‘AMEN GET RID AH DI BWOY’

BY STARAPPLE

Well the week started off on a violent note. Hmmm. Nothing new here I suppose since we are talking about Jamaica. This time though it involved former Empire Princess, Gaza Kim who as rebranded herself as Kym. Apparently, she received a firm whacking from men allegedly affiliated with the Empire who branded her as an informer. Many rumours abounded:


a. She allegedly informed Shorty [Kartel’s apparent number 1] of Kartel’s infidelity and was physically punished by Empire members.
b. She allegedly informed Shorty of the infidelity and was beaten by Empire ardents.
c. She allegedly informed Shorty of the cheating and men instructed by Kartel were ordered to mete out punishment.
d. She allegedly informed Shorty of a specific woman The Teacha was sleeping with and he along with other Empire followers beat her clean T.

Whatever the truth or reason, the reality is that the beaten took place. Only 17 years of age the young lady decided to leave the camp, but take note that that it is only a physical departure. Recent reports have informed that she signed away her publishing rights for all previously recorded material whilst in the Empire and is still contracted to Kartel’s record label for another six (6) years. Interesting!! I find this rather interesting, Prince anyone, or should I say ARTISTE. Remember when he felt trapped and changed his name from Prince to just The Artiste. Maybe Kym is hoping that by changing her name from Gaza Kim to Kym will make her a new artiste. Perhaps legally it is a way out, but let us not fool ourselves we know badmanism is rife in our dancehall culture. That aside what is even more frightening is that many older artistes would cuss about how producers would take all their rights so now if they don’t perform or do dubs they cannot get any money from composition royalties. Many articles and discussions have been written and had about the rights of the musicians, writers, and artistes yet it seems as though many are ignorant or just too hungry to get in the entertainment circle that they just sign and sign to anything just to get a piece of the spotlight. Knowledge is power, but it can be a destructive weapon by those who possess it. It is indeed ironic that Kartel besides singing about violence and sex, spits rhymes about injustices and inequality yet it seems many an injustice takes place in the Big Yard.

Hopefully, contained therein the contract is a clause which would allow an artiste to exit if physical breach to his or her person or mental state occurs. Even if there is no such clause it is obvious that the traumatized young lady has no express desire to remain a part of ‘The Empire’ so why bind her hands?

A request for a lobby by on air and in the dance deejays has been suggested to release Gaza Kim for her contract, but even if that were to happen, what about ‘cyan ketch kwaki ketch him shut’ [if you can’t directly get to your target you attack their other points of weakness] and we know certain artistes vest their minds deeply on the 48 Laws of Power.

It would be deeply regrettable if anyone from the Alliance or aligned to the Alliance would seek to make mockery of the Gaza Kim beating in song or rhyme. We all know what would occur. Gully vs Gaza year 2 and another year of corrosion to Jamaican music. This would only help to eradicate the hard work put in by older artistes and help to line the pockets of a few who take advantage of the highly illiterate Jamaican population both in Jamaica and in the diaspora and persons who like to listen to Top 10 Jamaican music so they can feel ‘IRIE’ or be in the loop.

It’s a shame and utter disgrace this incident and even though Kym might ‘Amen get rid ah di bwoy’, it will haunt her in years to come and even women who enjoy dancehall. We really need to take a stand. In life there is Sun and Moon, Day and Night, Dry and Wet and the combination of them makes for balance in life. Chauvinistic behavior in dominance really does not help in forward movement.

I hope this is not a sick joke by the Empire for publicity or maybe many pundits were right that the Empire will soon fall apart. You can trick a person once but you can’t keep tricking them over and over with techniques that follow a familial path.