KARTEL's RESPONSE

[Bricktop]

The Editor, Sir:

This is a response to an article written by Esther Tyson and supported by the rest of the social hypocrites who claim Rampin' Shop is musical poison.

Ms Tyson, the "devastating impact on the psyche of Jamaican children" is not caused by 'daggerin' songs but rather by socio-economic conditions which leave children without free education, single-parent homes, (or shacks), the lack of social infrastructure in ghetto communities, unemployed and disenfranchised young men with no basic skills who are caught up in the 'gun culture' cultivated by our politicians in the 1960s-'70s, all faults of the governments (PNP and JLP).

Scribes and Pharisees

When Vybz Kartel did Money Fi Spen' (the intro being 'We nah run dung gun/We nah run dung war), it went to number one on the charts. No accolades were given. When I did Emergency, no accolades were given; but when the same audience that embraced all those 'reality' songs embraced Rampin shop' for what it is - music - it's a problem to you and yours, the Scribes and Pharisees of our time.

What have any of you done to enrich the culture and the coffers of Jamaican music, especially dancehall music, that makes you think you have the right to criticise and chastise a (sub)culture about which you clearly know nothing?

Rampin' Shop is just as easily accessible to the public as are porn sites on the internet via laptop or phone; as accessible as 'R'-rated movies or carnival revellers 'daggerin' uptown in broad daytime on our local and cable television stations.

Why is the song so big?

Incidentally, has anyone ever wondered why this song is so big? It's because everybody loves it, and that's the whole bottom and top line. contrary to what is said, there are a lot of self-righteous, undercover Jekyll and Hyde characters around.

Ms Tyson, the "decent, well-thinking citizens of Jamaica" as you put it, love Rampin' Shop; only a few hypocrites are against it, at least publicly .

I encourage you to use your obviously lengthy spare time to write about things that actually affect the nation like, I dunno, probably a light-bulb scandal, etc., and stop making much ado about nothing.

I am, etc.,

ADIDJA 'Vybz Kartel' PALMER

vybzkarteljamaica@gmail.com

[Lionpaw]

Lol. Good response from Addi.

[Assasin]

Next time them fi charge him 1 million dollars fi him sting outburst.

For a youth with education and ability him nah fi express himself with so much bad words. I know cause I have met and talk with him and I could here some good education shinning through.

[Lionpaw]

Sting is for adults.

[Assasin]

says who?

[Jangle]

Come on now Sass, from him graduate from Calabar it means that he got a good education. That goes without saying. That's like making a redundant statement like "water is wet".

[Assasin]

yes him need fi show the education a bit more.

[Lionpaw]

says who?

Says the promoters. If you carry your child there, I think your parenting skills(or lack thereof) should be questioned instead of the performers there who are informed that it's an adult show. It's like bringing a child to an R-Rated movie.

[Assasin]

maybe they need to put ratings on these shows because every teenager have a wish to go and a nuh everybody have good parents, you nah fi go wid your partents and nuff youth tief way and go.

too many kids deh a Ja without proper parents and that is why I have a problem with it.

[Lionpaw]

maybe they need to put ratings on these shows because every teenager have a wish to go and a nuh everybody have good parents, you nah fi go wid your partents and nuff youth tief way and go.

too many kids deh a Ja without proper parents and that is why I have a problem with it.

Is that any fault of the artistes?

[Jangle]

How about looking at banning the venues of these dances? For two simple reasons: 1. the noise factor and 2. the lyrical contents travelling distance for all to hear.

[Assasin]

nuff a de artists have 20 kids so maybe the kids them a come look fi dem fathers.

It is the responsiblity of the promoters and that is why it can lock down cause they shouldn't let them in in the first place. If it is an adult show live by that and keep the kids out.

[Lionpaw]

nuff a de artists have 20 kids so maybe the kids them a come look fi dem fathers.

It is the responsiblity of the promoters and that is why it can lock down cause they shouldn't let them in in the first place. If it is an adult show live by that and keep the kids out.

exactly, so the artistes are not to be blamed.

[Assasin]

Well it is against the law so they should be charged and punished for their behavior.

Sting shouldn't get a permit based on their history and the fact that other people are been denied permit with a better history.

[Lionpaw]

If it is against the law then officers should be in court everyday. They are the most foul-mouthed human beings on this island so that argument is silly. Sting will always get a permit because it is held and promoted by POLICE OFFICERS in case you didn't know. As I said b4, Sting is adult-oriented.

If I was to think like you, then I'd say that all R-rated movies should be banned cause kids still get to watch it by different means. Pornos also. They should shut down all porno production companies and ban all the directors who make R-rated movies then right? I've never heard an artiste sing "kids dagger" or "have sex 13 yr olds". The issue, as you said, is bad parenting and that's final.