File - Jah Cure

Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

With the United States visas of several top entertainers being cancelled, some local artistes have penned songs relating to the issue.

One of the first songs to surface was Natural Black's Free Up The Visa, which was produced by Benjamin. Jah Cure also did a song called Save Yourself, which was scheduled for release online yesterday. Beenie Man, whose visa was among those cancelled, has done a song that seems to be under complete lock and key.

But Beenie Man was not the only artiste to lose his visa, as those of Mavado, Bounty Killer, Aidonia and Ricky Trooper were revoked last week, according to a document obtained from the Fraud Prevention Arm of the United States Embassy in Kingston.

While Natural Black's song does not speak directly to the five entertainers who lost their visas, he said he decided to do the song because of an experience his friend had at the US Embassy.

"One a mi good bredren got turned back at Embassy and a yute weh have him qualifications so mi nuh understand. Wi a di voice fi di people, so wi waan mek dem know seh dem fi free up di visa dem," Natural Black said, noting that the song was done about four days ago.

unfortunate artistes

Although he did the song specifically about his friend, he said he is speaking out for the artistes and other people who are in a similar situation.

In the song Natural Black says, "Leggo di visa dem/ Gimmie mi passport mi nah joke/ Turn down mi teacha fren weh did a go law school/ Yuh nuh see it dem nuh waan wi trod out/ Fi no visa mi nah mix up inna Sodom/ When mi put on mi dear coat no embarrassment a airport."

Unlike some of the other unfortunate artistes, Natural Black is still the holder of a US visa, which will expire next month. However, "we nuh really worry bout that. We just a represent fi di one dem weh a get pressure. If we fi get renewal it will happen," he told THE STAR.

After serving time in prison, Jah Cure is still without a US visa. But, in his song Save Yourself, the reggae artiste says, "Save yourself no matter what you do/ From the ways of the world save yourself/ We have come this far/ They like taking away our freedom/ They are like taking it back for no reason."

He said he was inspired to do the song after hearing that his fellow artistes lost their visas. In a release sent to THE STAR, Jah Cure said he believes that the song is appropriate for the circumstances, as, "we cannot depend on big brother to help us, we must depend on each other and ourselves."