Peace and Blessings All Nice and Decent Peoples!!!
Those that KNOW me are aware of the fact that when the community calls… I answer… Well the community has reached out and I’m reaching back by participating in HAPPILY NATURAL DAY 2010 (Richmond)… For years I’ve watched the brothers and sisters build this event from ground up and I am in TOTAL alignment with the livity behind this event!!! It is a blessing and a honor that I finally have been given the opportunity to partake in such a mighty event!!!
Click here to check out my feature on the Happily Natural Day website!!!
Happily Natural is a grassroots festival dedicated to holistic health and social change. The purpose of Happily Natural is to educate and inspire. By using music, lectures and workshops as tools for learning and upliftment, the festival reaches a wide audience because of it’s socially conscious approach. The festival brings together artists, musicians, vendors, activists and scholars whose focus is on social change and holistic health & wellness from all across the country.
Founded at the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia in Richmond Virginia in 2003, the festival has grown from a one day festival to a three day event called Black Freedom Weekend. Through community partnerships and the support of socially responsible individuals and organizations, Happily Natural has become one of the most anticipated annual grassroot events in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Black Freedom Weekend is composed of art exhibits, a musical showcase called Soul Power, the Happily Natural Day festival & Black Freedom University; a series of workshops & lectures focusing on information patrons can use in their communities.
Happily Natural focuses on social change and holistic health & wellness. Since inception it has placed a specific focus on natural haircare, cultural heritage, and naturopathic medicine. Workshops are held annually on modalities for holistic healing, natural haircare & naturopathic medicine. Lectures on history, culture and heritage as it relates to Africans in America & throughout the Diapora are presented by scholars of wide & diverse backgrounds and specialties.
(Info via http://happilynaturalday.com/about.htm)
Born the son of musician/activist, Olamina of Awareness Art Ensemble (A.A.E.), a very influential force in introducing African culture and reggae music to the Mid-Atlantic region, Jah-I’s musical roots run long and deep.
In 2001, in the wake of the September 11th tragedy, Jah-I and a handful of live musicians formed the live hip hop unit called True Sound. True Sound captivated audiences with their funky blend of hip hop, ghetto rock, reggae and soul, which began to be described as “The True Sound Experience.” With Jah-I-Witness as the front man, True Sound blends the energy of a rock-n-roll show, with street savvy and politically charged lyrics, soulful vocals, and masterful musicianship. Alongside the brothers of True Sound, Jah-I has played many, notable venues in the mid-Atlantic region and has shared the stage with a number of nationally and internationally recognized acts and music legends; such as Busta Rhymes & The Flipmode Squad, The Wailers, Sugar Hill Gang, and Fishbone.
As a solo artist, Jah-I has created a colorful sound that truly stands out from the grayness of the music industry. With the mic as his brush and beats as his canvas, Jah-I dips into his life experiences, emotions, and soul to paint sonic masterpieces. One such masterpiece, Stranger, was unveiled in 2005. Stranger, an eclectic mix of politically conscious rhymes, love ballads, and odes to hip hop proved to be an excellent showcase of Jah-I’s singing, rhyming, and production abilities. Stranger effectively blurred the lines between music genres, while simultaneously embodying the spirit of hip hop music and culture.
Currently, Jah-I is busy promoting the release of his second solo effort The Struggle, The Love, The Glory (The SLG), which is a collection of new songs and collaborations with various artists and producers around the world. He is also actively working on the completion of an album for his new group, The Remnant Project, which is comprised of emcee/vocalist Range Da Messenga, lyrical mastermind Kinetic, and Philly-based producer St. Paul. Both releases should prove to be solid works of art and positive steps on the path of Jah-I’s musical journey. 
