I begrudge the success of every Jamaican Deejay Incessantly. By Donovan Reynolds- Blogger /Independent Writer

I begrudge the success of every Jamaican Deejay Incessantly. By Donovan Reynolds- Blogger /Independent Writer.
 Winston Foster is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, widely known as “Yellowman”. He grew up in a Catholic orphanage called Alpha Boys School in Kingston, and was shunned due to having albinism, which was usually not socially accepted in Jamaica. Alpha Boys School was known for its musical alumni. In the late 1970s Yellowman first gained wide attention when he won a contest event in Kingston, Jamaica called "The Tastee Talent Contest" where deejays would perform toasting. Like many Jamaican deejays, he honed his talents by frequently performing at outdoor sound-system dances.

In 1981, after becoming significantly popular throughout Jamaica, Yellowman became the first dancehall artist to be signed to a major American label (Columbia Records).[ He was popular in Jamaica in the 1980s, coming to prominence with a series of singles that established his reputation. Yellowman was forced to undergo a very invasive jaw surgery to remove the malignant tumour that had formed. This surgery permanently disfigured Yellowman's face, as a large portion of the left side of his lower jaw had to be removed to successfully extract the tumour. He re-invented himself with his 1994 album Prayer, which stepped away from the slackness that gave him his initial fame. Yellow man’s ugly looks despite his huge financial success became the but of every ugly joke that has ever existed. So much that: when he took on a lovely bride Rosie- a cruel joke made the rounds. Many advised him to make a living will to compensate her for the indignity of waking up each morning and having to look into his face. Yet Yellow man has held down the indignity of his detractors to have become the most toured reggae artist ever he is a living human cash machine with or without a jaw bone.

The first time I saw Elephant Man performing thought he was a clown from the Barnum & Bailey circus. The lisp accompanying his accent was very strange and his orange colour dyed hair made him look very camp he scared the hell out of my young children at a concert. But it was not long after he launched into his set with his catchy lyrics and his creative dance move the energy god won us over with a stellar performance. Ten years on and twenty baby mothers after: He still continues to woe audiences locally as well as in North America and Europe. There's never a dull moment with Elephant Man. With a seemingly inexhaustible energy source, he throws himself into everything he does: whether it’s playing football, deejaying on the corner or in front of 20,000 screaming concert goers - Elephant Man does it in abundance. Formerly of the Scare Dem Crew, Elephant oozes individuality from his trademark yellow-orange hair, to his custom designed ride, his outlandish jewellery and a stew of signature utterances - "You know how we roll"!  He is still a walking cash machine with an ego and a huge expensive house to match. Its still puzzling to me how he continue to churn out hits and scratching his clothes off in between with his hum teen baby mothers.

Ninjaman is a Jamaican Deejay short of looks but very talented lyrical and has staved off may competitors in lyrical battles for the deejay high priest of the dance hall Kingdom. Ninjaman, alias the Don Gorgon, (born Desmond John Ballentine on January 20, 1966, in Annotto Bay, Jamaica) is a popular dancehall deejay and actor, known for his controversial and pro-gun lyrics and his stuttering and melodramatic style. Ninjaman is currently out on bail awaiting trial for a murder that was committed in Kingston, Jamaica. At the age of 11, he launched his deejay career with the Black Culture Sound System at age 12 as "Double Ugly". In 1980, he joined Kilimanjaro, there got the chance to learn from established deejays Super Cat and Early B, and released his debut single as "Uglyman".Things got handsome financially for him when he changed his name to Ninja man when he joined the King jammys recording label in Water House St Andrew and began churning out hits accompanied by pure drama. If Ninjaman was not half literate he could write the dummies hand book of why we should all stay away from crack?

Despite hits over the years like "Murder Dem", "Permit to Bury" and "Above the Law" reinforced Ninjaman's image of a violent rude boy. One of his most infamous rivalries (besides the on-going quarrels with Flourgon and Super Cat) was the one with Shabba Ranks, leading to a number of clashes. In 1993, criticism of Ninjaman's violent and pro-gun lyrics arose, leading to a decline in performing gigs and chances to record.By 1997, Ninjaman had changed his name once again, now performing gospel reggae songs as "Brother Desmond". He sought help to fight his crack cocaine addiction in born again Christianity. In the late 1990s, he was accused (but later acquitted), among other things, of having raped a woman at knifepoint in his home and having murdered a taxi driver. He was sentenced to one year in jail in late 1999, after being convicted of unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. In July 2001, Ninjaman was assaulted with a machete, suffering several wounds, some to the head and face by his brother in-law after throwing his 2 year old child out of his window.
In March 2009, Ninjaman, along with his son Jamel, was arrested and charged in connection with a murder of Ricardo Johnson on Marl Road, Kingston, Jamaica. He was granted bail for the sum of JD$2,000,000 in March 2012, and his trial for murder is still pending in the Kingston Supreme Court.

It has been said that Ninjaman comes up with all of his lyrics on the spot in the recording studio, in a freestyle manner as he is illiterate and can’t pen his lyrics. It is said in jest hat if he sees one of his hit songs written on a brown paper bag he could not recognise it. Yet he has several financial lives and still has the ability to rake in millions from royalty’s stage show performances and new recordings if he is able to acquit himself from his latest murder charge.

