ROCKER T - MORE LUV by Haji Mike Rocker T is a unique artist. He is one of the few that have survived the bumpy road of being independent and touring coast to coast. Catching an interview with him was a cherished moment & seeing the latest CD "More Luv" land in the PO Box was just as crucial as watching his name pop up in the email inbox. Thanks to a link up via PSM innovator Stand Out Selector - the words and exchanges follow: HM : More Luv picks up where your last CD/LP left off, in a righteous meditative mood. RT: I have certainly become more introspective as I have grown and traveled the world - I have undergone many cleansings recently, mainly spiritual, and these changes and adjustments are definitely transposed into my words and music. HM: How did you become a musician, what/who inspired you to pick up the mic? RT: I have sung in church choir from I was 3 years old and played piano since I was 7 years old I was in bands when I was a teenager and began rapping and chatting due to influences as ranged as KRS1, Super Cat, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, Black Sabbath, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Yaz, Kraftwerk, Devo, Bad Brains, New Order, Burning Spear, John Coltrane, Skip James, Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, Sultan Khan, Laksmi Shankar, and many more. HM: Many people say Reggae MC's should be Jamaican - how do you feel about this? RT: Patwa comprehension should be the only requirement for chatting in Patwa - just like making music in any other language or culture whether one is native or immigrant one must be fluent and apply oneself diligently and with love - music comes from the first moment it is from the mother and the father and it is for all children - I personally come to mash down barriers that keep children from feeling segregated from each other - if the youth want to rhyme and chat and speak and chant and sing who could ever be considered a good adult to stop them? HM: Reggae in the USA... How easy or difficult is it being a non-Jamaican making reggae in the USA? RT: I think it is very difficult for non-Jamaican reggae musicians to get work or promotion and when you think of how many non-Jamaican people buy reggae music it seems to indicate that people have not internationally accepted reggae as a worldwide music and also that the music industry is possibly against promoting reggae outside of a Jamaican-based presentation HM: Your latest CD could not have come at a better or more needed time than this - with the humble message - More Luv. Same time however, things are really much more polarized due to war and all the ills it breeds - people in many parts of the world are advocating boycotting anything made in the USA - what would you say to this? RT: I have always believed that boycott is powerful and effective. People should boycott the bad things and support the good things - if you were to all-out boycott South Afrika and not support some new businesses and help people to get a new start how could you expect people to help you re-build your country? How many countries have to be bombed and rebuilt before the people realize that war is a game for some and that at many different times in history all of these governments have either helped or hurt each other - it is time that the people decided what the economy is supposed to be and take back their right to pick and choose any commodity from any country that they want without being restricted by some world economic group. HM: Seems to me as a songwriter, you are constantly providing different ideas, themes, insights - where does the inspiration come from? RT: From infinite depth within and infinite vastness without - the light and the dark - the sun and the moon - the most high one - devotion to ma. HM: What's the plan for the rest of 2003? RT: Tour and more tour and a special EP single and even some new albums... HM: When will you be playing in Europe - please do a show in Cyprus!!! RT: I hope to tour in Europe in the fall of 2003 - I would love to play in Cyprus - big up all Cyprus massive peace and luv to the world! We left it there with Peace and jah luv. More information on this inspired artist at http://www.psmrecordings.com & hopefully, one day we'll see him here live and direct! The Cyprus Weekly, March 28th, 2003