ABOUT TJEBE
The12 tracks include indigenous Eastern Caribbean rhythms, zouk, reggae, dancehall, and hip hop numbers. Contributing musicians are from Dominica, where Ras Mo was born, and Montserrat, Trinidad, and the USA. The recordings were done in Dominica, the USA, and Canada. Here's Ras Mo's description of music and its messages:

I WANT A JOB This heartfelt but humorous reggae/dance hall number helps people to focus on the painful effects of unemployment on individuals, the family, and society, and to identify ways to address the problem.

I MISS YOU I hope this piece will be a catalyst in getting people to think about domestic violence, the causes and effects of the problem, and to identify strategies for addressing it and organize to take action.

TCHEBE (HOLD ON) is a modernization of the traditional mazouk played in the Francophone Caribbean islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Lucia, and Dominica. Please note the similarity to US Cajun music. The lyrics appeal to minority groups and small states to "Hold On" and keep struggling. They celebrate the advancement of their struggles, and appeal to listeners to have faith and confidence in their own futures.

LONG DISTANCE This reggae number expresses a lonesome man's yearning to capture the attention of a certain person he admires.

LIBETE (FREEDOM) is a piece done to another traditional rhythm called Bele Pike. This music and dance is one of the purer African art forms retained in Dominica, which can also be heard and seen in Martinique and Guadeloupe, Trinidad and St. Lucia. If one listens carefully, one can hear the relationship to Yenvalou from Haiti. This song/ poem is an expression of solidarity with the suffering and struggling people of Africa, reflecting on past struggles and giving a sense of hope and triumph for the future.

NICE IT UP is targeted at youth and is an appeal to stop dance hall violence. It emphasizes that people can party and have a good time without hurting themselves or anyone else.

TANBOU LA (THE DRUM) is a tribute to the drums of the African diaspora, done in cadence-lypso, one of Dominica's popular contemporary rhythms blending cadence and calypso. Some people prefer to call it zouk. It reinforces the importance of the drum as a symbol of resistance, and an instrument to be used in the promotion of love, freedom, world peace, and harmony.

MELTING POT celebrates richness and diversity of the Caribbean artists, ethnic groups, and cultures.

WEY THEY GONE is based on the Dominican masquerade (carnival) beat, which is played by drummers, singers, and masquerades during carnival. I used this traditional rhythm for this poem because I was talking about fading folk forms and legendary characters. I consider this piece important because foreign cultural influences cause some local people to devalue their traditional culture. This poem is part of my continuing work to preserve and promote indigenous culture.

TANBOU LANMOU (DRUM OF LOVE) is a zouk number, a love song celebrating the physical beauty, creativity, and intelligence of women.

TO THE G I use a hip hop form popular with young people to speak to them in their own terms. It demonstrates an alternative to negative content, violence and disrespect of women. "G" is the slang term for gangster. In violence prevention workshops, mainly with youth, I use this number as a reflection piece to open discussion on the issues related to gang violence and the ability of youth to make positive choices.

(The CD booklet contains song lyrics with both Creole and English translations of the French Creole numbers.)