Murder the DJ

If hip hop should die before I wake
I'll put an extended clip inside of my AK
Roll to every station, murder the DJ
Roll to every station, murder the DJ
"Hip Hop Is Dead" - Nas

Everyone who goes out to a party should have a gun. Maybe not for the reasons you’re thinking, such as protecting life, limb and property. No everyone should have a gun to shoot the DJ. Yes it sounds harsh but it has gotten to a stage that they just need to be taught a lesson. If you think it’s so harsh then there should be a regular beating of lame-ass DJs. Nothing is more frustrating than an incompetent DJ. More often than not you keep encountering them, especially when going out is more a luxury than ever before DJ’s owe it to patrons to do a good job.

There is nothing more disrespectful than being in a crowded club/dance/party and the patrons- the people who pay to get in and buy the drinks who by extension pay for the DJ and everything else- just stand around waiting for the DJ to play something for them to respond to. Let's call this the “Gorgon’s Garden” effect, for as far as the eyes can see are only patrons standing as still as stone statues, which in contrast, the DJ and his friends in the DJ booth seem to be the only ones dancing up a storm and thinking this is the wickedest mixing ever.

Go to enough parties and you get the feeling that a great majority of so called Disk Jockey’s really don’t know music. That should be basic knowledge one would think if your going to play music you should have a basic knowledge of I don’t know, MUSIC. A good example is this. I was at a party last Friday and this lame-O plays “Salt of the Earth (Lets Drink to the Hard Working People)” which was followed by Sizzla Kalonji's “Show Me That You Love Me”. One gets the feeling that terms like BPM/Tempo, genre and defined sets mean absolutely nothing to these people. To say mixing is a lost art would imply that they actually knew how to mix in the first place. Searching for a DJ who is adept to a good transition sometimes is like being a Knights’ Templar searching for the Philosopher’s Stone, especially when what is considered “mixing” is playing ten songs off the same rhythm.

This brings me to my next point. Why is it that they think the louder they play a crap song the likelier it will be that a crap song is going to miraculously become an awesome song? We get it, when you go out the music is suppose to be louder than when you are in your car, home or just hanging out with your friends. But for most of these guys, playing the music at deafening decibels and blowing out speakers with heavy bass seems to be a pathetic ploy to disguise incompetence.




There is only one Tony Matterhorn, so spending the night trying to be a weak substitute at my expense is more than just a mere annoyance. And using the opportunity you have with a mic to “Big up” everyone in the dance individually is what they call overkill. “Big up the independent ladies who pay dem money fi come inya!” “Big up all the gal dem who con man!” “Big up de gun man dem” “Big up de trying yutes who know you have you 9-5” “Big up de gal dem who wear dem owna clothes and nuh gal can come up inna yu face and say mi want back mi poop inna”…….. When is he gonna play a dam song and stop talking over the good parts of the song. Or worst sing the song that’s playing.

Some Disk Jocks in the business right now I keep wondering how is it that they are still able to get work? I’m convinced that at some point in their career they took a trip to St. Thomas and wined on a monkey. How else can you explain the lack of originality and playing the same exact, identical, indistinguishable mix on the radio and then coming to a party to play the same exact, identical, indistinguishable mix then I’m suppose to be impressed. When was the last time a Disk Jock truly impressed you with skill, played something new by an artist that you didn’t know but instantly you found out this was what you were waiting for? When was the last time you had to buy a DJ a drink because he/she did a great job?

Mr Lexx: Full Hundred

Mr Lexx Charged with Rape in New York

Dancehall artiste Mr Lexx was arrested and charged with rape in New York, USA According to a report Christopher Palmer or Mr. Lexx, was arrested and charged with rape Friday October 16, after a woman reported to the police that he sexually molested her in her room at a hotel in Queens, New York. According to the report, he was bailed on Saturday October 17, and is booked to appear in court on November 2. He is not allowed to leave the United States until his court appearance.

Full Story in the Star:

http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/20091021/ent/ent1.html

J-FLAG Responds to Buju Banton's Meeting

(Michael Petrelis and Buju Banton)

The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) is "unimpressed" by Buju Banton's meeting with the San Francisco group, adding that the stalemate has further tarnished Jamaica's reputation. At the same time, J-FLAG said it doesn't want philanthropy but, rather, tolerance from Banton and other deejays.

