about the injustice artistes have been facing in the Trini industry. Bami is an ace steelpan player, an artiste and he was the face of Cross Caribbean Countdown on Tempo…. This was a very interesting interview!

Entertainment Macco: Who is Jah Bami?

Jah Bami: “A loving, understanding, very independent..do anything to assist…great team player and most importantly I fear God.”

Entertainment Macco: What is your given name?

Jah Bami: “Damian Marvin Collins Walters”

Entertainment Macco: What influenced your sobriquet?

Jah Bami: “I wanted to find a name that represents me and nothing else…I was known as Juicy during my earlier years in music but while on tour in Japan the media there blessed me with the name “BAMIDELI” – which means ”Take Me Home”..but as a Rastafarian I wanted to incorporate Jah’s guidance so I dropped the ‘Deli’ and I rolled with the Jah in front… “

Entertainment Macco: Sign/Horoscope (make sure and share the DOB with the Macco as well eh!)

Jah Bami: “Well Rastafarian doh deal up with this Horoscope thing but since you are asking I am a Capricorn, born on 07^th Jan 1978 but take away 7yrs from that (dais meh real age in Ethiopia..haha)”

Entertainment Macco: Leh we stick to your real age in Trini nah! lol

Entertainment Macco: Do you have children?

Jah Bami: “Yes”

Entertainment Macco: How many Boys/Girls? Do you want more?

Jah Bami: “2 girls and a boy and nooooo they do not smoke weed! Lol..

Concerning having more children.....Well yeah, why not once Jah permits it so shall it be.”

Entertainment Macco: Are you single/in a relationship/married?

Entertainment Macco: What made you decide to sing?

Jah Bami: “Music is something I was born into...my entire family on my fathers’ side are musicians...it is one of the only things I could do pretty good..I am a musician by genes not by influence.”

Entertainment Macco: You were in the Military right? (Coastguard was it)…What caused the transition from bald head, stick to the rules demeanour => Rastaman spitting Lyrics, speaking out loud and building spliffs on stage?

Jah Bami: “I was 17 when I went in there and it was a good move then...I won’t change it….because of that I am disciplined, mature and responsible, that strict vibes! Music has always been a part of meh life and the love I have for God always keeps me searching for what I need in life…Rastafarianism is something I was born into because my father is a Rastaman…I love to push the envelope... you know... do wah other people want to but are scared to do…… I will be known as the only reggae artiste in Trini to light a spliff on stage..I am willing take that pips..lol haha”

Entertainment Macco: As a macco of the entertainment industry I have heard you venting about the lack of appreciation for your music in Trinidad and Tobago, tell me what is wrong?

Jah Bami: “I have been in the music industry for over fifteen years and this journey has thought me alot...it’s not lack of appreciation for my music, because I have a large following in Trinidad who appreciate my lyrics and my music in general and I give thanks for my fans everyday. The issue lies with the outlets that are responsible for getting the music to the masses. I have absolutely no respect for any radio man who is content to be a bandwagonist. Too many of them want to be artists and push their own music rather than really push the music of home grown artists. A lot of the radio men will hide behind the excuse of them having to answer to “the bigger man” but there are other ways a recognized radio dj can push a tune so that’s a coward’s excuse. . The same way a dj will endorse Movado or Busy Signal is the same way they can endorse the music from Jah Bami. As I said before, give thanks for the support of my Trinidad and Tobago family who stay hungry for my music and with the introduction of all these social media sites and brainstorming sessions with my team, we found some effective ways to get my music out there."

Entertainment Macco: How does it feel to be so popular overseas and not in your own country?

Jah Bami: I always say Trinidad and Tobago does not have a music industry...they great at the seasonal music thing but to really put heads together and create a legitimate music industry they fail badly. I travel at least twice a month because of my music and I am very thankful to the Almighty God that I have such a huge following overseas. It is humbling to see the amount of love I get when I perform outside of Trinidad. My focus is uplifting the masses through my music, where ever they may be. “It is the same way like Christ; he wasn’t loved in Bethlehem…Bob Marley wasn’t loved in Jamaica until he died."

Entertainment Macco: Is leave you leave Tempo Bami? I find me eh seeing you on there at all!

Jah Bami: “Let it be known that Jah Bami is a leader...not a follower. I believe in righteousness, not modern day slavery. When Frederick approached me to host the Cross Caribbean Countdown, he already met me doing my music. At that time he had a vision to promote Caribbean talent and culture as a whole and me being an artist, shared that same vision and lent my strength. When the network became independent that vision to unite and promote the Caribbean became a selfish mission to make a CEO into a star. Imagine I was called to the stage in Antigua to perform and the CEO comes behind me and begins to sing my song to the crowd....hahahaaa."

Entertainment Macco: Wow is all ah that taking place?

Jah Bami: “I eh done yet… “

Entertainment Macco: Well carry on Mr. Bami!!

Jah Bami: “I am an Artist, not a certified Television host but yet still I completed 101 episodes of the Cross Caribbean Countdown. The God in me brought flavour to that network which can be proven by the amount of love I get throughout the region. That’s why I could have held down the station for a full year after all the other hosts got fed up of his nonsense and moved on. Everyday I saw great people who worked with me be exploited. I am a firm believer in forgiveness but when an individual continues to abuse his little power by ill-treating good people, I have to take a stand and remove myself from that. Entertainment Macco I have countless stories I could share throughout my journey there but I have to save that for an upcoming exclusive..."

Entertainment Macco: Well I hope that I would get an exclusive as well.. :-)

Entertainment Macco: So what you up to now?

