POEM: Shaken and Stirred

I'm often flaky
but these days
I've been more shaky
maybe shaken
unstirred
deterred
troubled
in my little bubble
that I don't know
if the world is ready for it to pop
because I stop
I stop myself
from expressing myself
leaving thoughts on a broken shelf
because if I unleash
what's on my heart
you may think I'm dark
or even a shark
but never so
nothing at all 'go so'
even though you think you know
you're wrong
because my song
ain't about that flack
cause this is not the time to be wack
but to be a Jack or Jane of all trades
so even as my beauty fades
I stand honest, unassuming but
definitely not jaded

© Linette Rabsatt

Meet the Multi-talented Soca and Rap Artist: BugZbugs "BZB"

BugZbugs "BZB" is a multi-talented soca and hip hop artist from St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands. I had the pleasure of chatting with BZB on September 14, 2022, about his musical journey.

Musical Influencers
BZB recalled that he felt he always had a hidden musical talent. When he was younger, he wrote raps/poems in a book. He was also heavily influenced by the traditional Crucian soca/calypso that everyone recognizes. BZB shared that he loved the energy of jouverts with riddim and calypso that got people off their feet and dancing in the streets.

He told me that he was inspired by Dennis the Mennis because he enjoyed how Dennis rocked the crowd. He also mentioned that Rock City was especially relevant because they rap in the native USVI dialect.

One Artist – 2+ Genres
Some ten years ago, BZB started singing with Toy Soldiers, a calypso band. Mr. C., a community role model, started the band and gave the young men involved a head start. Toy Soldiers performed at teem jams, Halloween parties, and other activities. BZB recalled how much he enjoyed those performances and the reactions from the crowd. He recollected those experiences while smiling and commenting that those events helped him to develop his musical talent and overall career. However, he shared that the vision of the individual members started to shift, and they eventually grew apart.

Another colleague, Pojo started a group called All Star Band, and BZB was able to link with Kyle “Kylo” Sylvester. This opportunity became another pivotal point in his music career, but eventually, the team grew apart and spread to other local bands. Eventually, Kylo transitioned to The Stylee Band. BZB recalled that Iaryn "Marvelus" Williams, also known as Swanks, reached out to him to sing on a soca riddim.

The artist confessed that he creates more rap songs than soca. He recollected the positive feedback that he would get from friends and fans who commended him for being lyrical. While he writes his soca music for the people, his rap music focuses on his life. He shared that while people vibe with both genres, they tend to understand and connect with rap more.

The Latest Song, "See Yuh"
He recently released an afrobeat song, "See Yuh," which was produced by Swanks. BZB shared that "See Yuh" was written in 2019 and performed on a different instrumental. He had posted a video with fellow rapper Petty God, where he featured the song. However, he re-released it in 2022 and is getting positive feedback from his fans.

He smiled as he shared how this song came about. He was going through some challenges in his relationship in 2019 when he wrote it. In 2022, he started to experience similar issues and decided to re-release the song.

Loss of Close Friends
BZB has lost a few close friends he holds dear to his heart. Buku was a childhood friend, Kylo was a bandmate, and Petty God was a fellow rapper. These talented persons, who we have lost, all impacted BZB and the wider Virgin Islands. BZB’s song, “Closure,” was dedicated to Kylo.

Motivations
When BZB started to get serious about music, he wanted people to hear his voice. He would work hard to develop the craziest punch lines that he thought people wanted to hear. However, as he matured, he shifted his focus to writing about real-life scenarios, as reflected in "See Yuh" and "Closure."

His original dream career was to be a basketball scout. He was able to attend university and attain a degree and benefited from internships at events. Those experiences have also inspired him and aided him in becoming disciplined. After he achieved his qualifications, he shifted focus to his music and started what he terms "the real BZB era." He procured equipment and set up a studio. Since then, he has been pushing his music continuously. He shared that although he has been through some tough times, these events have strengthened him as a professional, a father, and a role model.

BZB was very open when he shared that he has a support system. He counts his journey as fulfilling. He also shared that he appreciated everything that goes with it. He said he has lots more great music coming.

BZB conveyed that his fans are what keep him going because they often send messages asking if he plans for new music releases. He loves that his fans keep him on his toes! He describes himself as a simple person who 'keeps it real.'

BZB’s Favorite Tracks by BZB

• Rap: His favorite Hip Hop song is "Street Convo." It was released in 2020 on his most recent album, "Secure the Bly."
• Calypso/Soca: His favorite soca/calypso track is "Wuk Together," a 2020 release.

Accolades
BZB won the "People’s Choice Award" and the Soca Monarch title during the 2020 Crucian Christmas Festival for "Wuk Together," which was produced by Swanks. He recalled performing this song during the Soca Monarch competition dressed in construction gear with dancers who dramatized fixing a pothole. Funnily, shortly after that performance, BZB worked for a short stint as a construction worker. He also won the Soca Monarch title for "Handcuffer," a song he performed dressed as a police officer.

Artists He Enjoys Listening To
BZB enjoys listening to Lil Durk because this artists uses melodies in his raps. He also enjoys music from Nipsey Hussle because he feels a connection to his music. He described Nipsey Hussle as a 'purpose rapper' because he "did things for a reason."

Encouragement to Other Artists
I usually ask the artists what advice they have for the youth. BZB offered these words of wisdom generally during our conversation. I was impressed when he said that for every 100 fans, you have ten haters. He added, "Don’t focus on the haters – choose to show the love to the 100! Focus on the love!"

Thankful Thoughts
He was very humble as he expressed gratitude for the support from fans in St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola and from his followers in the United States. Upcoming events include gigs in St. Thomas, Miami Karnival Invasion in October 2022, and his upcoming birthday bash in Orlando.