J-FLAG is not convinced that the meeting has produced any tangible results for the gay community that has been the target of the Banton's violent 1992 lyrics, sung a number of times in recent years as a mark of defiance against gay rights protesters,"
J-FLAG remains resolute in its position that no agreement can be reached between Banton and the gay community until
1. He desists from publicly performing Boom Bye-Bye
2. Repudiates the call for the "murder" of gay and lesbian Jamaicans.

Banton said on a Wednesday night radio programme that gay murders in Jamaica are predominantly crimes of passion and not hate.

"These are the minimum conditions required by decency for him to be absolved of his incitement of violence against these groups. Anything less is mere farce and a public relations stunt to garner support for his music," noted J-FLAG.

This week, dancehall artiste Mark Myrie, aka Buju Banton, met gay rights activists in San Francisco, USA. The meeting was to discuss concerns of the gay community who have long protested his shows. Banton's international shows have been dogged by protesters and suffered cancellations since recording his 17-year-old, anti-gay song, Boom Bye Bye.

The meeting's participants wanted Banton to give the proceeds from the song to J-FLAG, hold a pro-gay town hall meeting and sing pro-gay lyrics. Both Banton and J-FLAG dismissed all these requests.
"J-FLAG is under no illusion that Mr Myrie or other DJs of his ilk will ever be minded to produce music that preaches the dignity of all life, including that of gays and lesbians. Neither do we expect contributions of any sort from them. In fact, such an engagement with the gay community is not our goal," said J-FLAG.

"What we insist on, however, is that no one treats us as less deserving of the right to life than other Jamaicans by virtue of our sexual orientation."
J-FLAG said that Jamaica's international reputation is marred by the continuation of this impasse.
"We share the concern of the parties that the stalemate be brought to an end as soon as possible. Its persistence does harm to Jamaica's image and to the marketability of its popular music industry. It is for these reasons that J-FLAG is underwhelmed by a meeting that could serve to unfetter Mr Myrie's career but do little to redress anti-gay hostilities his music has fostered," said J-FLAG.

The Jamaican society has not necessarily increased its tolerance towards homosexuals over the last five years according to J-FLAG.
"We are constantly trying to assess the change in society but this is hard to judge as people continue to be attacked and harmed and even murdered just because of their sexuality. As regards the music industry, the music has been more suggestive rather than directly bashing gay people," said J-FLAG.

Buju Meets Gays Face to Face

(Back row, L - R: Jonathan Mack, Buju p.r. rep, Bevan Dufty, Andrea Shorter, Eric Mar, Rebecca Rolfe, Tracii McGregor. Front row, Michael Petrelis and Buju.)

Four members of San Francisco's gay community met yesterday afternoon (Oct. 12, 2009) for 40-minutes with Jamaican singer Buju Banton in Larkspur, up in Marin County, to discuss his troubling history with gay people.


According to Buju and his advisers, this was his first meeting ever with gay advocates, and they really want to put an end to the controversy that continue to plague the artist over the alleged "Homo-Hating" song "Boom Bye Bye" done when the artist was in his teens.


At the meeting were gay leaders Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who arranged the meeting, Rebecca Rolfe, executive director of the SF gay community centre, Andrea Shorter of Equality California and Michael Petrelis. Also present was Supervisor Eric Mar, a progressive straight leader in the Asian community, and, of course, Buju and Tracii McGregor, president of his music company. About ten minutes into the meeting in the hotel lobby of where the singer is staying, some of his P.R. people joined the conversation.


The meeting was said to be very civil and productive, several suggestions were made for him to consider, in order to start to undo some of the problems he has in the gay community because of his past anti-gay lyrics.

Proposed was that he think about making statements in Jamaica calling for love toward gays, donating to the JFLAG group, hold a town hall meeting in Kingston about the need to respect gays, and sing about loving gay people. All the suggestions were rejected.


The group stated that American gays are not singling him out, as they advocate for gay tolerance in Jamaica, but that they have also applied pressure on the government and business leaders to affect change that benefits gays across the island nation.


There was little movement on Buju's part, and the gays did not agree to tell any other gays to stop protesting his concert tour or suggesting he do more to confront the terrible, and sometimes deadly, anti-gay violence in Jamaica, they all felt it was a very positive step forward that the meeting took place.


It is hoped that continued dialogue between Buju and Gay Activists will "address the pervasive hatred gays face in Jamaica, and work together to reduce homo-hate." Over all the meeting is viewed as a beneficial first step and that the gay community will want more concrete steps taken, before our actions against his concerts cease.

