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Paradise provides this feedback due to some misunderstanding and apparent negative take on his comments on the 'Urban Voices: Aspire For Peace' fund-raising CD

Via email

Dec. 16 2004

DEAR ALL,

After speaking with the organisers of the Damilola Tribute CD, I'm left with a numbing feeling knowing that my previous comments are being used by some to stir up negativity around the Tribute CD and the UK Urban Voices programme. As this was never my intention, I'm pained to know that my comments/opinions are rippling through what I myself stand for, which is unity and peace amongst us all. I expressed my opinion behind closed doors, so I was as frank and as brash as I wanted to be with regard to a song that I felt was totally out-of-place, but were I being asked for a quote from say a press institution, I would have of course been a lot more mindful of what and how I worded my opinions.

The tribute CD in design and concept is a welcomed and much needed project which I feel, enlightens and provokes thought surrounding the issues of both gun and knifing atrocities being perpetrated on our/and sadly by our own youth of today. The fact that the CD received National coverage by being placed within a National Newspaper is a feat in itself, to be rejoiced. I salute both the Evening Standard and the CD's organisers.

Damilola's death was a sad and tragic occurrence that seems to be repeating itself daily within our inner cities. So much so, that we're now becoming 'desensitised' by the frequency of these occurrences. A knifing, or even a shooting for that matter, hardly makes the front pages or 6 o' clock primetime news unless there's an even sinister twist to the violent tale. But press coverage alone, is not necessarily the answer. What we need are more of these sorts of CDs which raise awareness, we need more artists, more record company's, more schools, churches, mothers, fathers, sisters, aunts and uncle's being more involved and responsible for the community's which we co-inhabit...

As I write this, I'm not sure whether this is a retraction or simply an amendment in hindsight, but what I do know is what sort of lasting impression I do want my words to have. So in the spirit of overstanding the struggle, I've spoken with the organisers of the Damilola Taylor Tribute CD and despite what might be a seemingly negative situation; we have managed to turn it into yet another positive! We have agreed to collaborate under the banner of unity and forward progression on a future project together.

The Damilola Taylor Tribute CD is hopefully the first of many to come in a line of musical initiatives that will attempt to tackle and bring insight into the problems that we face as a community with-in this modern day Britain of ours. Hats off to the organisers and all those who understand that what we go forth to do/and say today will effect us in our tomorrow. So let us do/and say the most positively uplifting and inspiring affirmations/and deeds we can... for their future, is in our hands.

Paradise
Executive Project Co-ordinator, TGSMP
The Good Samaritan Music Project
c/o Prolific Entertainments

Urban Voice UK chief executive Tony Biola responds to comments made about 'Urban Voices: Aspire For Peace' CD by Paradise and BBM editor.
Via email

Dec. 17 2004

In response to Paradise’s comments about the Damilola Taylor CD project for the Evening Standard published recently in the BBM newsletter.

The concept of compiling the CD as a tribute to the Damilola was first discussed and agreed by myself, Tony Biola, after a meeting with Richard Taylor (Damilola’s father) back in September. In this meeting, it was identified that these two organisations had much in common and it was agreed that drawing tracks from the Urban Voice (UV) compilation would help strengthen this relationship,

Regarding the track ‘Round Here’, which was written and performed by the artist Exodus and featured on the original UV compilation - it has been claimed that this was an inappropriate track to feature. It was written that a particular BBM member felt ‘Round Here’ was a track that had a violent tone in what it was trying to say. Having spoken to the person in question about his comments he explained that his views were expressed in private with the editor, to whom he had a personal discussion and not for the general public.

For the record, ‘Round Here’ is an introspective analysis from a young man growing up in London today. In the song he vividly puts you in his situation without being derogatory, rude, offensive or supportive of violent actions. Exodus is a rapper and therefore he represents the voice of street music, which uses street language, and to be frank, there is nothing pretty about what he is conveying in the song. He is just being honest. Some of the listeners of the track would not like to put themselves in the situation that Exodus has unfortunately experienced. Should he not be allowed to speak about it?

