Royalty to tackle social ills on new album

Jamaican dancehall-reggae singer Royalty has high hopes for his album Royal Priesthood, which tackles social ills while educating the masses on topics like black history and education.

"I like to be humble while shining the light on the truth and exposing the evil in the world," the artiste said. While it seems that 2020, a year of extreme turbulence, social and economic upheaval, could be the right time for socially conscious music, he said the project would come next August.

"I am focusing on singles in the market place right now to generate interest in my brand," he said. Among the tracks are High-definition and Pleading.

Police brutality

"The inspiration for the creation of Pleading came about because of the increasing police brutality and injustice that is currently on the rise. The light must shine and the truth must be told," he said. Royalty, given name Marlon Ingram, grew up in Cedar Valley in St Ann. He attended Clarksonville All-Age before leaving Jamaica at age 15. He has lived in Canada for the past 22 years. He said that he would continue to tackle 'hot button' issues in his craft.

"I write music that speaks to the conscious and unconscious mind, body and spirit. I enquire, manifest and preserve the history of truth and use my birthright and talent that are engraved in my essence to create conscious music that can reform and emancipate the mind of the mental dead that are lost in the diaspora and still in slumber," he said.