He applauded his fans in the British Virgin Islands for always embracing him whether he performed with The Stylee Band or by himself. He conveyed one experience when he visited the British Virgin Islands and attended an event that featured The Stylee Band. He said that Kylo called him on stage to join in the performance.

New Music
BZB promised some new carnival music coming and encouraged his fans to look out for the new tracks.

POEM: Bitter Pill

I’ve been so wrong
yet I love to be strong
with my bad behavior
and while I endeavor
to do add savor and flavor
on my daily journey
I can't realize ‘this’ vision
cause my mission
is undefined
but has been defiled
even though
I compiled
this poem in a semi
maybe ish
kinda rhyme
I wasn't going for the sublime
because the lines
I stand in
have me bitter
and broken
from a broken system
that's filled with
inconsistencies

atrocities

bigotry  
fallacies and impurities
but maybe I can't see
that I just shouldn't be …
here

© Linette Rabsatt

POEM: Your Way by Linette Rabsatt

Original poem written on January 16, 2013 and recorded on September 1, 2022. 

Poem published on Words of Ribbon 

Blog Video created by AMC Editz 

Dressed in Cash on Call by 3AL Productions 

Photo by Amethyst Memoirs

POEM: Fighting to Find Words

I fight to find the words

to express the thoughts
that are bubbling in my head
they keep me awake in my bed
not thinking about
the books I've read
or the things I've seen
instead, I focus
unfocused and incoherent
almost belligerent
not knowing
where I've gone
and where time went
because I know
I've spent too much time
in lines, on vines
encircled in rhymes
that make no sense
but maybe I'm just dense
because the words
don't fight back
they never lack substance
because they are 

always available
in abundance

© Linette Rabsatt

Message to Parents: Do Right So Your Children Will Too

Our actions influence our children's behaviors, choices, and attitudes. People have created these funny memes about mothers and their daughters. The memes are funny but are also truthful.

However, adults must be more mindful of their behaviors, attitudes, and choices. Our children are our mirrors, and we are their role models. So, we have to be careful of our actions. We, as parents, also need to ensure that we curb any negative behaviors that our children exhibit.

I thought for a while about sharing this because I also have children. No parent is perfect. I am sharing these two (2) examples where people can be more mindful of how they parent.

• The Child Who Figured Out How to Use PayPal

Recently, I learned of a situation involving a child who used someone's credit card to create a fraudulent PayPal account to purchase an item. The seller then contacted one of the child's parents. The parent admitted that the child had previously used another person's credit card to buy merchandise. The parent confirmed paying off that bill. This parent then emphatically promised to pay for this recent PayPal charge. However, to date, the parent has not paid.

If that parent intended to teach the child a lesson, the punishment could have been a sacrifice of a favorite item to pay the bill. This unconcern makes me think that the parent enables this child's disregard for others.

• The Tardiness and AWOL Genes

If you are always late for work, do you think your children will be on time for anything? Were you one of those persons who partied hard for the festival season and then called in sick on the next work day? (If you're sick, you're sick.) Do you expect your children to do anything differently? Parents set the tone, and I hope that we all want to have our children going on the right path.

This blog post is about bullet #1 because that story upset me. Hearing that the child committed what can be classified as an indictable offense twice really bothered me. However, I can't worry for that parent - I can only pray for them. I think what I can do is what I do. I try to write on these topics hoping that I can inspire someone.

We no longer allow the community to assist with our children's upbringing. Where we as parents falter, we need our relatives, godparents, friends, and neighbors to support our children. However, parents are the first line of discipline. So, let's teach our children the right behaviors by exhibiting these ourselves.

The Lashing Dogs sang it well in "Blame the Parents," "a lot of things the childrendem doing these days, I blame the parents for them."

My Brothers' Keepers: The Power of Influence and Inspiration

We are just over the midyear point of 2022. I feel so blessed to be alive, although we are experiencing some tough times. Despite the many challenges and threats, we still are blessed.

Over the past few weeks, I have focused more on poetry. I entered a few international competitions and have shared two pieces on my YouTube page. I wanted to do a little more with my poetry by expanding my audience. I had other thoughts I could share on the blog but was not inspired to write prose or opinion.

In addition to my family and work circles, I thank Ann Harikeerthan, Jamila Banister, Dale Pilgrim-Wade of the CaribHRForum, Genevra Maduro - my cousin, Paul Keefe, Dr. Allison Flax-Archer, Joan Underwood, and Dr. Dierdra Wheatley-Peters for always encouraging me during 2022 whether for poetry, career aspirations or my overall growth. We underestimate the importance of having people who encourage you to reach for your goals. These colleagues always give encouraging words or inspire me through their journey.

At a recent award ceremony, the host opened the floor for attendees to share words of encouragement. I hesitated, but I spoke to the young people about being focused, having fun, and being open to failure - not as a negative but as part of the growth process. I was also able to facilitate a young person in achieving a goal that will assist with career development. I have expanded my farm offerings and will focus on specialty crops.

After reading the penultimate paragraph, you may think these are minor matters. However, I count each one as a win! Therefore, I feel more inspired to inspire others. I see the importance of paying it forward.

I do not speak of my journey often, but I want to share that I have always had to fight for my rights. However, this makes me more resilient, curious, and solution-oriented. I will share more of these experiences with others and on my blog.

I've shared this post as a contract to myself to use any opportunity that I get to:

• encourage someone
• help someone with their academics
• be a positive role model.

The people I mentioned earlier are all positive influencers, trendsetters, and mentors. My family is my core support system, and I value their input and encouragement.

If you can be a positive influence on someone, please reach out and assist. Remember, we are our brothers' keepers.

Ribbon