Blak Ryno Jailed

Dancehall artiste Blak Ryno spent a night in jail for an alleged attack on his neighbour at his Winchester Estate apartment. The singer was slapped with two charges of unlawful wounding and assault occasioning bodily harm as a result. Police say the incident stemmed from a dispute over unpaid water bills by the artiste, whose real name is Romane Anderson.

Reports are that about 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, the complainant, who is chairman of the strata committee at the apartment complex, was in a long-standing dispute over unpaid water contributions, which is mandatory for residents.

Police reports indicate that the altercation got ugly when the complainant was accused of damaging pipes, resulting in loss of water to Ryno's home. During the argument, Blak Ryno is alleged to have kicked the complainant to the ground and kicked him repeatedly all over his body. This is said to have resulted in cuts to the complainant's shoulder and both elbows, as well as swellings on the side of the head, back, face, stomach and chest. A report was made to the Half-Way Tree Police Station and the artiste was arrested and charged.


Ryno claims the charges brought against him are unjust.

"From yu hear dat u mus know a lie. Di non-payments cause by my landlord, and him (complainant) know that, but him want a reason fi come a style man caa him dun seh me as a ghetto yout nu fi deh deh (don't belong there)," .

He also indicated that the police charged him based on the complainant's report.

"From long time dis man a do tings fi try draw me out so him can do dis ... all walk him dog come piss pon mi mat regular an dem nastiness deh. Di ting did get physical after him walk come over my apartment, which is way down a corridor from his own, with his dog," Ryno explained.

He continued, "Me have nothin' gainst dogs, but dis one rush me, so mi ease (kick) him off wit mi foot in defence and dis man box me, so a suh di ting get physical ... mi did mad seh him mash up mi water pipe dem yes. All police weh come fi arrest mi seh him wrong."

Efforts to secure station bail for Ryno proved futile on Saturday night, as the complainant told police Ryno had threatened his life, so they decided to hold him for the night.

But that night of incarceration was an experience Ryno says didn't bother him, as the overwhelming eruption of exuberance from prisoners at the jail made him feel more welcome than at his 'uptown' apartment complex.
"It come like a Gaza mi deh although mi deh a jail, caa every man in deh a seh Gaza ... mek yu feel comfortable fi know nobody nah do yu nothing. Imagine mi cyaa get da peace deh whe mi live," said Ryno.

A police source confirmed that the response from the jailed men was overwhelming.

"As dem hear is Blak Ryno in jail with them you could hear the pandemonium from the station, which is a separate building ... look like a whole heap of Gaza fans we have lock up, so I can imagine how many songs Ryno sing," quipped the officer, who requested anonymity.

Blak Ryno is scheduled for court on October 21.

Raine Seville Be Careful (Slippery When Wet)

Jamaican Bandleader Sonny Bradshaw Died

Legendary bandleader and jazz musician Sonny Bradshaw has died. The celebrated trumpeter, who was 83 years old passed away in a London hospital on Saturday night (October 10, 2009).

Bradshaw suffered further complications from a stroke he had in August and died at 11:00 p.m. (London time) at the Queen's Hospital in Renford. Bradshaw had been struggling with a heart condition for nearly 10 years.
Mr. Bradshaw will be remembered as a Godfather to the development Jamaican Jazz and the overall growth of young Jamaican musicians.
The body of the late Jamaican Jazz icon is to be returned to Jamaica for burial at a time yet to be announced. Family members have confirmed that Mr. Bradshaw will be buried in Jamaica and plans are being put in place for his body to be returned to the island.
Mr. Bradshaw is survived by his wife noted jazz singer and actress Merna Hague, two children and grandchildren. Our condolence to the family. Jamaicans and lovers of the music everywhere mourn the passing of a foundation musician and a great man.

Heineken Green Synergy

The Heineken Green Synergy DJ Competition is quite possibly the best thing to happen to DJs' in Jamaica. It gives local DJs' the opportunity to move up from mere no name selectors to household names all the time acquiring skills that on their own may take a lifetime to even be aware of let alone perfect. This year was no different as DJs from all over the island competed for the top prize of over 2 million dollars in cash and equipment. Compared with previous years this Green Synergy was very sparse. It may had something to do with the fact that DJ Naz got kicked out in the semi-finals.




