Gregory G.Ras (MC Reggae/Dancehall, Hungary)

He started listening to reggae music at the age of 15. As a percussionist Gregory joined Riddim Colony in 2005, Hungary’s first real (ten musician) Jamaican style reggae band, and soon its lead singer. G.Ras is always on the lookout for collaborations with a diversity of other artists and song producers. He's also into organizing concerts and shows - also with international artists, coz as him a like to say: music is a mission not a competition.

In 2006, along with Botond Ikvai-Szabó and Kata Kövári he founded the band called Roots Kompakt (Illés Nagy joined the band later on double-bass), playin reggae covers in a special acoustic way with polyphonic singing (the band is currently taking a break).

G.Ras' second solo LP is on the way in 2011.

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RiCo for CZB: „One Love, Unity and Righteousness”. How did you discover and get into Reggae Music?

Gregory G.Ras: I listened to a lot of african music from my childhood, jazz blues, funk soul as well, so I've been a big fan of black music for a long time. I feel dat dis is my vibe, dis is the way of groovin dat moves me. I met reggae around the age of 15, but I only started to look into it deeply some years before I joined the Riddim Colony. Then, as we started to do it live, I really went into dis music and culture, and I tell you it just stole my heart

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CZB: What is the reggae scene like in Budapest / Hungary?

Gregory G.Ras: Small but growin', and very very powerful, for real. Even when jamaican stars come to perform, they are amazed how strong the energy of the hungarian masses is. We got roots and dancehall, artists, singers, mc's, producers, soundsystems, live bands, backing bands, fests, big events, club tingz, its beutiful and very positive but still very small, so we spread di word.

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CZB: Are you a founding member for Riddim Colony? How did you make the move from behind the drums to the microphone in the front/middle of the stage?

Gregory G.Ras: Yes I'm one of the four founding members who are still in the band. Yeah from the very beginning I found myself as a kind of leader, managing tingz, holdin tingz and memberz together. On stage from the first concert I did a major part of hyping, communicating with the audience, and I also started to write lyrics, so after a short time, the band told mi to try miself as a singer, if i write so many songz. And well I really fell in love with singin, I love to express myself dis way, love to feel the people's vibe and give dem the message and energy. I found my way in dis, now I know dat dis is my mission in dis life - give thanx to Jah.

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CZB: When did you decide it was time to start a solo career, along with the Riddim Colony activities ... or did the public decide this for you?

Gregory G.Ras: You know in reggae music you are never alone, if you do it the right way. Dis is a community ting. Many a di tunes I write are on riddimz not made by the band. Dats why the artist the singer is the same but we cannot say dat dis tunes are Riddim Colony tunes, dem a G.Ras tunes, also played by Riddim Colony when doin a concert. Live performance: I love to do soundsystem and DJ-set showcase as well, not only full live music. Also in live music many times I perform with different bands, dats how we do it inna reggae, its all about unity, togetherness. So I do my ting and collaborate with a lot of people, some of my music is together with the band some of it is with others. Its so simple and natural.
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CZB: Music is a mission not a competition. You organize concerts in Budapest. What are some of the foreign artists invited by you to play in Hungary? What do you look for when you decide to invite a band to play in Hungary?

Gregory G.Ras: I'm lookin for the positive people you know. The artist with great style, fine skills, good music, but also with a good clean heart. Dats what really counts. And its a blessing dat we/I already could play together with so many great people, wonderful artists!

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CZB: What do you believe is the main cause for the moral crisis in the 21st Century / jealosy and greed, people losing their hope?

