ttgapers.com

Selector and music producer Foota Hype yesterday said he no longer wants to be affiliated with fellow Cassava Piece resident and dancehall artiste Mavado. The 28-year-old sound system selector, born Oneil Thomas, took a swipe at the self-proclaimed 'Gully God', Mavado, for neglecting him and claimed that the artiste has lost his way since his emergence on to the dancehall scene in 2004.

"I just want the public to know that I am no longer affiliated with Mavado. I don't want anybody to call me about him because from the other day, it's like he has gone on an ego trip. He's not the singing blacks who I once knew," declared a very furious Thomas. "Him (Mavado) a mek the money get to him head now and him feel like everything what him say is right. I carry you to stardom, I was the one who put Gully Side on the map and you carry it around the world," he added.

Another of Thomas' concern is that Mavado, born David Brooks, has always credited his success to the mentorship of Alliance general Bounty Killer, but he was eager to dismiss those claims. "Is not Bounty Killer buss Mavado, nor Julian or DASECA, I only know of two people who always fight for his career and that is me and Flex," he said. When asked how he thought Bounty Killer would respond to his parting ways with Mavado, Thomas said: "Honestly, I have no idea. It's not a situation where everyone is involved. It's between me and Mavado.

"At the end of the day, every man is their own big man. So if a man want to say Foota Hype a move a way, that's their thing. But me know what's happening ... so I can't roll with people like that." Efforts to contact Mavado proved futile, as his cellphone rang without an answer. While his manager, Julian Jones-Griffith, declined to give a comment on the matter. Thomas, who said his last studio effort with Mavado was on his Gully Creature rhythm in 2007, still intends to remain part of the Alliance group. But, said that he has lost trust in Mavado and has no interest in dealing with him. "Of course, me still say Alliance, that won't change. Me still live a Cassava Piece, still deh pon di Gully Side me nah say Gaza, but me just don't have anything to deal with Mavado," he said.