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Endangered species: Dancehall artists
It was last evening I sat thinking about the spate of dancehall acts that have recently ran afoul of the law or who have cases pending only to wake up to a piece in the Observer commenting on the very same issue, titled “Local Reggae acts and the charges they have faced”. Obviously this is a situation that is getting out of control and needs closer attention. Members of the dancehall fraternity have often argued that they are unfairly targeted and the currently unsubstantiated detention and arrest of veteran DJ Vybz Kartel could attest to that. But other cases are not so clear cut. Are dancehall artists being targeted and for what reason?
With so much written on the real and imagined role that dancehall music has played in igniting and perpetuating violence in our society, we probably should take some time to examine if these artists are also victims. The criminal justice system is littered with cases of entertainers getting arrested and in some cases coming to their untimely and unsolved deaths. Renown dancehall gladiator Ninja man languishes in jail for almost two years now. No bail and no trial. Bounty Killer was locked up for two weeks in a domestic violence case that was strewn across the media. Movado has claimed that there was an attempt on his life by the constabulary which resulted in the death of his close friend. He is also facing other criminal charges and is due back in court February of 2012. Deva Brat, Luciano, Aidonia are only a few that have recent run-ins with the law.
One of the most egregious of these cases is that of Pan Head. The DJ was on the rise with a number of hit songs including “Punny Printer” and the controversial tune “Respect Gunman” which paid homage and respect to Jamaica’s gunmen and gun culture which was seen in some circles as thumbing his nose to law enforcement. On October 10, 1993, Pan Head was gunned down on his way home from a dance in what police described as a robbery gone wrong. Nothing was taken from him. Pan head’s murder was never solved.
Garnett Silk, a 27-year-old singer was killed when a propane cylinder near his house exploded. The result of a police investigation suggests that a stray bullet hit the tank, causing the ignition of the gas. Police believed it was an accident, and that Silk had fired the fatal shot. Now I have heard of many ways to kill yourself but self-immolation is not that prevalent and rastas blaze fyah on Babylon, not on themselves. The case was closed with no arrest.
In 2009 Risto Benji, was arrested and charged with robbery with aggravation. It is reported that the entertainer allegedly, after offering a woman a ride on his motorcycle, took her to another area where he attempted to steal her handbag. Following that brush with the law, only two years later Benji was caught by an angry mob as he allegedly attempted to steal a motorcycle, was soundly beaten and handed over to the New Kingston police. Risto Benji was this year murdered by an unknown assailant(s). No motive for this crime has been established and the case remains open.
There are also others. General Echo — (Errol Robinson) — Died November 22nd 1980. (Shot); Free I — (Jeff Dixon) — Died Sep 11, 1987. (Shot); Dirtsman – (Patrick Thompson) – Died December 21, 1993. (Shot); Jah Lloyd — (Pat Francis) — Died in 1999. (Shot); Junior Braithwaite — (the Wailers) — Died June 2, 1999. (Shot); King Tubby — (Osbourne Ruddock) — Died in 1989. (Shot); Major Worries — Died in 1987. (Shot); Mikey Wallace — Died July 6, 1999. (Shot); Peter Tosh — (Peter McIntosh) — Died Sep 11, 1987. (Shot); Phillip Linton — Died March 4, 2004. (Shot); Prince Far I — Died September 15, 1983. (Shot); Clive Jarrett – Died January 31, 2008. (Shot); Oneil Edwards- Died May 26, 2010. (Shot); Demar Graham – (Copper Cat) – Died January 20, 2011. (Shot).
The problem with reggae acts and the law do not end at our borders. Buju Banton and Denroy Morgan are only recent examples of the legal woes of Jamaican acts abroad. One cannot forget the night that Early B was wheeled off stage in New York after being shot and killed. William 'Super Cat' Maragh was badly assaulted for over 10 minutes by Long Island police officers over the US Thanksgiving weekend in 2005. By this point Cat was no stranger to the long arm of the law after being acquitted in 1991 for the murder of fellow entertainer and dancehall great Nitty Gritty, who was shot dead in front of Super Power Record Shop in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 34. The crime has never been solved. Tenor Saw, arguably one of the most influential singers of the 1980’s, was killed by a speeding car in Houston, Texas at the tender age of 22. The case is unsolved.
So basically, aside from an American troop in Afghanistan, being a reggae act is probably the next most dangerous job. There will be those who argue that dancehall musicians and artists are usually from crime ridden areas so it is understandable that they are at greater risk for violent crimes. But even a cusory look at the evidence will show that this claim is not supported by the facts. It could be a case of art imitating life but one has to wonder if these artists are not victims of a more sinister campaign.
