There has been a lot of talk recently about entertainers

[Mosiah]

using Jamaica's musical jawnras (others may know it as "genres") without giving credit to the Rock and her artistes. From Drake to Major Lazer to Rihanna, and all of them in between, they are being accused of sampling the riddims to straight up theft of entire beats without acknowledging the source.

Frankly, I'm not that worried about all of that. Hopefully, the artistes have good lawyers and they can get what rightly belongs to them. Jamaica, I believe, has done it's part to facilitate lawsuits based on copyright infringement.

Just this morning I made out in one of Beyonce's current hits, Hold Up, the words, "Mi sing say". Yes, just one little Jamaican phrase among the lyrics-laden song. But I loved it! So, they continue to rob our vernacular as well!

I know Historian is plucking out his hair, even as he plucks his guitar strings. I'm here enjoying popular music and can't wait to hear what's next because I know it will have even more Jamaican influence!

[Islandman]

Why do Jamaicans, who have sung cover versions of just about every hit song in the history of the universe, expect some special credit for our local music being sampled by others? So many of the songs from what we consider to be the classic Rocksteady era were covers. Some of the originals were R&B, some country, some other genres.

What do we want exactly? I really don't get it. If there is a legal case to be made well fine, go get what is due if it is worth doing so. Otherwise just accept that imitation is a form of flattery and move on. Music genres influence each other all the time.

[Reggaedoc]

Why do Jamaicans, who have sung cover versions of just about every hit song in the history of the universe, expect some special credit for our local music being sampled by others? So many of the songs from what we consider to be the classic Rocksteady era were covers. Some of the originals were R&B, some country, some other genres.

What do we want exactly? I really don't get it. If there is a legal case to be made well fine, go get what is due if it is worth doing so. Otherwise just accept that imitation is a form of flattery and move on. Music genres influence each other all the time.

Right on Island. Jamaican artistes probably have been the biggest samplers for decades.

[Assasin]

They deserve it, just like the other artists deserve it too. I remember a brethren of mine got a letter from a major artist for a song he produced and had to rip it off the selves of every record store he could. I understand that the producers for "Someone Loves you honey" sued Joe Gibbs bigtime for J C Lodge version. Problem is most of our artists don't have lawyers and don't own their songs. I read Mumma Nancy articles with "Bam Bam" and it seems like it was owned by the label so she would have to depend on their good grace when the song was used recently.

[OJ]

What kind of credit are we looking for? Did an artist appear on these tracks? Did they not pay for samples when they use them.

[OJ]

But who did not get paid for their samples? Or who appeared on a track and did not paid

[Islandman]

Again, what exactly is expected other than an agreement where appropriate?

For example there is a popular song right now that samples Devonte/Tonto Metros big hit song. That is a song worth going after if proper clearance was not given. If the clearance was given and some payment agreement was made, isn't that all there is to it?

If an artiste uses our vernacular and popular slang then I don't think there is much that can or should be done. It is a Jamaican flavor that is being added, but no individual owns that.

[Assasin]

You have a few different thing here.
One is people using sample or people work without asking.
You also have a lot of Jamaican artist doing a song for a producer for a money and giving away their rights without a percentage of royalty. Bounty Killer did this on No Doubt song.

A lot of hit song in the 80s are like that so you find a artist say "I got no royalty" but what happen is a producer, reducer or their family somewhere getting the royalties without even a cent to the hitmaker. To be fair also if the song wasn't written by the artist, he she/he may not be have the right to a cent. It still continue today as man "eat a food".

Then you have people who rip off your music and try to hide it and say it was not taken from your music. That is what is most contested in court. In most other cases there is some settlement.

[Islandman]

That choice of taking payment or royalty isn't always straightforward though, especially these days when most music doesn't sell much. I can see where in many cases an artiste will just take a payment because you really don't know if the song is going anywhere.

It will always look like a bad decision after the song hits but that was not guaranteed.

[Reggaedoc]

They deserve it, just like the other artists deserve it too. I remember a brethren of mine got a letter from a major artist for a song he produced and had to rip it off the selves of every record store he could. I understand that the producers for "Someone Loves you honey" sued Joe Gibbs bigtime for J C Lodge version. Problem is most of our artists don't have lawyers and don't own their songs. I read Mumma Nancy articles with "Bam Bam" and it seems like it was owned by the label so she would have to depend on their good grace when the song was used recently.

Many of the iconic Jamaican songs are covers.This is for all genres of Jamaican music:
Wailers One Live is the cover of Curtis Mayfield's song.
Milllie Small's My boy Lollipop is a cover of the Cadillacs's 1950 hit My Girl Lollipop.
Skatallites Guns of Naverrone, probably the greatest instrumental ever coming out of Jamaica is a cover. I can go on and on. Tamlins's Baltimore etc.

[Gamma]

You saw the story about Harvard offering a course in patois?

[Assasin]

opton is to take a discounted payment and some royalties. You can't afford to give up all your royalties at all. You never know which song is going to hit ti big

[Assasin]

yep, good point sir.

[Mosiah]

I remember something like that. Was it Harvard?

[Peter R]

I think it was a Canadian University (York University in Toronto)
http://jamaicancreole.dlll.laps.yorku.ca/