Jah Bami: “In terms of my music, I will continue to take my music to the world, I am working on my upcoming album and mix tape. Team Jah Bami is planning my grand Earthstrong Celebration in St. Lucia for January 2010. I just completed hosting an exciting reality series for a drink called Campari where alot of my music was used for the soundtrack and I am launching my online Television station in two months...I am very excited about this, let Jah Bami show you what a REAL Caribbean network is all about!!! ”

Entertainment Macco: When people would have first heard of you it would have been under the sobriquet JUICY…a soca man…you give up the soca thing?

Jah Bami: “I eh give it up! The industry is just a lot of big fishes in a small pond, nobody eh really making money, you have to win a title to be recognized and other genres don’t have to go through that. Again you have to either pay or kiss the Chinee man ass for a little airplay and with soca it even worse cause that airplay is only for about two months. There is no room for talent to grow in Trinidad… but I have to big up SYNERGY SOCA STAR though at least they nurturing and finding new talent. The problem is the winner still have to hope they get some endorsement on the Chinee man radio station."

Entertainment Macco: What happened to the Reggae Allstars, it buss up?

Jah Bami: “I never liked the name first of all; it sounded like a basketball team. … Everyone started off on a level playing field, same vision thing again but from the time one man got more airplay than the other.....they become superstars...hahaha. It’s sad but I have to laugh cause where these superstars now? People won’t have respect for you unless you respect yourself. The movement was great but some men got caught up in the hype and allowed themselves to get separated by the media and the djs..but that don’t mean everybody stop singing, contrary to what the radio man want people to think, we all still recording great music, there is a bigger market out there...

Entertainment Macco: I have heard so much talk about people saying that you are not as humble as you act/appear…True/False?

Jah Bami: “I am very humble but people just can’t stand the strength of meh aura….people who eh know me are people who will never know me..my peeps respect me for who I am….I will never humble to assholes and anytime I get a chance to put them on blast I will do it!”

Entertainment Macco: How do you feel when people make statements on your character that are false?

Jah Bami: “I really doh business because they doh know me….I couldn’t be bothered”

Entertainment Macco: In your industry what does stress you out the most, piss yuh off..(Pet Peeve nah)?

Jah Bami: “Fake people…people who does bad talk but doh talk out loud….2faced people; I have no respect for them..alot of them..

Entertainment Macco: Are you going to call names?

Jah Bami: “To waste time? I’m a businessman. Time is money.

Entertainment Macco: What do you do when you are not performing, recording, touring etc?

Jah Bami: “Always working on new plans etc. I’m building my studio at home so when I wake up in the middle of the night with a vibe, I can lay it down….We always have Xbox football championships at my crib...if I eh touring I just chilling down the islands and I love to spend as much time with my children as I can…

Entertainment Macco: Are you bitter or just real?

Jah Bami: “I could never be bitter I have Jah in meh life..I am real. I seeing the same things people seeing and I just stating the facts..I am a different individual..I have no reason to be bitter…

Entertainment Macco: When you were/are searching for a significant other do you prefer someone in or out of you industry? Why?

Jah Bami: “I always dated people out of the industry however it might be easier to have one in the industry because she would understand. It is challenging if she isn’t because there is the trust factor Re: Tours etc. I hate to argue etc…. I think it safer to have one in the industry…”

Jah Bami: “A sophisticated lady who knows how to carry herself… one who know what she is about! I cannot just see her for physical appearance it has to be much more than that.”

Entertainment Macco: You know I had to endure listening to so many Rasta men babbling about not wanting women with weaves, chemical aided hair, make-up, fake nails etc…Dais you there too?

Jah Bami: “You got to love a person for who they are so I really do not mind..I eh forcing anyone into my lifestyle but if they want to adapt then I cool with that. My whole mission is to find a woman who would love me and love Christ. Once you meet that criteria you could be my empress/princess or queen…there are Girls/ladies/women….. I only look for women = queens."

Entertainment Macco: Why do you think men are more successful than women in our music industry?

Jah Bami: “There are more men in the game, I think we need some more female artists and producers. Jah Bami supports you ladies.”

Entertainment Macco: I know there are real life maccos out there, how do you keep your personal life off the streets and separate from you business life?

Jah Bami: “When u are an artiste you cannot be in everything… things you used to do u cah do them no more etc…. I try not to be everywhere as soon as I finish a show I am out..if I wanna hang out I will go somewhere else where I cannot be affiliated or recognized… people have cameras etc and ready to get yuh business on the streets… Just avoid the make out scene!”

Entertainment Macco: What is your favourite past-time?

Jah Bami: “Playing pan for panorama..pan is my #1 love after God and my children… when that cowbell start to knock and the lights are turned on and the name of the band is announced..wow that feeling is euphoric”

Entertainment Macco: The best place you have visited and what was it about that place that stood out to you?

Jah Bami: “That would be Japan and the culture……they are very expressional and traditional.”

Entertainment Macco: One place you would like to/have plans of visiting in the near future other than the mother land (Africa)? Why why why?

Jah Bami: “Yes soon and that will be Paris - I think Paris is where they store all the stolen stuff from Africa.. I wanna see there before I go home to Africa.”

Entertainment Macco: Are there any words that you live by that you are willing to share with the maccos?

Jah Bami: “God is love…let us all love!”

Entertainment Macco: When you die how do you want to be remembered?

Jah Bami: “Death has no power over me..I believe in everlasting life….they will always remember me alive…As a man who believed in God, in his beliefs and that Selassie is the ruler…I stood firm in my beliefs…”

Entertainment Macco: Are you happy with the direction you life is taking at present?

Jah Bami: “Very Happy, I cannot complain and won’t change anything…Jah is always smiling on me.”