STING 97
rude boy....
Ace deejay Bounty Killer last week Tuesday lashed out at
the promoters of Sting who have said he was responsible for
causing the Boxing Day show to end prematurely when he
challenged Merciless to a clash on stage.
Bounty said Isiah Laing, the head of Sting's Supreme
Promotions, had arranged with him to challenge Merciless
and had spent time before the event discussing how to set up
the clash since Merciless had seemed unwilling to
participate. "Mi and Laing arrange for the clash, him even
ask mi not to clash Merciless at Reggae Kwanzaa. How him
a come talk now say a me end the show prematurely when
we agree to do the clash?" Bounty Killer asked.
Explaining how the clash had been planned, Bounty said he
sat in he bleachers out of sight for most of the show with a
microphone given to him by Laing to ensure that when
Merciless stepped on the stage he could confront him. "Dem
bring the mike come give mi from 11 o'clock. Although
Merciless did book fi perform earlier them push it back until
my time so that I could clash with him. The only reason why
police did a bar mi from the stage is because Merciless pay
them to prevent mi from come up, "Bounty Killer stated.
Sting ended with a rain of bottles on December 27 at
approximately 4:00 am when Merciless attempted to explain
to the crowd why he had walked away from a clash with
Bounty Killer who invaded the stage during his
performance. "Is a every year thing that fi Laing after him
plan the clash him go talk say it was never promoted in order
to back up himself. Mi fed up a him behaviour man,"
Bounty charged.
Bounty said the show is perennial clashing ground, explaining why fans came expecting a clash between
himself and Merciless. "It start from Red Dragon and Flourgon and continue through Super Cat, Ninja,
Gringo, Cobra, Baby Wayne, Beenie Man .... a something the promoters want in order to keep up the hype
of the show," the deejay said. "Mi did done tell Laing mi would kill Merciless fi free. It was a matter of
proving something to myself. Mi did want fi see the look on Merciless face when mi stand in front of him
mouth so," the deejay said.
"Nobody has ever been paid to clash or me never hear say anyone sign contract say them a go clash. A must
boxing match," the deejay said in critique of Merciless' explanation that he did not indulge in the clash
becuase he was not paid.
Following the incident, Supreme Promotions last week issued a press release which stated that they did not
promote a clash between the artistes and Bounty Killer was to be blamed for the premature end. The
promoters also vowed that the incident would not be repeated at future shows. (THE WEEKLY STAR)
Sting, which claims to be one of the greatest one-night reggae events,
has become known for its clashes and bottle-throwing panorama.
Sting 1997, in the name of tradition was no different. A missile throwing
incident, sent deejay Merciless running scared from the stage and had
band members scurrying with their equipment, pulling the curtain on an
eventful stage show in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
From as early as 8:45 pm Friday night there were signs that something
not so good was going to happen. People began to jump the fence
separating the stands from the field and small pockets of bottle throwing
began. By the time the rapper Busta Ryhmes arrived on stage hundreds
of patrons had gotten closer to the stage than what they had paid. The
security, for the most part, was unable to contain the raving fans.
The memorable part of the show, though was the long awaited meeting
of deejays Bounty Killer and Merciless.
When deejay Merciless arrived on stage at approximately 3:40 am
singing: , the prospects of a clash
between himself and Bounty Killer became greater and the tension in the
crowd rose to fever pitch.
"Mi have a gun wah name yu dead as yu see mi", were the last words
from Merciless before the first sounds came from his arch-rival Bounty
Killer who was back-stage preparing for the confrontation.
At this point all hell broke loose.
While Merciless retreated from the stage, the crowd rushed forward in a
mad stampede flattening the fence barring the V.I.P. area from the less
expensive field section. A woman standing nearby had to be carried
outside after fence fell on her back leaving her in tears and unable to
walk or even move. Another young girl was bitten by a security guard
dog during the mad rush.
Bounty Killer during his coup ruled the stage with his lyrics , "Who Send Dem" and called for Merciless to return. But
the fleeing deejay stayed away. "If a Bwoy no come up ya now him
better no say anything bout mi tomorrow else him lose him 32 teeth," the
Killer declared while surrounded by a group of men on stage who
seemed prepared to defend him to the end.
After an unsuccessful attempt to get Merciless to return, Bounty Killer left the stage and the stadium with his
entourage behind him. Merciless, probably thinking it was safe, decided to return to the stage. "People, me
never get pay fi nuh clash. When mi get pay fi kill a boy, mi wi do that," he said. But before he could
continue his performance bottles began to visit him on stage and the "ducking" Merciless thought it better to
leave the scene while he still had a head.
The crowd stood in anticipation and the chairs, bottles and other missiles were thrown on stage, ending
another Sting. (The Weekly Star)
MORE NEWS
Its getting close to a month now since the 13th staging of Sting. However, since then a bad picture has
been painted on Bounty Killer for bringing the show to an end prematurely. The day after Sting while the
deejay was performing at Beach Line 97 at Fort Clarence Beach, he said that he was just waiting to
hear what they had to say on the radio so that he could kill them one by one. The deejay declared that
Laing, the promoter of Sting begged him not to clash Merciless at Reggae Kwanzaa 97. He also stated
that he was present at the National Stadium from 11:00 pm and was keeping a low profile in the
Bleachers. From then he said that Laing gave him a cordless mic so that he could intervene Merciless
to settle the ongoing score. Bounty also said that they deliberately pushed back Merciless'
performance to a later time so that there would be a greater possibility of an encounter. It is also
alleged that paid the police to keep Bounty from entering the stage while he was performing because
the promoters did not pay him for a clash. Bounty even claimed that he only took a small amout of
money from Laing before the show because he was anticipating a clash and from months before he has
been singing that he was going to kill the deejay for free. laing has denied all of Bounty's version and
maintains his opinion that the Killer was responsible for ending Sting and that he dealt with the show on
in an unprofessional manner.
