Sadler 1

Kasey Sadler

Dr. Iain Ellis

English 203

3 May 2017

SOJA Embraces Hippie Culture

Reggae has always been a rebellious form of music. Originating in Jamaica, it grew as a

wholesome and brotherly form of music. There is a sense of fellowship in the music that comes

from its group aspect; reggae depends on many instruments and souls to succeed. The band

members of SOJA embrace this untraditional way of making music and not only have love for

their music and lyrics, but for each other. With the brotherly spirit comes the ability to work,

fight, and live together only depending upon one another and the planet ideals that hippies have

embodied since the mid 20th century. SOJA appeals to a hippie subculture of young people by

rebelling against mainstream society by means of their aesthetic, beliefs, and music.

The band members of SOJA thrive upon one another; they are in line with hippie ideals

because they depend upon each other and the natural world for support rather than external

sources. SOJA came about when friends from middle school, now lead singer/guitarist Jacob

Hemphill and bassist Bobby Lee, started a band that later accepted two more friends in high

school (SOJA Biography). Here most groups fall short and succeed only as a garage band, but

SOJA became an east coast sensation. Each member plays a different instrument and contributes

to the band in his own way, similar to how young hippies in communities had to do their part to

support the rest.

SOJAs aesthetic is vastly different than most popular artists in the 21st century. While

A$AP Rocky is wearing Dior and Justin Bieber promotes Calvin Klein, SOJA styles thrift store-
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like outfits. Each member wears plain jeans, average shirts, and tennis shoes (SOJA Biography).

They have a grunge-hippie style that gives external proof of their disregard for mainstream

popularity. Another key aspect of their counterculture style is the band members dreadlocks. The

four friends who created the band are young, white men with dreads, and although dreadlocks

are what many Americans associate with reggae, it is abnormal for white people to have them.

People with dreads are often automatically judged by elders, but not by youths or other Rastas.

SOJAs bold contrast versus traditional artists appeals to American youths because they remove

themselves from conventional American appearances and do not care what others think of them.

Young people want to separate themselves from the lifestyle their parents passed down, and

changing outer appearance is a straightforward way of rebelling in this way that kids have

embraced throughout the ages of youth rebellion.

A key characteristic of SOJA is the members faith and beliefs; they offer a stark contrast

from mainstream western ideologies. The members follow a way of life called Rastafari

some westerners like to rename it Rastafarianism, but its believers prefer the name without the

ism because isms were created by the westerners themselves (Grant). Its central ideas

include Jah the creator, the use of the pronoun I, and a negative opinion of Babylon, or western

society (Grant).

While in the Bible there is God and Jesus, and in the Koran there is Allah and

Muhammad, Rastafari has its creator, Jah. Rastafari followers consider their faith a way of life

rather than religion and give thanks to Jah the father and Mother Earth (Grant). Hippies

recognize the importance of Earth as well; hippie culture parallels some Rastafari ideas without

the religious aspect, but Rastafari is still unlike organized western religion. While western faiths

see themselves as superior to all others and are willing to fight to prove it, the Rasta lifestyle is
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one of peace, or at least it seeks to be one of peace, (Grant). SOJAs faith pays no attention to

the organization and egoism of mainstream religions, and the members love for a counterculture

ideology is appealing to young people who have been turned away from or are dissatisfied with

what the western world has to offer.

Rastas use of the pronoun I is a way of encompassing everyone in one common word.

Rastas believe I is the most inclusive pronoun because it does not differentiate between anyone

this is seen in many of SOJAs songs (Grant). A pivotal difference between Rastafari and other

religions is that it has no central authority, just as SOJA has no superior band leader; this and the

use of one all-inclusive pronoun allows the followers to truly be equals and refer to each other

respectfully as such (Rastafarianism). Young hippies admire this because social ranks cause

inequality, so to escape this the goal is to be one with each other. Hippies and Rastas also agree

on the anti-war movement. SOJA claims we should not fight because all of us, I and I, are

brothers and sisters, so war is pointless bloodshed (Get Wiser). Calling everyone I is unique to

Rastafari and a key rebellious characteristic of SOJAs faith and lyrics versus the conventional

use of six pronoun groups used to divide people. Young people are attracted to this language

because we seek connection with each other and the Earth that our elders have replaced with

competition and greed.

