RADIO listeners have been sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for the outcome of next week's General Election while a certain section have been waiting with eager anticipation for another reason - the release of Ras Mykkal's latest album.

In typical no-nonsense fashion, Ras (pictured) told me: "Contrary to what people believe, I don't favour UBP or PLP. I favour good politics. I am not a party politics sort of person."

His latest single, Me a Wonda, is the unofficial anthem of the streetwise, the working class.

Dubbed "Bermuda's First Governor", Ras has spent the better part of his fledgling career using the airwaves to canvass the masses.

"Bermuda's number one problem is the social problems and no political party has addressed the social ills. We as a country have watched them (social problems) grow out of control almost to the point of outright murder! The murder figures and the number of road fatalities are running neck and neck.

"Most of the fatalities this year have been substance abuse related, from what I have been told as in my song Mr. Speaker. The number of people dying in cars has been on the increase," he exclaimed.

Me a Wonda has that urban flavour that deals with thought provoking such as the choice of a suitable leader to lead us into the next millennium. The opening lyrics: "This morning when I woke up, I heard another youth got cut up and another one got beat up and yet another one got locked up and me a wonda why I wake up?"

As defeatist as this may sound, Ras pointed out that people on the street lament the sad state of affairs and are seeking a solution to the problems that plague the community.

The fiery dub poet has credited his music for delivering a sobering message to the community but also saving him from travelling on the road to self-destruction.

"There is nothing more serious to me than my music. My music is my ticket out of this hell. In Bermuda I'm going nowhere fast and Bermuda is the easiest place in the world for a law-abiding citizen to be incarcerated if he runs afoul of the law," he quipped.

Ras describes the crime situation as "criminals living in style, victims' lives on trial".

He said politicians were living in denial while the problems spiral out of control. Another social issue that is a bone of contention to Ras is parents who shirk their responsibilities over their children. He described the situation as "daddy is inna de bar, mommy a chase nice car. Politicians a move like star, de youth nobody a care for."

As the song plays on, the verse "a system without vision prepares them without education" has been a sticking point with Mykkal. His song tries to instill a sense of national pride and Ras wonders who will accept responsibility to redirect our country and lead us with integrity.

This is punctuated with the hook, "ah me a Wonda". the patois isn't "hardcore" and makes the song easy to listen to and understand as the song begs the question: Who can you trust?

While the song hasn't been officially released, it has received favourable airplay and Ras fired a shot across the bows of the spin doctors.

"Our political leaders have mastered the art of perception, talking like you've done something when you have done nothing. Going in to the election, who can you believe in, who can you trust? Like everybody me a wonda too!"

Mykkal described this single as the bridge between political blindness and social unrest.

"We live in a system where politics controls everything. Therefore members of the communities that we live in, we look for political leadership, guidance and support in combating the social ills that we face on a daily basis."

Those who haven't heard this cut will have a chance to see the local dub poet live tomorrow night at Wiggla and Animal Productions Non-Violence Concert at the North Village field.

Backing Mykkal at tomorrow's event will be Bermuda's premier group, the Jahstice Reggae Band. Also featured will be Stevie Dread & Torro, Corvin Melody Bigga Dread & Shorta Ranks, Fires of Africa, Deejay Bubbles and other local acts from 8 p.m.