REGGAE MUSIC MADE another step in the fight against HIV/AIDS recently with the official release of a single launched to counteract negative thinking towards the disease.
The tune, 'AIDS is a killer' was produced by Gregory Isaacs and is performed by rising dub poet Joseph Current along with Gregory Isaacs. It was officially launched at the Pegasus Hotel last Thursday night during the launch of Roots FM's sixth anniversary show.
The tune is on the foundation rhythm, and is a sober attack on the issue of the spread of the disease due to negative attitudes. It has been used as a part of the Roots FM overall campaign towards their charity stage show to be held in two weeks. The show, according to the station, is for the benefit of children living in Jamaica and Zimbabwe suffering from HIV/AIDS.
In today's dancehalls, many have argued that although some artistes have recorded tunes to educate the public, not enough of them use their talent to do so.
Educate yourself
Joseph Current told THE STAR that as a musician he hopes that his tune will not just make great listening. "I hope it opens up the eyes of young people because they need to know that AIDS is real, yu caa see it in someone's face," he noted.
"We realise how many people dying from the disease and nobody seems to care bout it. Now even the young girls dem a have sex on the bus. Some think that they are too young, while some think they have too much money to have AIDS. If yu educate yourself, you can protect the other person. I hope they can just listen and not just dance. Every word is saying something."
This track is not the only one which has been recorded to encourage safer sex. Frisco Kid's 'Rubbers' and Buju Banton's 'Rubbers Pon Yu Willy' were used in the 90s to promote safe sex and AIDS prevention both among teens and adults.
