Queen Ifrica, Tony Rebel call out Jamaican government on buggery law

Jodee Brown

Internationally acclaimed Reggae superstar, Queen Ifrica and Tony Rebel are letting their feelings known regarding the recent announcement by Jamaican Prime Minister, The Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller to repeal their buggery law.

Both artistes were headliners on the 19th staging of Rebel Salute at the Kaiser Sports Club in St. Elizabeth this past weekend. The annual concert, hosted by Tony Rebel, took place on the Reggae artiste’s 50th birthday; producing a strong lineup card that included Romain Virgo, Capletonand several others.

Queen Ifrica, who recently revealed that she’s pregnant with her third child, gained strong favour with patrons by performing several of her hit singles, including Below The Waist where she pointed to her growing belly in glee.

However, she got the loudest applause from fans when she called out Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Millerregarding her announcement that she’d look into tweaking the buggery law that’s been in place for several years. The law, which refers to the dispelling of particular sexual acts amongst heterosexuals and homosexuals, has been a strong topic of contention for several months.

During Ifrica’s performance, she warned that, "I would like to send a message to those who want to change the laws of nature. No buggery law nah repeal a Jamaica." She then performed the thought-provoking song, Keep It Yourself as a means to re-emphasize her stance.

Tony Rebel later entered the stage, performing several classics on his milestone birthday such as If Jah, Fresh Vegetable and I Can’t Recall. During his set, he called on Jamaica’s new Youth and Culture minister and former Miss World, Lisa Hanna not to review said buggery law.

Otherwise, many strong performances took centre stage; notably, Damian Marley and Stephen Marley. Both artistes gained mass appeal for their strong set and even took the time to shout out incarcerated Reggae superstar, Buju Banton, who awaits an appeal decision regarding his ten-year sentence on drug-related charges.

ENDS

In October 2009 I did a previous post on this sister Queen Ifrica and a song she did basically insisting that we (gays) keep it to ourselves. The subtle anti gay song "Keep it to yuself" echoes that message oh so loudly in which it says:

"Yu feel like a bad man (Keep it to yu self)Doan bring it to Jamaican (Keep it to yu self)We nuh want dat a jamrock (Keep it to yu self)Wi can't tek no more slackness (hear dis) .....

Yu can change di laws of manBut yu can't change di laws of god

So if dem nocking a big glass dem glad

Wan wi fi change a must mad dem mad

Somebody tell mi what is happening

A don't want no fish inna mi Ital dish

To see mi son become a father

Mi greatest wishDi situation kinda very ticklish

But everybody fed up from parish to parish(Yes) and to whom it may concern

A nuh dat deh way wi want di table fi turn

As a citizen wi got a lot of concern

Di truth is a nuh dat. Wi want wi chrilden dem, fi learn

Chorus

Verse 2:

Yu fi multiply an replenish di Earth

An dats why di woman labor inna child birth

Mi nuh want si mi brother Dress up inna no skirt

An mi sister nuh fi mek lift up her skirt

As a nation nuh matter what wi put god first

If yu pass eighteen issa blessing not a curse

Lighting an thunder Bown fi mek di cloud burse

A just di water from

Di Sugar Cane can quench nany thirst(Yes) and to whome it may concern

A nuh dat deh way wi want di table fi turn

As a citizen wi got a lot of concern

Di truth is a nuh dat. Wi want wi chrilden dem, fi learn"
Clearly the song outlines that heterosexism is to replenish the earth's population which enhances a popular sentiment expressed by the christian community and others, a challenge to the cross dressing of males is also evident. The "Fish" in the verse is a subtle term used here to refer to gay men who are mostly effeminate.

See: "Keep it to yuself mentality" on homosexuality and "Keep it to Yuself mentality" on homosexuality part 2 .... on "str8 Jamaica

Peace and tolerance

H

Bun Batty Man, Str8 Pumz Mi seh .... Facebook anti gay group

The group started sometime today  with only twenty members so far, you are asked to report this group immediately but remember we have removed similar Jamaican groups from Facebook before.


Songs such as Capleton's Battyman Fi Get Boom (gays are to be killed) is posted as captioned in the screen pics above also songs like "Man Nuh Lotion Man" (men do not lotion men - which suggests romantic intimacy between men) as well from Capleton who is deemed the fireman leader against gays with his music as Buju Banton is out of business serving time for his own troubles. 


Act now friends but there is a strangeness to this group as many of the members have been accused of being "closet cases"   which is a fundamental issue not properly looked into that of downlow accusing others of being gay to the point of outright homophobia to supposedly cover their own tracks or to enact revenge on some person or issue they may have had. This dangerous practice if it is that what obtains here can have disastrous effects.


UPDATE October 11, 2011 - last checks reveal the page is gone. The so called "invasion" by gay members of a previous group into a popular T-shirt company's Facebook page is also creating some unease as the activity in that group has since quadrupled literally with heated threads between so called straight members who are upset with reign the gays are given by the administrators of that group and the openness of the gay men on there as well.