Followers of Rastafari condemn Babylon because it is narrow minded, unequal, and

intrusive. SOJA is anti-Babylon as shown in many of their songs. For example, in the song

Translation of One they criticize the Bible and its narrow interpretation of the world and its

people (Amid the Noise and Haste). This appeals to youths who cant find a place in Christianity;

SOJA sings that it is possible to find peace within oneself with a new way of life. Rastafari also

disagrees with consumerism, materialism, and the unfair distribution of wealth. SOJA says that
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everything we need is within ourselves; this appeals to kids who have grown up with only

external pleasures and no knowledge of how to self reflect. Western ideologies thrive on egoism

and money, but SOJA and people like them disagree with this. Hemphill said, Weve been

conditioned to accumulate, compete, and break others down around ourselves not inherent to

the human condition, but rather taught. Those things can be untaught. The real us is in there,

somewhere, (SOJA Biography). They promote oneness and love for the Earth and its people

something that has been ignored by Babylon. This love for Mother Earth is distinct in many of

SOJAs songs for example, they condemn our oil dependence in the song Mentality (Strength to

Survive). SOJA and other Rastas are critical of western civilization, just like young rebels of

2017. We are dissatisfied with our western culture and our parent and grandparents generations

decisions in it. Them and their treatment of Earth and its people are who and what we want to

escape; therefor our experience of Babylon is what we want to flee. SOJA has already liberated

themselves and are inspiring young hippie rebels to do the same.

SOJAs sound, concerts, and lyrics diverge from mainstream music and appeal to the

hippie culture. For Hemphill, a song is a reiteration of an experience that is essential to the

human experience it is not selfish (SOJA Biography). Many youths are against selfish ideals

that capitalism and xenophobia embed, and SOJA speaks against such things. The band is

inviting to all people from all walks of life because they want to describe life as a whole, not

from any specific place or person.

SOJAs sound is distinct and influenced by roots reggae music. Reggae as a whole plays

with many instruments working together unlike other forms of music with only singing or

minimal instruments. Hemphill said, Reggae has worked because it never became mainstream,

(Interview). SOJA has not been the band to bring reggae out from the underground. They dont
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use electronic sounds; rather they utilize live instruments to give feeling to the messages they are

sending through lyrics and beliefs (Album Review). SOJA reflects roots reggae sounds with

upbeat jazz instruments and devoted gravelly voices; young rebels admire the teamwork of roots

reggae because we tend to see artists fight each other for a number one spot rather than perform

together and reap the success as a group.

SOJAs choice to tour and perform concerts is unconventional, and they have gained

popularity all around the world. Their concerts are offbeat and engaging; in show they do not

sing to the audience, but with them. They dont play all the hits or go through an album; instead

they have fun on stage. The members talk to one another throughout the show, laughing and

messing with each other while charming the audience with their inclusive lyrics. They go on

instrumental runs and jam with each other and the audience. While the concerts themselves are

untraditional, so is the bands decision to tour the world. They are hippie-like in that they are

nomadic. The band has chosen to travel rather than settle down in America. Hemphill says that as

long as one can appreciate wherever you are at instead of counting down the days until you go

home then travelling the world is enjoyable and intriguing (Interview). SOJA embraces their

hippie-like nomadism by living around the world and pleases unconventional audiences with

unique performances.

SOJAs lyrics are what really distinguish them from popular artists; they sing about big

issues. Four of their albums speak to the band members realizations about themselves and the

world and the issues we face as a human race. First, Get Wiser is the journey of the band

grasping who they are concerning faith, values, and opinions. Released in 2005, songs like Faith

Works question ideals that many westerners have but wont admit. Bobby Lee sings, No bad

mind, no hatred, no envy, and no grudge. Babylon destroy your minds they want to corrupt, but I
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and I have got to reach the higher heights up above, (Faith Works). With capitalism and

materialism we have become an egotistical and competitive society. Bobby Lee sees this and

chooses to take another path with his band without traditional roles in society. In 2009 Born in

Babylon was released; it attests to the calmness the band found after realizing who they were in

their previous album. Jacob Hemphill sings in I Dont Wanna Wait, Theres one life, one

world, one chance and I dont wanna wait. He has realized who he is from the previous album

and has stepped out of society because of it. He is content with himself and is moving towards

the themes of later albums because his vision of the world has changed. SOJA now sees the

issues we face and wants to change them for the better by peaceful means such as

communicating through music, just like hippies seek peace by non-violent means. The band

begins this process in Strength to Survive, released in 2012, and speaks in defense of the

environment and condemns past generations for what they have done to it. The first song on the

album, Mentality, characterizes the bands first blow against western civilization and its poor

decisions. SOJA sarcastically sings at society, Youre right and were forever wrong, Iraq and

Afghanistan and Vietnam. BP oil and your hydrogen bomb, and later cries, Fuck your system,

cause Im not with em, (Mentality). SOJA calls out society for its mistakes and doesnt

allow money and power cover up the problems. Finally, SOJAs most recent album Amid the

