Rapper Safaree wants to be ambassador for Jamaica
Published:Monday | August 16, 2021 | 12:47 AMShereita Grizzle/Staff Reporter
When it comes to his roots, rapper Safaree Samuels is as patriotic as they come. The American artiste is of Jamaican heritage and seizes every opportunity to put the black, gold and green on display. For him, being Jamaican is a blessing he does not take for granted. In fact, the entertainer says he is looking forward to the day the Jamaican Government makes things official and appoints him an ambassador for the country.
“Bro Gad, make it happen,” he said in a recent interview with The Gleaner. “Please. We need to sort it out, because I can’t wait to be doing this in an official capacity. I did some work with the Jamaica Tourist Board recently and that was my first footstep in through the ambassador door, but we need to have it set up all the way.”
The Love and Hip Hop Atlanta star, whose family hails from Pondside in Hanover, says Jamaica is hands down the most beautiful place on Earth. He expressed that having done his fair share of globe-trotting, for him, there is no place like home. “Jamaica is the most amazing place on the face of this Earth. It is my number one vacation place to come to in the world. All these other places are nothing compared to Jamaica and that’s why everyone else always wants to come here,” he said. “There are a lot of people out there who are ignorant and they think Jamaica is a dangerous place. As soon as they say that to me, I always tell dem, ‘A school and a movie theatre has never been shot up in Jamaica.’ Until you see that happening, you worry about America because America is dangerous.”
Safaree, who has a total of 3.3 million followers on Instagram, says he regularly reminds his following of his Jamaican roots, not just because he’s proud of where he comes from, but because he wants the world to see Jamaica through his eyes. “I am on a national platform and I get to have millions of people watching me on TV. I need them to see the Jamaican flag, see the great food, listen the music and understand why this country is special. I want them to see the country exactly how I see it, as the most awesome place on Earth. That’s why I promote Jamaica every chance I get,” he said. “I can’t wait to be doing more. Yuh know how much people tell me I make them want to go to Jamaica. When they say that, I am like, ‘Damn right.’ I love Jamaica, and if they can fall in love with Jamaica through my posts, that would be an honour.”
Samuels is currently on the island working on new music with fast-rising dancehall artiste NVasion. The two recently collaborated on the track Stories, set to be released momentarily. On Friday, the pair joined forces on the set of the music video for the track at the luxurious Geejam Hotel in Portland. Safaree says he is looking forward to the release of the single, as it will be an anthem for men who have been ‘wronged’ by women and given a bad reputation in the streets.