Busy Signal still ‘Dreams of Brighter Days’

As Jamaica celebrates its diamond jubilee, dancehall artiste Busy Signal said he is hoping for peace on the island.

"My hopes and dreams for Jamaica are just to see a peaceful Jamaica. We just want a Jamaica without violence. That may be impossible, but we still have to put it in the universe. I would really love a Jamaica without the bag a crime and bag a senseless violence and altercations," said Busy Signal.

Jamaica has recorded 968 murders between January 1 and August 22. Responding to questions from THE STAR, the Dreams of Brighter Days entertainer, whose given name is Reanno Gordon, delved into the changes he'd like to see, including the elimination of social inequality.

"I just want equality as well not just upper class. I want equality for all classes of Jamaicans. We should just be comfortable and enjoy the paradise that we have pon di rock, our little island Jamaica, that's very great," he said.

Busy Signal was born in St Ann and grew up in several communities, including Tivoli Gardens, Papine, and Spanish Town. His breakout single Step Out was released in 2005.

Featured on the 2012 No Doubt single Push and Shove, he has a number of hits under his belt, including Major Lazer's 2013 Watch Out for This (Bumaye), to which he contributed vocals. His 2019 LP, Parts of the Puzzle, debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Reggae Albums chart. Busy Signal's affinity for Jamaica is clear in his utterances.

"There's just a significant difference whenever we go different places in the world, and persons say 'You're Jamaican?' That type of sumpn that comes with it most of the times. Sometimes they might bring up a little negative, but there's a different thing that comes with [it] when a person says you're a Jamaican. That proud feeling whereby you're distinctive from every other country," he said, adding that being Jamaican makes him feel extra special.

"You come from [the] USA, you come from Canada, you come from England, it's not that feeling you get when a person asks, 'You're a Jamaican?' When you go to Madagascar, or different parts of Africa, or just different parts of the world, and people find out that you're Jamaican, it's just that type of distinctive difference [when you mention you're from] that little dot inna the Caribbean called Jamaica. It's just a whole different glory that comes with being a Jamaican. Mi love that as a proud Jamaican," Busy Signal said.

Mum on what new music he has in the pipeline, Busy Signal has been hard at work both in the studio and with performances. He debuted the single Big Up Jamaica in collaboration with Red Stripe for its Jamaica 60 campaign ahead of Jamaica's Independence Day and recently released singles Old School New School and Feeling with Oryane and Blaiz Fayah.