Be The Change
Heeding Blaxx, Jelani Verse Aims To Change Mindsets.
Violence and crime never once plagued his consciousness. He had been instilled with a fear of God and chose a path less walked, even as a native of Arima, East Trinidad. The nephew of the ever-loved and truly missed Soca artiste, Dexter ‘Blaxx’ Stewart, Quacy James fondly remembers his uncle’s words…“Always remember, write music that is positive in nature. When I pass on, I want my music to live on and be relevant to any time.”
A living testament to the importance of purposeful parenting. Quacy, an artiste who delivered his very first single in January 2023, is now ready to unleash more music. He plans on becoming a name everyone in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and even the world, will one day know. When they speak of him however, their acknowledgement will always be in the positive. “I chose the name Jelani VERSE- my stage name, because Jelani means mighty in Swahili and VERSE is an acronym for, Vision Empowers Respect, Sacrifice and Endurance,” explained the multi- faceted youth. You see, when he isn’t writing songs or recording new melodies, Quacy is wearing his professional hat as either an Emergency Medical Technician or a senior Human Resource Clerk. Driven and mindful of his blessings, Quacy believes a person’s dreams are more than just a faint image of their imagination. “To me, your dream amounts to all the hard work – your sweat, your tears, your sacrifices that you make to accomplish your goals,” he rationalized.
A brand-new reggae single, collaboratively written with music producer and artiste, Azaryah, James attests to his mother’s strength and guidance throughout the lives of he and his siblings. “The song, “Day One Queen,” was written in honor of my mother for her sacrifice and hard work that she put into raising us. A mother will never stop loving her child and because of that, she is every child’s “Day One Queen,” explained the upcoming entertainer. Crediting his mother and other women in his life, for the role they each played in how his life has unfolded, Quacy says he believes it is important that the music being released at this time, deliver messages that can uplift and honor women, rather than degrade them. “If God gave woman as a gift to man, why are there so many negative reports in the media about negative things happening to women?” he questioned.
Equipped with true humility and gratitude, Quacy highlighted the amazing effort put in by Azaryah. “I told Azaryah that I wanted something magical and he did not disappoint. He produced a song that is really amazing, touching, and to the effect and standards that I was looking for.”
“Day One Queen” was recently released and is the first of many projects set to be unleashed by Jelani VERSE. “I will continue to write positive, meaningful songs that I believe will inspire people and change mindsets,” he said, intently. Much like his uncle, Blaxx, Quacy’s determination to use his gift for the greater good, shines through.
To listen to the new song, click here. Follow the journey of Jelani VERSE, and cheer him @jelaniverse on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Be The Change
Mothers in Focus; Encouraged to Assert Themselves.
Young mothers have the distinguished honor of shaping the generation to come. With that in mind, emphasis is being placed on honoring all mothers this Mother’s Day weekend. In an extraordinary shift however, organisers of one celebratory event dubbed, ‘To Mom With Love,’ say they are paying close attention to the state of affairs in T&T at this time, hosting their event from 11:30am and ending at 3pm, to ensure the safety of all patrons.
A lot goes into the formal planning of any event, and special events honoring niche audiences is no different. Understanding that women are their primary target audience, Lou Francis and his team have made safety a top priority. “Because of what’s happening in our society presently, our aim is to provide an event that offers an outlet for safe and enjoyable entertainment. We are starting and ending earlier than usual to ensure that our patrons return to their homes while it is still light out,” said Francis.
Emphasis placed on reigniting the love and appreciation for mothers in society, Lou explained that his team saw the significance of celebrating mothers and honoring them for all that they do, throughout the year. “Mothers have, and continue to be the bedrock of society. Celebrating them is a way of honoring and showing appreciation for the love, care and sacrifices that they make for their children and families,” he said.
‘To Mom With Love’ takes place on Mother’s Day – May 12th at the Torenia Hall, Centre of Excellence. “Moms and their loved ones can look forward to a sumptuous luncheon prepared by renowned chefs. Entertainment will be top tier, ranging from precision instrumentalists to top class vocalists,” assured Francis. The event features the likes of The Baron, Charmaine Forde, Kerwin Trotman, Pedro Lezama, John Thomas and ‘D’ Piano Girl, Johanna.
Urging all mothers to proudly assert themselves in the lives of their children, Francis said mothers are natural nurturers who guide and shape the lives of their children, which essentially builds society. “As young mothers take on the mantle of such immense responsibility, I would like to let them all know that they are important and they are needed. We all know that the journey is not without its challenges, but we must remind all mothers of the pride and joy they all feel when they see their children flourish. That is the reward.”
For further information on ‘To Mom With Love,’ those interested can call 732-3402.
Be The Change
Melly Rose Launches, “30 Days, 30 Businesses.”