This year’s finalists were DJ Jagga from the cool, lush parish of Portland and DJ Chungy from cool, cool Mandeville. The title however went to Portland and it felt like no one was left in the parish by the thunderous roars of applause when the patrons read the name on the trophy seconds before the announcement. In a previous interview with the Gleaner Jagga sounded off on his rival Chungy and his now winning strategy;
"I have great respect for Chungy,"
"He is one of the humblest persons and he has great skills. You can't take him lightly. You have to be prepared in every way."
"I never underestimate an opponent,"
"I enter each contest with an open mind."

A first for the Jamaican Heineken Green Synergy DJ Competition was the entrance of a very able female DJ. Although she only made it to the Semi-finals, DJ Naz was a force to be reckoned with. It was really cool to watch her work and one got the feeling that her male opponents usually didn’t know what to do with her. Hot chick in-front of them you got the feeling they wanted to come over and try and get her number, but before they realized what was happening the hot chick with skills just sent home a selector boy. Looking forward to seeing more from her.

And then there was the clash. First off DJ Bambino drop a wicked dub of Spragga Benz 'Tiny Tot' the dub so wicked it made you forget everything that came before it even the name of who he was duelling. Yes! It was that BAD. Then there was the big clash between veterans Ricky Trooper and Jack Scorpio. Both played excellent sets, as one would expect from men with many years of experience under their belts. The executions of the sets were vastly different and as a result there was much dispute as to who won. Trooper was like an M16 in the heat of battle everything was fast to the point and when his dubs connected you know something either dead or dying. Scorpio however was more laidback; he said he was playing for the girls, talked about his hair and big up his hairdresser an all dease tings. One almost expected Ragga Shanty to jump on stage and say "Reeeeeeeeee". However the cardinal sin that Scorpio committed was to play a song that had already been played before. Over all it was still a good clash.

G Whizz managed to show, do his 3 songs and cut. Funny not much security around him seeing as he still messing around with other people's property and the death threats are still outstanding. Like he said him life soon sort out.






Ding Dong went for some Hood Preppy look topped off with the very dumb but oh so trendy Nerd Glasses. On the bright side it’s suppose to make you look smart? Also could someone please explain his Mantourage? One bag a man inna tight pants dancing in unison that’s not gay at all. To be fair to Ding Dong his performance was ok and he had the crowd dancing so what more could he ask for.

SEVEN!! In his Recession pants suit.



L.A. Lewis was all over the place at this year's Green Synergy, what can you say more than he was so Sobolious.

The ladies were out in all shapes and sizes, which is always a good thing.

Camella Goodas.

It takes all sorts….

Love Dem

Major Mackerel Gets Fillet

By KAREEM FAHIM and KAREN ZRAICK
Published: October 4, 2009

A neighbor’s wife, a large sword and a reggae singer who goes by the name Major Mackerel: Those were the ingredients of a bloody Sunday morning fight in Brooklyn, according to the police and a witness.
When the fight was over, the police had arrested Oscar Joseph, 37, on charges including assault with intent to cause serious injury — in this case, to his neighbor the singer, whose real name is Garfield Dixon, 41.
The police said that about 8 a.m., they were called to a two-story brick house on East 91st Street near East New York Avenue, where Mr. Dixon and Mr. Joseph live on different floors. They found Mr. Dixon “with lacerations to the head, arm and hand.” They arrested Mr. Joseph and recovered a two-foot-long sword.
Mr. Dixon, who achieved notice as a dancehall reggae artist in the late 1980s and early ’90s, was taken to Kings County Hospital Center.
Mr. Dixon’s companion, Novia Watson, 51, said the fight started after Mr. Dixon returned from buying cigarettes.
When she went to open the door for Mr. Dixon, she saw Mr. Joseph waiting in the foyer. Mr. Joseph raised the sword, she said, and the two men started arguing and fighting over the weapon.
“I was trying to take it from him myself,” Ms. Watson said.
The fight spilled out onto the sidewalk, and Mr. Joseph accused Mr. Dixon of harassing his wife. When Ms. Watson returned from calling the police, Mr. Dixon was pacing on the sidewalk, blood seeping from a deep slash across the palm of his left hand.
Ms. Watson said the police arrived within minutes and arrested Mr. Joseph, who continued to shout at Mr. Dixon, saying he made rude, suggestive comments to his wife. Ms. Watson said doctors stitched up Mr. Dixon’s hand and told him they might have to operate.
Later Sunday afternoon, Mr. Dixon came home from the hospital, still wearing his hospital gown, a cast on his left hand and white gauze wrapped around his dreadlocks. He denied harassing Mr. Joseph’s wife.
“I was singing my song, then I see him with a sword,” he said.