Gregory G.Ras: I see dat most people are not close ehough to demselves and to the world. The higher level of living begins with understanding who you are and how much you are connected to others and to the world. We are chasin so many false beliefs and causin so many troubles to others and dis way to ourselves as well. Though the main truth is so simple: you reap what you sow, what goes around comes around. The kind of energy you push out into the world will come back to you. Do good and good will come to you too. Be humble and give respect to others to the nature to everything, and then u'll get respect and success. Dis is THE ONLY WAY, the dishonest ways are false, they don't lead to real harmony and joy, no matter what you may think, these are basic rules of life, no question about it. Be honest with urself and be very conscious, u must know dat the one and only person responsible for your life is You. Dont look for the reasons of problems in the world, its not the poltics the economy and ting. There are a lot of bad thingz in the world dat we really need to change but it all starts with understanding: its only you who can make a change in ur life. If more and more of us will really take dis truths seriously, there can be a better future for mankind.

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CZB: Do you see the European Union as a positive, normal movement for the 40 different cultures of Europe 50 years after the last World War or just a better way of controlling people and centralizing data on the individuals?

Gregory G.Ras: I experience several advantages of dis United Europe concept. Openness, no borders, international projects, cultural tenders, collaborations. I think the union is a good possibility to find a common way to live together and support each other. Of course its jus a chance, its our responsibility to take it.

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CZB: How is Hungarian culture developing 20 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain?

Gregory G.Ras: There is an amazing potential in the Hungarian people, I see so many beautiful developing tingz, lots of cultural projects, communities, its really wonderful how much talent, creativity, power, enthusiasm, energy can we find here. So the cultural development is incredible and very promising, the important ting is dat we'd need more support from the state and ting, but now unfortunately many times they are blocking and destroying the good tingz rather than support dem.

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CZB: How many times have you visited Romania already (what cities have you visited) and what is it that attracts you to our land and people?

Gregory G.Ras: Several times. I love to be in Romania, its good experience very time. I concentrate on the positive tingz, the good people. I've been to Timisoara, Cluj, Vama Veche, Bucuresti quite a few other cities and of course I travelled a lot to Erdély (Transylvania), I love the nature and the people there, Hungarians and Romanians alike. There's great power in the people here too, just really a lot of burdens and negativity from the past need to get swept away.

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CZB: What are some Romanian acts and artists you enjoy the company of and have there been any collaborations until now?

Gregory G.Ras: Of course I worked, played together with great people at the Romanian Reggae scene. We played a lot with General Trix in Hungary, Romania, even in Amsterdam once, we made video together, great guy. Also the Fyah Burn sound, Im very grateful to my friend George, who took us to the Black Sea. Bigup Chesarion, Empress Raizah, Ras T, Selekta B, Buppy Brown and a whole heap a others, sorry now I should mention a lot of names, I know many many top-class people, max respect to the Romanian Reggae scene!

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CZB: This year will be 30 years since the death of Bob Marley. What are the most important songs you found a true spirit and message that spoke to you?

Gregory G.Ras:

Time will Tell

Get Up Stand Up

Three Little Birds

Exodus

...well actually its hard for mi to choose, I've learnt many tingz from a great number of his tunes.

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CZB: Bob Marley. Why do you consider he was more than just another pop icon for 20th Century Music and in what ways do you consider todays youth is spoiling his image or not receiving the true spirit of his music, although they consider themselves fans of the reggae music and lifestyle?

Gregory G.Ras: He was a true messenger, his music inspires millions of people. Dats a fact! ...and helps us strongly to defeat Babylon, dat is: greed, hatred, selfishness, intolerance etc.

Of course many youths just follow a sort of fashion when listening to Reggae and smoke ganja, grow dreadlocks and not putin energy into overstandin' the culture and learn about the message. Dats why we a workin hard to spread the real main tingz in Reggae.

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CZB: GREGORY G.RAS. Is this a stage name? How did you come by it?

Gregory G.Ras: Yes its my stage name. My original name is Gergely, dat us the Hungarian form of Gregory so dat part is eazy. G.Ras comes from a friend I used to rap with, he called me Gras because I like the good healing herbs you know. G.Ras is the final version of it, coz I wanted to make it more serious. G stands for Gideon, dat means Warrior.

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FOTO 1. Gregory G.Ras

FOTO 2. Riddim Colony. 2011

FOTO 3. Roots Kompakt

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