Whether singers, deejays or singjays, Jamaican artistes are never too far from the spotlight of controversy. From Peter Tosh the advocate for the legalization of ganja, to modern-day deejays like Ninjaman and Vybz Kartel who always seem to do or say controversial things, here is our list of Top 10 Most Controversial Jamaican artistes.
- Buju Banton – aside from super-athlete Usain Bolt, no one has brought more attention to Jamaica over the past year (2009) than Buju Banton. His on-going battle with gay rights groups across America, that attempted with some success to have his 2009 U.S. tour cancelled, will surely be talked about for years to come.
- Ninja Man – on stage and off stage, controversy is his middle name. Currently (October 2009) behind bars in Jamaica facing a murder charge, Ninja Man has been a controversial figure in Jamaican music since he first burst on the scene in the mid-1980s.
- Vybz Kartel – from eyebrow raising lyrics (such as those in ‘Ramping Shop’ which featured female deejay Spice) to his on-going ‘war’ with former friend turned enemy Mavado, to persistent allegations and rumors that he is funding certain underground activities in his home community of Portmore, Adidja Palmer (more popularly known as Vybz Kartel) is no stranger to controversy.
- L.A. Lewis – is he an artiste, grafitti artist or simply an enigma? He creates his own ‘big words’, he created a stir when he faced the court recently, and some who listen to him, don’t know whether they should laugh at him, or help him to get back to his room at the mad house.
- Bounty Killer – the ‘warlord’ Bounty Killer is constantly in the news, most of it being controversial – being denied entry into Trinidad & Tobago, females alleging assault, ganja charges and even recent gun & assault charges.
- Peter Tosh – Winston Hubert McIntosh (more popularly known as Peter Tosh) was a man who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. And speak he did, as loudly as possible, about everything from corrupt record companies to the legalization of marijuana.
- Zebra – up to last month (September 2009), Garfield Vassell (more popularly known as dancehall deejay ‘Zebra’) was still supposedly on the run from the police, wanted for questioning on the matter of the alleged assault of a 13 year old girl. This is the same Zebra that was released from prison just last year, after serving 7 years of a combined 10 year sentence for rape, assault at common-law, indecent assault and breaching a probation order.
- Sizzla – the first Rastafarian deejay to ‘take it to the next level’ with gun and gangster lyrics, Sizzla appears frequently on the radar of controversy.
- Yellowman – although his lyrics may now seem tame compared to those of his younger deejay contemporaries, Yellowman was once known as the King of Slackness.
- Beenie Man – from 1990 when he was booed in front of a packed stadium at a Nelson Mandela tribute concert to his years of lyrical battling with Bounty Killer, not to mention his much publicized relationships with Carlene and D’Angel, ‘The Doctor’ Beenie Man seemingly lives for controversy.
If you’ve got suggestions, thoughts or feedback regarding our list of the Top 10 most controversial Jamaican artistes above, please feel free to post them below.