It was last evening I sat thinking about the spate of dancehall acts that have recently ran afoul of the law or who have cases pending only to wake up to a piece in the Observer commenting on the very same issue, titled “Local Reggae acts and the charges they have faced”. Obviously this is a situation that is getting out of control and needs closer attention. Members of the dancehall fraternity have often argued that they are unfairly targeted and the currently unsubstantiated detention and arrest of veteran DJ Vybz Kartel could attest to that. But other cases are not so clear cut. Are dancehall artists being targeted and for what reason?
With so much written on the real and imagined role that dancehall music has played in igniting and perpetuating violence in our society, we probably should take some time to examine if these artists are also victims. The criminal justice system is littered with cases of entertainers getting arrested and in some cases coming to their untimely and unsolved deaths. Renown dancehall gladiator Ninja man languishes in jail for almost two years now. No bail and no trial. Bounty Killer was locked up for two weeks in a domestic violence case that was strewn across the media. Movado has claimed that there was an attempt on his life by the constabulary which resulted in the death of his close friend. He is also facing other criminal charges and is due back in court February of 2012. Deva Brat, Luciano, Aidonia are only a few that have recent run-ins with the law.
One of the most egregious of these cases is that of Pan Head. The DJ was on the rise with a number of hit songs including “Punny Printer” and the controversial tune “Respect Gunman” which paid homage and respect to Jamaica’s gunmen and gun culture which was seen in some circles as thumbing his nose to law enforcement. On October 10, 1993, Pan Head was gunned down on his way home from a dance in what police described as a robbery gone wrong. Nothing was taken from him. Pan head’s murder was never solved.
Garnett Silk, a 27-year-old singer was killed when a propane cylinder near his house exploded. The result of a police investigation suggests that a stray bullet hit the tank, causing the ignition of the gas. Police believed it was an accident, and that Silk had fired the fatal shot. Now I have heard of many ways to kill yourself but self-immolation is not that prevalent and rastas blaze fyah on Babylon, not on themselves. The case was closed with no arrest.
In 2009 Risto Benji, was arrested and charged with robbery with aggravation. It is reported that the entertainer allegedly, after offering a woman a ride on his motorcycle, took her to another area where he attempted to steal her handbag. Following that brush with the law, only two years later Benji was caught by an angry mob as he allegedly attempted to steal a motorcycle, was soundly beaten and handed over to the New Kingston police. Risto Benji was this year murdered by an unknown assailant(s). No motive for this crime has been established and the case remains open.
There are also others. General Echo — (Errol Robinson) — Died November 22nd 1980. (Shot); Free I — (Jeff Dixon) — Died Sep 11, 1987. (Shot); Dirtsman – (Patrick Thompson) – Died December 21, 1993. (Shot); Jah Lloyd — (Pat Francis) — Died in 1999. (Shot); Junior Braithwaite — (the Wailers) — Died June 2, 1999. (Shot); King Tubby — (Osbourne Ruddock) — Died in 1989. (Shot); Major Worries — Died in 1987. (Shot); Mikey Wallace — Died July 6, 1999. (Shot); Peter Tosh — (Peter McIntosh) — Died Sep 11, 1987. (Shot); Phillip Linton — Died March 4, 2004. (Shot); Prince Far I — Died September 15, 1983. (Shot); Clive Jarrett – Died January 31, 2008. (Shot); Oneil Edwards- Died May 26, 2010. (Shot); Demar Graham – (Copper Cat) – Died January 20, 2011. (Shot).
The problem with reggae acts and the law do not end at our borders. Buju Banton and Denroy Morgan are only recent examples of the legal woes of Jamaican acts abroad. One cannot forget the night that Early B was wheeled off stage in New York after being shot and killed. William 'Super Cat' Maragh was badly assaulted for over 10 minutes by Long Island police officers over the US Thanksgiving weekend in 2005. By this point Cat was no stranger to the long arm of the law after being acquitted in 1991 for the murder of fellow entertainer and dancehall great Nitty Gritty, who was shot dead in front of Super Power Record Shop in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 34. The crime has never been solved. Tenor Saw, arguably one of the most influential singers of the 1980’s, was killed by a speeding car in Houston, Texas at the tender age of 22. The case is unsolved.
So basically, aside from an American troop in Afghanistan, being a reggae act is probably the next most dangerous job. There will be those who argue that dancehall musicians and artists are usually from crime ridden areas so it is understandable that they are at greater risk for violent crimes. But even a cusory look at the evidence will show that this claim is not supported by the facts. It could be a case of art imitating life but one has to wonder if these artists are not victims of a more sinister campaign.
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