Chronixx is addressing current social justice issues affecting the world with a powerful message and song.
Grammy-nominated reggae singer Chronixx is known for music with deep and thought-provoking lyrics, and he is using that to make a statement. In a time of extreme injustices against African Americans going unchecked and the people from all corners of the world rising up to speak out against it, Chronixx is using social media to do the same.
The reggae star took to Instagram to share a snippet of his song “Black is Beautiful” off his Grammy-nominated album “Chronology,” along with a lengthy caption that shares a little about the song’s background. “This song was a letter to the African in America,” he wrote. “I never really liked the word ‘black’ to describe who I am because I don’t think that’s the way my fathers thought of themselves in ancient times….still I knew that’s what I needed to say to address it to the right people.”
The popular song whose hook repeats the powerful statement, “They never told us black is beautiful,” features African singer Sampa The Great, whose verse is heard in the part of the record that Chronixx shared in his post. In his caption, he went on to discuss the meaningfulness of the song and its message. “In deep thought and self searching I found endless beauty in what the lyrics meant and completed writing the lyrics for the original version in my journal.” he said. “From my album this was one of 2 or 3 songs written on paper.”
He continued, “Big respect to all the artists who have sacrificed having a favorable position in the music industry in order to remain in the position to affect humanity positively with their art. You are the reason why they are songs that really matter right now. You are the reason why some African people and a lot of human beings in general have a means of awakening. You are the reason why youths can see that their lives are divine and that they deserve to live and not die. You are the reason why the whole world is not in darkness right now.”
The “Likes” singer also shed some light on the other side of the spectrum and called out creators whose work isn’t edifying the people or does not serve as a means of enlightenment. “To every other artist who can’t post/recite/share a work from your life of work that can transform minds and awaken….your music has only made everything more complicated,” Chronixx expressed. “Still I pray that the almighty jah guide and protect all of humanity.” He also shouts out Sampa The Great calling her a powerful and resilient African Queen to end the caption.
Chronixx’s message was a glimmer of encouragement in an otherwise dark period for black people across the world. Many of his artistic counterparts have taken to social media with similar inspirational thoughts to reinvigorate the downtrodden black community. His sidenote that speaks to artists whose music does not represent black excellence or advocate for the upliftment of Africans across the pond resonated with reggae artist Kabaka Pyramid who took to the comments to voice his own thoughts on it.
According to Kabaka, the artists whose music doesn’t offer the same substance but use their voices to speak out against social injustices get a pass in his book. “A big up di ones weh sing f***ry an bubble gum music but at least have a voice in these times. A di silent one dem weh really get on mi nerves,” Kabaka wrote.
The uprising is imminent, and having a voice has never been more crucial. Do you agree that to be neutral is to choose the side of the oppressor, and to be silent is to be complicit?