Noise and Haste deals with modern issues such as mental illness and religious divides. Although

there are gloomy topics on the album, songs like I Believe are upbeat, positive, and life

affirming (Editors Notes). SOJA promotes us to leave the box society has built for us and says

that we can make decisions for ourselves to change for the better. They rap, Remove the

shackles right now, you never really fit into em at allRemember what you put out there is

building you, (I Believe). What we do each day builds us into who we are; the band shows
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that kids dont have to follow what their parents do. Just like hippies left cities for a different

lifestyle, anyone can do such a thing. The band advocates change they claim that individuals

are powerful enough to learn about themselves and change for the better. Once individuals

change themselves, they can then go out and change the world. We have seen throughout English

203 that this is a distinct aspect of youth rebellion that we must change ourselves before we can

change anything else. SOJA does just this and spreads their knowledge and experience through

their music.

SOJA appeals to hippie cultures all over the world. Their tours have spread to the Pacific

Islands, Europe, and South America where reggae and youth rebellion take very different forms

than in the U.S. In America, the 1960s hippie culture has cradled the band to stardom. The hippie

culture evolved into drug culture; teenagers who want to rebel against their parents by growing

out their hair and smoking weed listen to SOJA. In the Pacific Islands, the beach hippies vibe

with SOJA while embracing their summery and breezy sound. In Europe, kids grew up with

authentic reggae and subscribed as hippies to Jamaican culture; but where SOJA lacks

heritage, they make up for in lyrical meaning (Interview). In South America, kids prescribe to

SOJA for starkly different reasons. Hemphill says, they see [reggae] as this genre full of

revolutionaries, (Interview). South America is a place for SOJA to thrive because those kids

are so hungry for change and revolution, (Jackson). SOJAs recent lyrics advocate for world-

scale change something many rebellious South American hippies desire for their countries.

Ultimately, SOJA appeals to youth rebels around the world because they adhere to the idea that

you and I arent the most important. There are big-pictures that people need to see; massive

problems exist that we must face in order to save the planet and ourselves. Western society and

its conventional musicians dont touch these topics; SOJA supports counterculture ideals from all
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over the world and brings people to love their music because of its meaning.

SOJA appeals to people who are confused about who or where they are: kids in America

who can no longer trade material items for love or young people in South America living

restlessly under corrupt government. In their music, SOJA acknowledges these atrocities in the

world that affect humans and seek to improve their conditions. Jacob Hemphill said in an

interview, Our goal as a band is to stick up for the human race. We see the world and we try to

make it better in the limited time we have here, (SOJA Biography). Through their aesthetic,

beliefs, and music SOJA embraces untraditional societal roles and hippie characteristics. They

appeal to a variety of youths because numerous individuals see the allure of breaking standards

people dig different.

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Works Cited

"Album Review: 'Amid the Noise and Haste'." UWIRE Text, 13 Aug. 2014, p. 1. Expanded

Academic ASAP, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?

p=EAIM&sw=w&u=ksstate_ukans&v=2.1&id=GALE

%7CA378266772&it=r&asid=94dafdd626626c1e2320a1eb86b03439. Accessed 1 Mar.

2017.

Editors Notes: SOJA, Amid the Noise and Haste. iTunes.

Grant, William. Rastafari Culture. Dread Library, 25 Apr. 2002,

https://debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/grant02.htm. Accessed 30 Apr. 2017.

Interview: Jacob Hemphill of SOJA Talks International Touring, Reggae, Paul Simon, and

More! Live Music Daily, 12 July 2016,

https://livemusicdaily.com/2016/07/12/interview-jacob-hemphill-of-soja-talks-

international-touring-reggae-paul-simon-more/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2017.

Jackson, Kevin. Band SOJA Marches On. Jamaica Observer, 24 May 2013,

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Band-SOJA-marches-on_14320181.

Accessed 30 Apr. 2017.

Rastafarianism. http://home.wlu.edu/~lubint/touchstone/Rastafarianism-Magee.htm. Accessed

30 Apr. 2017.

SOJA Biography. SOJA Music, http://sojamusic.com/band/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2017.

SOJA. Faith Works. Get Wiser. DMV Records, 2005, iTunes.

SOJA. I Believe. Translation of One. Amid the Noise and Haste. ATO Records, 2014,

iTunes.

SOJA. I Dont Wanna Wait. Born in Babylon. DMV Records, 2009, iTunes.
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SOJA. Mentality. Strength to Survive. ATO Records, 2012, iTunes.