Recently, a number of dancehall selectors have been physically attacked or threat-ened because of their alignment with artistes and their so-called 'selective' playing.
By Teino EvansThe likes of Hotta Ball and Foota Hype, said to be aligned to Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, respectively, have either been physically attacked or had their life threatened and most recently, Biggy of Razz and Biggy was also attacked after being accused of playing too many of Mavado's tunes.
However, while veteran sound selector Ricky Trooper, whose real name is Garfield McKoy, admits to being the first to play 'selectively', he says such actions now only do more harm than good for the music.
"Yuh si all weh a gwaan inna di business yah now, weh dem a seh selectors aligned wid artistes, a me bring dat inna di business. When me a play bare Beenie an Sizzla, wi nuh business bout nuh odda artiste career, an if wi feel seh any artiste threatening to our artiste career, wi jus run some conspiracy an done dem out," Trooper said.
However, he says such actions now hinder the growth of dancehall music.
"Some a dem selecta only a play dem fren an who fah pay bill dem deh pon, suh some a di real talent nah get play," he said.
"Our disc jocks and selectors out here jus a play di song dem fi di hype an jump up."
But despite taking credit for playing favourites, Trooper says he has not had any of the negative repercussions of present-day selectors. "Nuh bwoy neva threaten me yet."
"Mi always surrounded by gangstas an Kilamanjaro always have a affiliation wid a political party, suh mi grow up inna dem circles deh. A Spanish Town mi grow an a regula mi play fi Clans an One Order, suh nuh body nuh too step to mi certain way," Trooper said.
The Clansmen and One Order groups are among the more notorious gangs in Jamaica.
"Nuh patron, nuh artiste, nuh body neva step to mi yet, dem know how mi ting stay ... mi have link from here to New York. From Jaro days come up, mi know di whole a di big dads dem, from Jim Brown, Bulby, Zeeks, President ... an because mi have di gangsta image, dem jus rate mi like dat," Trooper continued. "Suh when dem waan gangsta music a me dem sen fah."
Trooper who is noted as one of the best sound selectors in the business says other selectors need to step up their game to move the music forward.
"One a di main ting weh a mash up di sound business inna Jamaica a di likkle selecta dem weh a walk wid a little CD pouch wah limited. Dem a play di same set a music all over an dat's why it come in like our music a Jamaica suh stagnant an it more global dan dat," he said.
Trooper will be staging an anniversary show for the first time after being in the business for over 20 years. He launched his own sound system, 'Sound Trooper' in 2000.
After winning the World Sound Clash title for 'Death Before Dishonour', staged in Montego Bay last year, he has decided to give up sound clashes altogether.
"Right yah now, after suh much years inna di business, mi nuh need fi prove again. Di most sound weh dead an come off a road, a mi kill dem. King Addies wid Tony Matterhorn and Baby Face, mi kill dem. 4X4 Exodus, mi tek dem off a di road, mi mash up Sky Juice career nuff time.
