Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Bounty Killer & Cobra unveil new music video for the single “Ghetto Boy”
Alongside Dancehall artists Bounty Killer and Mad Cobra, Stephen “Ragga” Marley aims at raising awareness concerning gun violence in Jamaica. The trio relates the story of a “ghetto boy”. They denounce how innocent children unconsciously get trapped in the vicious cycle of gang violence.
The riddim is a brilliant mix between a western guitar, which darker tones underlines the seriousness of the matter, and a military type of Dancehall riddim, which sets up the pace of the track. The music video, directed by Shaun Escayg, perfectly depicts the tragedy. Actually, it is not simply a music video. It is a short movie. It all starts like a western movie, with a slow motion shot of kids who meet “The Don”, who’s just arrived in town, and a slightly distorted western guitar riff introduces the soundtrack. One of the boy is given a gun by “The Don” and here it goes.
Then we see, scenes of the “story of the ghetto boy”, shot in Jamaica during the daytime, alternating with footage of Stephen‘s strumming his guitar while narrating the story and his peers performing the song at nighttime. At the end, it’s the same old song. Another kid is given a gun and faces a young man who once was a little child.
A song is probably not enough to solve the issue of gun violence and corruption in Jamaica but the message they intent to spread is thorough. It contrasts with many other Dancehall songs, which implicitly promote the gangster’s lifestyle. It’s a great effort from Stephen Marley, Bounty Killer & Cobra to stand up for this cause. #BreakTheCycle.
Once I was a little child,
Little things that made me smile.
But quickly I became a man,
The Don put a gun into my hands,
Told me that I’d live or die.
I didn’t know the reason why.
But my gun became my toy.
The story of a ghetto boy.