To “aspire for peace” we must tackle some of the harsh realities that we may or may not want to face head on. The verse and chorus in the song is clear to any listener and it goes:

Verse 1
This is London boy, get robbed round here, so I advise you, don't floss round here,
I’m the boss round here,
Plenty more too they ain’t soft round here
Gats go off round here,
Bodies and drugs get shot round here,
Biggest boys on your ends get popped round here,
Crack cocaine, weed get shot round here,
Wanna get sees open shop round here,
Cause all I wanna do is roll and ride,
And make a living it’s cold outside,
There is threats of prison,
Man with holsters and toasters with em,
Coasters and boasters on posters missing,
I’m wishing that I could make a change,
But there’s stress on my brain,
Tryna light up my name round here,
But there’s cats with mack try to light up my frame round here,
Tell me why

Chorus:
WHY,
No one comes round here,
here so much guns round here,
There ain’t no fun round here
Why is there no hope round here,
We all broke round here,
There so much coke round here,
WHY

What was quoted in the letter was:

"This is London boy, get robbed round here, so I advise you, don't floss round here, something bust round here, __________ _______ soft round here, gats go off round here. Bodies and drugs get shot round here, biggest boys on your ends get popped round here,” etc. And this was all in the spirit of 'aspiring for peace' and in the name and memory of Damilola .

Exodus is posing a question to the powers that be, because the same reasons that led to Damilola Taylor’s death are the same reasons others die by violent knife and gun attacks. Reasons such as lack of unity, lack of communication within the community, care for one another, appropriate education, hatred for one another and so many more which we can open up for public debate. Ex is 19 years old talking about how he sees the problems facing young black males and females all from his point of view.

Regardless what anyone says, one thing that we all agree on is being honest and speaking the truth. The truth can only be explained in one way not 2, not 3, or else it becomes confusing. Urban Voice stands behind Exodus and what he intended the song to do, which was to spark debate,

It was also incorrectly stated that Exodus is signed to Urban Voice or UV Records. It is very unprofessional to express information to the public without checking out the facts first which clearly BBM did not do. So for it to be reported that it was because of vested interest as the record label of the track as the reason for its inclusion on the compilation is misleading to say the least. This track was selected because of the realness, honesty and artistry of a young male trying to make it in the music industry.

If you haven’t heard the track ‘Round Here’ and would like to or would like to see the full lyrics to the song respond to tony@ukurbanvoice.com.

If you would like BBM to put on a debate about UK Rappers & MCs titled 'Lyrical Content: Fact or Fiction? Being Real or Being True', then reply to editor@britishblackmusic.com/tony@ukurbanvoice.com

Tony Biola, Chief Executive, Urban Voice UK

BBM Newsletter editor's response

Before responding to Tony’s feedback, I notice he chooses to ignore the positive points highlighted in my response to Paradise’s first mail. Such as providing explanations as to why there probably weren’t more new tracks; the good things said about tracks by Lemar, Andrew Roachford, and Andraya Triana, or the fact that we had procured copies of the CD in order to continue complement Urban Voice’s fund-raising initiative, and bring the CD to the attention of those who missed out on buying a copy of the Evening Standard.

Now to tackle to points made by Tony:

Regarding Exodus’ track ‘Round Here’, this is what I wrote: having “listened to the Exodus track several times, and I have come to the conclusion that it seems to straddle between glorifying and reflecting the dark tales. It would however have been prudent for the compiler to have not used that track. Indeed, since Exodus is on the compiler’s label, they lost an opportunity to have their artist unequivocally make a song that underscored the ‘Aspire For Peace’ theme.”

Based on the parts of the lyrics supplied by Tony, I have no issue with the lyrics. But listening to the record, whether because of my old ears, or the way the vocals were embedded within the mix, there were parts that were not clear. Hence the point I made that it seems to straddle… Not everyone has the luxury of perfect hearing, so I would like to suggest that if the vocals were mixed a but more clearly, this misunderstanding of the artist’s stance may not have happened.

OK, Exodus may not signed to Urban Voice. However, the track in question is owned by Paradise Records, which judging by the credits, is an Urban Voice related label. If this is incorrect, I’d be happy to acknowledge and retract this “unprofessional” report. The point of Urban Voice’s involvement in Exodus’ track was made not for any insidious reason – I only made the point to underscore the fact that unlike the other licensed tracks, this was one which Urban Voice had control and much more discretion.

I’m not against realness and honesty in dealing with serious issues. Incidentally Paradise came to my notice when I discovered ‘Break Free’ by his former group 57^th Dynasty. It has one of the most real and honest lyrics dealing with dark tales, such as drugs and violence, I have ever heard by a British act. It is very musical, funky, and the remix featuring Estelle is awesome.

Finally, thanks for the debate suggestion. As you are aware, we did something almost on the same lines entitled ‘Black Music & Profanity: what’s keeping it real?’. Despite the forgoing, I would like to say Urban Voice is doing a good job, and long may it continue. By the way, you may not be aware of it Tony, but as I told Oni, I rang him twice before posting the update.

Kwaku

BBM editor

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