Jamaican-born reggae artist Minna LaFortune has dropped a powerful new single, “Cease Fire.”
The Brooklyn resident said this stirring anthem confronts the devastating impact of gun violence on urban centers and marginalized neighborhoods worldwide.
“The song vividly portrays the tragic loss of young Black lives in places such as Jamaica, New York City, Haiti, Trinidad, and Soweto — where gunshots have claimed lives and left communities shattered,” LaFortune told Caribbean Life.
“’Cease Fire’ not only calls for an end to violence but also highlights the heart-wrenching consequences of such bloodshed,” she added.
With lines like, “Mothers are crying, Sons and fathers gone, Children left to carry on,” LaFortune said the track paints a poignant picture of the human toll of gun violence, urging listeners to come together and break this destructive cycle.
Key excerpts from “Cease Fire” include: “In the streets of Jamaica, New York City, Haiti, Trinidad, and Soweto… Young black lives are lost, bleeding out from gunshots…Cease fire, man! Lay your arms down, cease fire, nuh put your brother in the ground…”
LaFortune said she wrote “Cease Fire“ because I am deeply saddened by the relentless cycle of gun violence affecting young Black men and boys across the globe.
“Too many of our youth are losing their lives in their teens and twenties, caught in a cycle where death and violence seem inevitable,” she said. “This song is a rallying cry for us to stand together, choose peace, and reshape our destiny by educating and inspiring one another.”
LaFortune said the track’s fusion of reggae with elements of hip-hop and dancehall “underscores its dynamic energy and universal appeal.
“’Cease Fire’ is not only a call to lay down arms and stop the killing—it is also an invitation to rebuild communities with love, education, and resilience,” she said.
You can reach LaFortune via Email: minna154@outlook.com, or call 917-771-7935
