Alborosie And Gentleman Converse ‘For The Culture’
Gentleman and Alborosie had a candid conversation that saw them answering questions about Jamaica, reggae music, road rage, and the Grammys earlier today.
Organized by VP Records, the virtual event titled A Conversation with Alborosie and Gentleman was put on to promote the upcoming release of Alborosie’s new album For The Culture.
The Italian Reggae singer said, “I believe my life is a collage of previous life. I am a human being and I am part of the same journey. I utilize the history to form part of my inspiration”.
He continued, “Maybe I was there with Columbus”. To which the German national Gentleman interrupted him, “We nuh too dig Colombus”.
Alborosie then doubled back by saying “maybe I was the one who stabbed Columbus.”
The two Reggae stars have albums coming out in just a few days. Gentleman will release the Deluxe version of the album Blaue Stunde on May 14.
When asked about their success even amidst the language barriers between non-English speaking countries Gentleman said, “The melody itself is a language and throughout the melody we can create a certain exchange. The person who doesn’t understand the language can also understand the vibe.”
He further stated that “Energy is very important and artists should have an emotional connection to every song”.
Alborosie added, “Music is a universal language and I don’t speak, I just play the music.”
The Italian Alborosie has an album in Portuguese and one in Spanish.
The conversation quickly digressed to a non-musical topic when the men shared their driving habits with Gentleman admitting that he sometimes gets road rage when people can’t drive on the road.
Alborosie then shared that he always carries one thousand Jamaican dollars with him while on the island in case he is stopped by the police. He said as a result he has never received a ticket in Jamaica.
When I asked about the Grammys, before he was prompted by a VP Records representative, he responded “can I be honest”? To which the label representative shouted “NO”.
Alberosie then proceeded to answer more apologetically by saying “Lets be thankful, because mainstream doesn’t give us a space no more”.
Reggae he compared to the Bible where you have to go look for it. He said he is thankful to the Grammys because they highlight it.
He further stated, “I submit (my album) all the time but they pay me no mind. When I see new artists doing well and get no mention it throws me off a little. I don’t know the process but I am thankful Reggae has a system there.”
Alborosie’s For the Culture album drops June 11 on all streaming platforms.