Forward the Conscious Vibes: Prezident Brown Speaks to Jahworks.org

Francesca:    You've recorded with many well-respected artists, such as Everton Blender and Tony Rebel.  At what point did you decide to move forward on your own?

Prezident Brown:   Well, I've been on my own since the sound system days in the early 80's. Recording with other people is just like a collaboration along the way, giving respect to those doing similar works.  So I recorded for Tony Rebel's label. I did some songs with Everton Blender.  I lately did something with Cocoa Tea and recorded some songs for his label also. I did something with Steel Pulse.  So to me it's important to collaborate in unity and strength.  Once the music is positive and artists a have common goal, a common sense of purpose, it is good to collaborate. 

Francesca:  When was your first album released?

Prezident Brown:  My first CD came out in 1994.  It was released by a little company in the Netherlands, a company called Runn Records.  In 1995 I started going to Europe and I've been going there since that time.  But I decided to turn the attention to the U.S. and North America.  I have also been hearing from a lot of artists that I should check the scene.  I'm more used to the East Coast where I do a one show in New York, one in Miami, one in Ft. Lauderdale.  This is my first major West Coast tour.

Francesca:   During this tour, your music has been introduced to many new fans and reinforced your existing fans. What have you gained from it personally?

Prezident Brown:  I've gained inspiration because what I do is not just for myself.  I make music to share my thoughts with the world so if I make the music, I am always willing to go out and play it to the people. So it does a lot for me, it reenergizes me to go out and make more music.  When I see people accept the music and tell me personally what my music has done for them...  I remember a show in Colorado, this bredren was in the show and he didn't know of me before.  He just heard there was a reggae artist in town and he was going to check it out.  He said he wanted to cry for about four years now, my music made him cry.  So a lot of stuff that people tell me, a lot of that just strengthens my purpose.

Francesca:   Do the experiences you have while on tour contribute to creation of new songs?

Prezident Brown:  Definitely because songs come in many different ways.  Songs come from just collecting thoughts, direct inspiration; songs come from my personal life, my personal living.  It comes from like you said touring and going to different places and meeting different people.

Francesca:  And, observing?

Prezident Brown:  Yeah, definitely observing because I am an observer, really. It's kind of strange.  I talk a lot if I do an interview because I have a lot to say and I talk a lot with music.  But my normal way, I don't talk.  So people always say you don't have a lot to say but when you are on stage there is so much you pour out (laughs)!  But it does reenergize me to know that people are getting what I am trying to deliver.  You know the inspiration and the vibe come from the Most High so I'm like a medium through to the people.  So when the people get it, and I see that they get it, it brings a sense of satisfaction and that satisfaction makes me go forward with my works.

Francesca:   So for you, the feedback from your fans is an inspiration and type of payment.

Prezident Brown:  Yes, because how I view the whole vibe of music is it's art. Whatever you do when you are doing it, you don't think about money and you don't think about time.  Sometimes I'm on stage and when I see they cut me, they tell me my time is up, it's amazing.  I'm thinking, "an hour has passed already?"  Because I'm into my thing, I'm not checking the time.

So that's how I view it.  It's not really the money side of it, but the money side is a reality needed to keep everything going but it is not the major part of it.  If I do a show and it's well done, I am satisfied.  If I do a recording and it is well done I'm just satisfied with myself and just ready to go on to the next one. The business people take that and market it.

Francesca:   People often embrace music to stay grounded to truth. Besides your work, what keeps you inspired and grounded?

Prezident Brown:  I think what keeps me grounded is my faith.  I'm a Rastaman.  And I had to make this decision at a point in my life where I came to a crossroads. I've been having this vibration for I could say from birth. But the realization, it was in that period of time when I released my first album also, '94-'95.  I realized I am at this crossroads and after performing in Jamaica, people before they know me used to think that I was a Rastaman.  That's how they saw me.  You know when people hear sounds, they visualize what this person looks like?  It's like I come to a crossroads and I have to make my decision to accept the faith of Rastafari. And then amazingly that is what keeps me grounded, that is what keeps me humble.  It keeps me in the natural way of life.

Francesca:   You mentioned you were at a crossroads in the 90s.  So it was at that time that you embraced Rastafari fully?

Prezident Brown:  Yes, at that time I embraced it fully and completely.  I had been feeling that vibe which is why I think people came to me like "me thought you was a Rastaman", ya know?  But, Rastafari is inside.  To identify like that, just a look, it's like the locks is what is inside coming out, to declare that yes, I am.  But I still know a lot of people who have the same vibe but because of the system and because of their work and their livelihood they don't wear hair.  But I am an artist and I have to be free and that gives me the privilege to this image. There is no restriction that I can't wear my hair because of my work. Even from a Christian point of view, black people in general got this image of Jesus Christ as a white man, but still that image doesn't shave or trim, ya know, he's still got his beard.  So, it matters which nation how they see God.  I'm not into religion because I think that brings division.  Religion originally is supposed to bring you closer to the Almighty and take you on a spiritual path.  Because of systems and the way people use religion, corrupt it for personal gain, political gain and that kind of thing. . . I deal with spirit.

Francesca:   We're living in a very fragile world now politically and spiritually.  What do you think we can do as individuals to inspire social change and spiritual growth?

Prezident Brown:  I think personally just stay positive.  Stay positive in your daily living when you meet and greet; right there stay positive, stay positive to each other, ya know?  Love they neighbor as thyself.  So it starts at home and it's not easy I know because of the distractions in the world.  Money is power to a certain extent, material power, but I learn this through Rastafari that you have to balance the material with the spiritual realm.  So the people need to get in touch with their spirituality.  I just recorded a song the other day called "Higher Vibration," so we have to get to that higher vibration.  We have to, it doesn't matter your color, your class or creed.  Marcus Garvey said one thing too that if your contribution to humanity doesn't surpass your lifespan you are doing nothing, it doesn't make any sense. You have to give to humanity something that will last even when you're gone. People need to think in this direction. 

Francesca:   Do you agree that we need to speak out now more than ever?  We need to take responsibility?