Deejay Blak Ryno was yesterday taken into police custody following an altercation with Corey Todd, a business partner of Vybz Kartel, at a Corporate Area supermarket.

There are, however, conflicting stories concerning the physical altercation.

Speaking with THE STAR, Todd explained that he and his wife were in the supermarket shopping when his wife was approached by Ryno. Todd said, "he saw my wife in the store and came to her and said 'is yuh is Corey Todd wife?' She never said anything to him and he later came by the counter where I was cashing and said, 'why yuh nah play my music in da club'?"

According to Todd, Ryno stormed outside and returned with a knife. "He came up to me wid di knife and said '....yuh gonna dead'. He got in my face and I pushed him off. He pulled the knife and tried coming at me wid it. I jumped back and grabbed him by the neck and had him on the ground when the security came and he (Ryno) ran and left the knife." Todd said he sustained a minor cut to his back.


no hot songs

Todd and Kartel have partnered to bring 'Street Vybz Thursdays' to the Building in New Kingston. When asked about Ryno's accusation that his music wasn't being played in the Building Todd said, "Mi nuh know bout dat, it's up to the selectors what gets played, they play what's hot, and he has no hot songs."

In a press release sent to THE STAR yesterday, however, Ryno told a completely different story. According to the release, Ryno and his babymother were shopping at the supermarket when they were attacked by Todd.

The release states that Ryno was exiting the facility when he was confronted by Todd who immediately assumed an aggressive posture towards the artiste with the statement,'Go ....' and proceeded to shove him, further stating "Weh yuh ago do, you know how we thing set pon the Gaza."


physical altercation

The release stated, "Ryno, forced to defend himself, got into a physical altercation with the man but it was quickly brought under control by the store's security detailing. However, the melee did not end there as the irate man and his female companion, who were still inside the store, then turned on Ryno's babymother inflicting several blows to her in the process." The babymother reportedly suffered minor cuts and bruises.

The artiste in the release says he doesn't know why the man and his companion attacked him and his babymother.

Checks by THE STAR found that a report was submitted to the Half-Way Tree police, who have commenced their investigations.

When THE STAR went to the Half-Way Tree Police Station some time after 5 p.m. yesterday, both Todd and his wife were seen there.

Head of the station, Superintendent Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight, was said to be unavailable but a police source who was seen speaking with Todd's wife said Blak Ryno was subsequently taken into custody following the altercation and may be charged.

"Yes, man, we have him, he's in there," the source said while pointing to a locked door to a room in which the artiste was reportedly being held.

The source then continued, "He is going to be charged, he cannot act like that."


ban on his music

This is the second incident in recent times that the deejay's name has been associated with. Selector Boom Boom was allegedly beaten at an Uptown Mondays dance in early September by persons who, he said, are affiliates of Ryno. Ryno later denied any involvement in the incident.

Todd, however, says he plans to attempt a ban on Ryno's music in the media. He said, "I'm calling for a ban on his music on radio and TV. I'm the second person he has attacked because of music. So I'm gonna call all the radio stations. I also plan to contact the US embassy, because I'm a US citizen and he attacked a US citizen."

Blak Ryno left the Kartel-led Portmore Empire earlier this year and has since changed his name to 'Ryno Di Stinga.'