You don't hear these hip hop artist like the Roots, Zion I, Dead prez, etc, because they don't get any airtime. Reggae station here in NY mostly play Sean Paul, Wayne Wonder, Elephant Man, etc.

Ironically the older and newer roots acts are kept alive by their caucasion fanbase, here in America.

The youth dem nah check for Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, or even newer acts like Midnite, Anthony B and such.

Most waan to hear 50 cent or some slackness screaming by a dancehall "artist" over a hip hop beat. No one promote the roots no more.

Well, if you come to a DJ Ital dance, roots is what them hear, and the live acts are strictly roots. I&I keep the roots vibe ALIVE- spreading the works of JAH. But still, I get the request for some slackness.

Also, a disturbing trend I man have noticed is that "slackness" DJ's and MC's tend to play roots when its a white audience, but if it a black audience them sing about pum pum. Whats the deal?