Bounti Killa  his real name Rodney Price is a famous Jamaica Deejay who earns 40k for his boked performances in North America and Europe. Price moved to Kingston at an early age, along with his mother and siblings. His father owned and ran the Black Scorpio sound system and Price started his musical career as a sound system deejay in his early teens. At the age of 14, Price was shot by a stray bullet during a gunfight between rival political factions, and while convalescing in hospital decided on the name Bounty Killer. After recovering, he increased his performances on a greater number of sound systems, and turned his attention towards recording. During the early 1990s, Price was encouraged recorded at King Jammy's studio in Kingston. Price eventually recorded with King Jammy, the first session being in Spring 1992.[2] One of his first tunes was the "Coppershot", which Jammy was unwilling to release due to its lyrics glorifying gun culture. Jammy's brother Uncle T disagreed and released the single himself.

In 1993, Price performed at the annual hardcore festival Sting, held in Portmore, Jamaica every year on Boxing Day, whereupon he had a high-profile clash with fellow deejay Beenie Man. The rivalry continued through the 1990s, with both accusing the other of a stolen act. They settled their differences after both realized the negative effect their feud was having on the industry.[1] He has also had heated rivalries with several other top deejays, including Merciless and Vybz Kartel, throughout his career. He increased control over his output in 1995 by leaving Jammy and setting up his own Scare Dem Production company and Priceless Records label.

During the 1990s, Price voiced for several producers and labels in Jamaica, releasing songs such as "Defend the Poor", "Mama", "Book, Book, and Book “,” Babylon System and Down in the Ghetto". At about this time, he became known in USA and in Europe, recording with such artists as Busta Rhymes, No Doubt, Masta Killa, The Fugees, Wyclef Jean, Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga, Swizz Beatz and AZ.In the mid-1990s, he began releasing albums, with four released in 1994. His 1996 album My Xperience was hugely successful, spending six months on the Billboard reggae chart. In 1997 Bounty Killer decided to make a cover version of Rose Royce hit single Love Don't Live Here Anymore and invited Swedish superstar Robyn. The song made a huge success in the Caribbean & the US. It was also featured in She's So Lovely (Sean Penn film).

In 1998,  Bounti Killa contributed the song "Deadly Zone" to the album Blade: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture. Price has expressed disdain for popular rap, which he called "embarrassing to reggae," even while collaborating with Wu Tang Clan, Mobb Deep and others he considers hard core. However, in 2001, Price collaborated with No Doubt on their single "Hey Baby". Further success followed with albums such as Ghetto Dictionary Volume I: Art of War and Ghetto Dictionary Volume II: Mystery, the latter receiving a Grammy nomination. In 2006, he signed with VP Records and released the compilation album Nah No Mercy – The Warlord Scrolls on 7 November 2006. He has been credited with having inspired many young artists such as Vybz Kartel, Mavado and Elephant Man and several other members of The Alliance.

In 2003, Price cancelled two of his concerts after the LGBT magazine Outrage! Petitioned Scotland Yard for his arrest, claiming songs about killing gays[5] would incite violence and harassment against the gay community. He returned in 2006 after a three-year hiatus, performing uncensored lyrics at several venues without recrimination.
 Price was arrested twice at the annual International Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay Jamaica: he was arrested but not charged in a 2001 altercation with another performer and arrested and charged in 2008 for using profanity during his performance. He was also arrested on 3 February 2009 after allegedly running seven traffic lights in Kingston, Jamaica and charged with refusal to take a breathalyzer test and disobeying red lights. Price was arrested by police in June 2006 and charged with assaulting the mother of his child. According to the Jamaica Star, "The complainant was allegedly punched in the face several times, dragged some distance away and her head slammed into a wall."Bounti Killa is famous for butchering the English language and is famous for coining the phrase ‘I are the one’ during an interview on Entertainment Report aired on the Jamaican National television where he claimed to be responsible for a number of younger and upcoming deejays success. He is rich infamous, feisty and talented and has a huge bank balance and while I berate his behaviour ashamedly begrudge his financial success.

I have over the years raked up huge debts educating myself and my children as a lurch closely to wards my pension settlement with a double dip recession looming constantly in the background. The days of receiving a golden handshakes or a golden wrist-watch is a distant memory. I might have to take my mind off that a pre-retirement  Mediterranean cruise that I yearn for and trade it in for a wash in the polluted Wag Water River. The only thing I have in common with famous Jamaican deejays is a failure to keep my zipper up. It might be my redemption at the age of 49 I have just had twins Danilo and Cassiano .Unlike my other children who have gone the academic route -I am going to take a differed road with their upbringing. I want them to be famous Jamaican deejays or wealthy boxers. Yes, I want them to be famous Jamaicans and walk around with millions of dollars in brown paper bag like American rappers’ Fifty Cent & Rick Ross’. It is an insurance against a failed retirement if they are filthy rich they will give me a good funeral perhaps a glass coffin with all the shenanigans of a gangsta funeral as a compensation for this horrible life.

Donovan Reynolds is an independent writer; British based Social Worker and Human Rights Campaigner. He is interested in Human Rights, Politics, Culture and International Development Issues. Readers are invited to provide feedback in the space provided on this blog or alternatively you may contact him at dannygerm63@hotmail.co.uk on dannygerm@ twitter.