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Tafari Buchanan was born in Kingston Jamaica to mother Joan Porteous and Reggae vintage artiste Big Youth. Tarfari fell in love with music at an early age. At age thirteen he became part of the group Thug Hype and they started making appearances at concerts and small clubs. Since then he has collaborated with some of Jamaica-s popular Dancehall Giants such as Lady Saw, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel and Buju Banton. His career took a turn once he met ace Dancehall/Reggae Producer, Tony Kelly and started working with him out of his Florida studio.
His recently released "Rude Bwoy Warning" was recently certified number 1 by R.E.T.V. Rude Bwoy Warning will also be featured on the soundtrack of an upcoming John Singleton movie. We recently spoke to Tafari about his love of music, 2007 plans, and his decision to rap.
Interview conducted by: Heike Wollenweber
Peppa Pot: Can you introduce yourself first of all please!
Tafari: I am Tafari aka the Real Rude Boy, new rapper and new artiste.
Peppa Pot: When did you get started with your career professionally?
Tafari: Professionally around four years ago but I have been doing it for about nine or ten years.
Peppa Pot: Why did you decide to turn music into a professional career?
Tafari: Cause that is the love. For the love of the music.
Peppa Pot: How would you describe your music?
Tafari: My music is a new sound, something fresh, like a new genre, because what I really do is rap, but I rap on reggae, hardcore reggae tracks.
Peppa Pot: What do you mean by reggae tracks? One drop or dancehall?
Tafari: One Drop. I would not say dancehall really. It-s just like hardcore reggae.
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| Tafari | Peppa Pot: Do you think it is difficult to be accepted as a Jamaican rapper?
Tafari: No, it-s not difficult because I am not trying to rap.
Peppa Pot: I did not mean to suggest that you can-t rap. My question is if you encounter difficulties with people questioning your authenticity since rap is not associated with Jamaica.
Tafari: No, because the authenticity is there. If you hear me rapping...I talk like a Jamaican, but when you listen to my music you would not know I am a Jamaican and start speaking the Jamaican lingua.
Peppa Pot: So, why did you decide to rap?
Tafari: My father is Big Youth, a pioneer and reggae legend. He is one of the founding fathers of this whole reggae chanting, the cultural side of the music. Me being his son I grew up here (in Jamaica) but at an early stage of my life I went to the United States and I came back when I was seven. Ever since I have been back and forth. It would be the norm for me to be a reggae artiste or a dancehall artiste, following in my father-s footsteps. I like being different so I tried something else, and that was hip hop.
Peppa Pot: Is the content of your lyrics centred around Jamaica?
Tafari: Yes it is.
Peppa Pot: What is your plan for 2007?
Tafari: To take over. Put the music out there, quality music, music that-s different, a fresh sound, like a breath of fresh air. That-s what Tafari will bring.
Peppa Pot: Do you think the music in Jamaica is lacking in quality at the moment?
Tafari: Yeah! Of course it-s missing. If you listen to what is out there it-s trash, garbage. The music is watered down. The quality is not there.
Peppa Pot: Is it your intention then to bring that back?
Tafari: Yes. With Tony Kelly as producer behind my music.
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| Tafari & Karamo | Peppa Pot: How did you come by the name Tafari?
Tafari: That-s my birth name.
Peppa Pot: I am sorry. I asked since most artiste use an alias. Are there any Jamaican and international artistes that inspire you?
Tafari: I look up to artistes from all different genres of music, from Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Big Youth, Bounty Killa, Tupac, Scarface, DMX, 50 Cent, Nas, Jay Z. I am inspired by music.
Peppa Pot: Would you like to work with any of these artistes in the future?
Tafari: Right now I am just focusing on Tafari so I am not really looking so far ahead right now as to whom I will be working with.
Peppa Pot: Can you name some of your most important songs?
Tafari: Right now, I am releasing "Rude Boy Warning". That-s the single I am about to push. We just did the video. I have a lot of songs. Another one is "Kingston City Rock" with Wayne Wonder. That-s a big record and it-s coming very soon. And a song called "Jamaican Thing"
Peppa Pot: What is the song about?
Tafari: The whole island vibe. Topics like people from overseas who are just captivated by this culture. When I sing "Jamaican Thing" I talk about how we rock, but I am doing it in hip hop. Even though I am speaking about Jamaica people from all over can relate to what I-m saying, because of the language I am using and the accent.
Peppa Pot: Did you specifically choose to use this language or did it come natural?
Tafari: It just came naturally and me being Jamaican, rapping. I could rap about flossing in the United States but it-s something new. Like I said, it-s something fresh.Email This Q&A Back
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