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Reggae beat that doesn’t fall into the mundane.

From rising star to convicted felon and to free man, Jah Cure is once again on his way to becoming the King of reggae. The music industry was stunned 18 years ago when “Little Melody” (aka Siccaturie) was arrested for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  The news covered every minute of the arrest, trial and conviction. Cure always proclaimed his innocence.

It would be enough to make a spirited young man turn his head and become distrustful—but not this man.  With his release from prison last July, he changed his name to Jah Cure, took on a new music persona and now promotes a peaceful message through his music.  Now that he’s back with a new name and fresh take on his music, he’s telling the story of peace on his tours.

Cure’s music on The Universal Cure - released seven years after his first album, which was recorded in prison - captures the essence of a Jamaican beat with reggae being the strong part of his album.  His mixture of reggae, Latin and R&B make this quite an album.  His lyrics stand out as he tells the story of his life in songs that are full of pain and suffering for the injustices done to him.  “Mr. Jailer” compares Cure’s life to that of prison guards.  Both are “prisoners” caught in a cycle they can’t break The jailer wears a uniform as does Cure; both are stuck on the inside looking out.  The song ends with, “Mr, Jailer, are you free?”  “My Life” is about all the things that Cure has seen in his life, some of which were not pretty; he’s “seen it all.” From the words of this song, it was easy to feel his pain for being incarcerated and the suffering he went through.  I felt sorry for the jailer because he was in the same position as Jah Cure:  a prisoner to the ways of the prison life.
“Sticky” is about the summer months when children play and how much Jah misses watching them play and have a good time.  Pure reggae.  “Reflections” is about Jah’s time in prison where he thinks about doing his time.  “Sufferation” is about wanting the world to know the suffering that Jah went through in prison.  His “sufferation” brings inspiration.  All 15 tracks tell a story of Jah’s time in prison and how he survived the tempestuous times day by day.  All of them are good and his music will shine for others to know what he went through. 

Some of the songs are backed by an orchestra and chorus of singers while others feature only drums and choral group.  The music is hypnotizing and plaintive.  At times Cure seems to be pleading for mercy along with justice for all.  I couldn’t turn away from the music until I had played all 15 tracks of the album.  The songs made me feel like I, too, was a prisoner in my own home because the battery is dead in my car.  Cure capitalizes on a strong voice with soft instrumentals throughout the whole enjoyable album.

Cure is not defeated by his stay in prison, nor is he bitter about the time.  He uses the story of his life being jailed as a backdrop for the songs he sings.  His is a story of peace and reconciliation that he found from his days in prison and the story he paints is one of hope not despair. Cure gives thanks for life while spreading love through his music. He believes his incarceration was Jah’s way of teaching him humility, kindness, forgiveness and love for his fellow man. (“Jah” is actually a tobacco mixture smoked daily in some religions.)  Consequently, he has forgiven all those who have done him wrong, and all those who have judged him unjustly and unfairly.

If you are into reggae music as I am, then you’re going to be awed by this masterful singer and his renditions of songs with the right Jamaican flavor and beat.  There’s something here for everyone.  The Universal Cure goes global in November – just in time for the Christmas shopping season.  It will make a great stocking stuffer for the reggae music lover on your shopping list.

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