In a follow up on the story that the Killer was caught with the possession of Ganja, he plead guilty to
the charges and was fined by the Falmouth Resident Magistrate' Court. On New Years Day the deejay
was a passenger on his way from Montego Bay to Kingston where the car was intercepted at a road
block in Falmouth and ganja was found in his possession. The town of Falmouth has been proven to be
a 'black spot' for entertainers as last year Ninja Man ran into a similar problem at a road block.
2/28/98
The biggest item to hit the news for the week is that Bounty Killer and Merciless has signed
peace. I know its hard to believe but the Killer claimed that this year his mission is to clean up his
'bad boy' image, and so far he seems to be working hard at doing so. Not long ago he teamed up
with Beenie Man at the Video 5 Girls Bashment, and it was last Sunday at Fort Clarence Beach that
both deejays came together on stage, worked like professionals and laid to rest the war. It was
Merciless who first made the announcement that the Killer is in the house and that they are big
friends now. According to Merciless' manager both artists will be in the studio working on a
collaboration soon and they will also be appearing next week at Bulbie's Girls Dem Bashment at
Windsor Lawn in St Anns Bay where many more acts are also slated to perform. The audience was
also very pleased that they had put their conflicts behind.
In the meantime, one of Jamaica's foundation producer, Tappa Zukie has finally decided to
materialise a concept which he had from long ago. He had always wanted to produce a tune which
features a little ska, jazz and reggae using a rich singer, a deejay with the finest talent and another
who is promising. The track is called 'In The Mood' and it features Chevelle Franklin, Bounty Killer
and Lexsus. Chevelle provides an easy groove to the song while Bounty is masterful in his
manouvres and Lexsus a zippy flair with timely slangs. The record should be released in a few weeks
with the hope that it will cross over into mainstream markets.
Merciless has now created his own crew who were promised on the scene for some time now.
They are known as the 'Nah fren Dem Gang.' Their mission statement is 'Original gallis weh nah fren
no heathen.' They use the term 'gang' because 'dem come fi gang the gal dem and invade the show
dem.' The group consists of deejas Mabrak and New product along with singer Clive harmony with
Merciless as the leader whom they call 'Pa.'
Preparations have begun for the 11th staging for the Jamaica Music Awards (JAMI) which will end
on musicians week as it has done for years. The show is presented to showcase awards for
excellence shown in music through outstanding live and recorded performances. A new award in
1998 will honor music in film and television because of recent developments in this area.
36 finalists were chosen from 650 entrants in the Red Label Superstar Song Competition. The 36
finalists will participate in regional shows after which there will be three regional finals and the winner
of each will participate in the Grand Finals for a cash prize of JA $200,000. Second and third place
will receive $50,000 and $25,000 respectively. The Bare Essentials Band will be providing back up,
Stone Love with music and for the first show, Lady Saw, Mr Vegas, Professor Nuts and Therical will
be appearing as special guest artist.
Barrington Levy recently signed a multi year deal with Breakaway Records in California. Capleton
and Anthony B just begun their North American tour, so they should be in your neck of the woods
soon. Kymani Marey gets his second soundtrack for a movie. The tune will be featured in the
comedy called 'Senseless' which stars marlon Wayans and Daniel Spade. Also Beenie Man
continues to wreak havoc with his smash hit single 'Who Am I.' The tune is now the second most
requested song on HOT 97 in New York and I think he will be on most of the programs which the
station features this Monday.
Congratulations to Ziggy for walking away with the Grammy. next week Sunday the Lincoln Center
will light up with New York's own Tamika Reggae Awards. The new Nelson Mandela Award has been
added and the nominees are Capleton, Tony Rebel, Buju Banton, Luciano and Sizzla-sie I.
For a long time I have been disappointed with the way certain reggae acts bleach on the hip hop
artists and copy their styles. Well finally a deejay has come forward and lash out against the issue.
Last Sunday Spragga Benz passed through the Bobby Konders and Jabba radio show on HOT 97
and chanted a lyrics in which he stated that certain deejay sit and wait for the hip hop tunes to buss
the se which one is gonna jump on it fus. The lyrics was original and versatile and I only hope that
some of these artists will take heed and come with their own stuff.
New York is gearing up for for the big clash later between King Jammys and Downbeat 'The Ruler.'
For weeks now members from both sounds have been throwing a lot of thrash talk at each other, but
story will come to bump later. Also, the big bad mighty sound system out of Brooklyn known as
Addies has now relocated to Jamaica. Also, the hot new sound on the scene known as Alaska will
be clashing with the legendary Killamanjaro in March in the Mirage Nightclub. Alaska will also be
playing against the Changez disco in Nannyvile on March 7th.
Email: lenki@hotmail.com
