Clean up your act! - Dancehall DJs urged to be professionals
published: Tuesday | July 8, 2008

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Peggy Quattro

FOUNDER AND publisher of the Reggae Report magazine, Peggy Quattro, has taken leading dancehall performers to task, saying their violent lyrics and unprofessional conduct have alienated music industry heads in North America and Europe.

Quattro told The Gleaner that recent events involving dancehall acts Bounty Killer and Mavado, and Red Stripe's boycott of some live shows, have made it even more difficult to market the genre outside of Jamaica.

"They (record companies) are looking for professional artistes who will deliver a good product so they can sell records," Quattro said. "But these guys incite violence wherever they go, charge outrageous fees and don't show up on time. They are their own worst enemies."

Quattro did not name the record companies, but said their concerns are similar to Red Stripe's announcement in April that negatives associated with dancehall had forced it to withdraw financial support from major events.

Clean up acts

She said it is time controversial acts take a leaf from the books of Jamaican performers who have racked up platinum sales without being nasty.

"If they want to be accepted internationally, they need to clean up their acts," Quattro said. "They need to look at Shaggy, Sean Paul and Sean Kingston and ask: 'why are these guys big and we're not?'"

Sean Paul and Shaggy broke into the pop market with million-selling albums like Dutty Rock and Hot Shot, respectively. Sean Kingston, grandson of 1970s record producer Lawrence 'Jack Ruby' Lindo, followed suit in 2007 with Beautiful Girl, a cheesy hip-hop song that topped Billboard Magazine charts.

In contrast, hard core performers including Beenie Man, Elephant Man and Mavado have not returned strong album sales in the United States, despite backing from labels like Virgin and VP Records.

Strong representation, Quattro believes, has made the difference.

"Shaggy has Robert Livingston, a great manager. Sean Paul has Jeremy Harding. They are presented professionally and they behave professionally. They're not out there talking about killing people," she said.

Several incidents this year contributed to Red Stripe's tough stance. In April, Bounty Killer and Mavado were banned from performing in Guyana, while Mavado was arrested on gun-related charges in March. He was eventually freed.

Quattro, who started Reggae Report in Miami in 1983, said it is critical the Jamaican music industry move quickly to clean up the dancehall.

"They need to have seminars where young artistes can go and learn what it takes to be a professional performer. It's not rolling up your pant leg and talking about chopping up somebody. That's so over," she said.

In the mid-1990s, Shabba Ranks, Patra, Super Cat and Cobra were among the dancehall acts signed to major American record companies.

Shabba Ranks, Patra and Cobra each had gold albums for Sony Music International.

Shabba Ranks had big hits on the Billboard pop charts with House Call and Mr Loverman.

Super Cat, signed to Columbia, had 'c****ination' hits with Kriss Kross and Sugar Ray.