Be Vigilant Be Safe


Peace and tolerance


H

Veteran Jamaican singer speaks gay rights in song part 2 ..... full "Tolerance" CD launched

In part one we looked at the single and video: "Rights"

The Voice Newspaper out of London carried an interview with the US based Reggae singer following news of a single from the artist named Mistah Majah now comes an entire album which is being hailed as the first pro gay album in the genre. Have a read of the report:

Rastafarian tells The Voice why he has released reggae’s first pro gay album

BREAKING TABOOS: Mistah Majah



A US based singer has decided to taken on broken one of reggae’s biggest taboos by making an album that supports gay rights.



Jamaican-born Mista Mahaj P, who lives in Oakland, California, released the album called Tolerance last month, telling The Voice he did so in a bid to tackle homophobia and hypocritical attitudes about the issue among people in his native Jamaica and elsewhere in the world.



He said having lived away from Jamaica for years, he decided to “set the record straight” after being barraged by stereotypical comments that wrongly painted all Jamaicans as people who hate gays.



On the album, Mista Majah P, who is NOT gay, calls for love and tolerance, through tracks such as Gay Marriage, A Letter To Bruce Golding and Gay Adoption in which he argues that there is nothing wrong with same sex couples adopting children and getting married.



“The reason for doing this pro-gay album is to try and stop the ignorance that people - not only Jamaicans -have toward lgbt (Lesbian, Gay and Transgender) people,” he said via email and his manager. “This album is an education and the beginning to let us break down the wall and start a conversation between gay and straight (people).



He added: “The reason I (also) did it is because of the way reggae artist has become so hypocritical and spreading lie,” he told The Voice via email and his manager. “Where I live we have a big gay population and when they (reggae artistes) come here, they perform for a majority gay audience and perform in the gay establishment; take the money and go back to where ever not telling the truth. I think that a double standard. Don’t take their money and then bash them.”

CONTROVERSIAL: Majah’s album Tolerance, tracklist



Majah has won a clutch of Canadian Reggae Music Awards as well as performing all over Canada and the US.

Since the album’s release, Mistah Majah has won support from gay rights groups. However he is also fearing a backlash, telling The Voice he has received death threats and has been warned he cannot come back to Jamaica.



“...The response from fellow Jamaicans has two sides” he revealed “Some agree and some disagree. Some people are stunned saying ‘oh no he did not do or say what I think I heard’. Others say this should have been done a long time ago. But I have been accused of trying to change reggae music; getting death threat; certain friend don’t talk to me no more; certain Jamaican leave the room if I show up (and) been called gay derogatory names…There is a big backlash going on. I was told I cannot come back to Jamaica because I am a traitor for speaking out about the treatment of gay in Jamaica and worldwide.”



But despite the death threats, he has no regrets about making the album.



“This is just the start. Reggae needs to take a different direction. We need to find and bring back the love in ah reggae music. Reggae music use to be about love and unity (and) also revolution music. Now it all about division and killing and bling bling…



“Jamaican reggae artist start to act like the gay community should not listen to reggae music - like it not for them. That has to change. Reggae music is for everybody (and) that’s why I am here to break down that wall…showing Jamaicans and the world that tolerance is needed; gay have right and they are people and they need to be respected and they are a part of society.”



UK Gay rights group, Stonewall, welcomed the album, saying it welcomes any move that would help tackle homophobia. Over the years, there have been widespread cancellations of dancehall concerts from artistes such as Sizzla, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Elephant Man, Vybz Kartel, Capleton, and Bounty Killer after gay activists ran a “Stop the Murder Music” campaign that said homophobic song lyrics incite people to kill gay people. In 2005, an agreement was reached between gay rights groups and a group of promoters and labels representing the reggae industry in which some artistes pledged not to use anti-gay lyrics in their records and at live performances. However, some artistes have since used the anti-gay lyrics.



Source

Elephant Man's "A Nuh Fi Wi Fault" lyrics (flashback)

Artist: Elephant Man
Song: A Nuh Fi Wi Fault
Album: Reggae Hits Vol.24 (Various Artists)
Audio CD (30 November, 1998)
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Jet Star
ASIN: B0000253YX
Catalogue Number: JECD1024

Excerpt

Intro:
Badman nuh inna nuh explanation no more
Anyway we hold dem bwoy dem get
A yo, all yuh hear me
Tivali jungle
Rise all da ting dem yah man?

A nuh fi wi fault
If a battybwoy run inna we gun
A nuh fi wi fault
The pussy dem get shot down
A nuh fi wi fault
When fadda get boom down Sodom
A nuh fi wi fault?

Dem find battyman we don't play
A nuh fi wi fault
Along time deh fassy dem a dead?

When yuh hear a Sodomite get raped
But a fi wi fault?

Long time we ah warn dem anna obverse
Battyman fi dead!
Please mark we word
Gimme tha tech-nine
Shoot dem like bird
Dis a wha ????? man heard
A nuh fi wi fault
Jamaican don't like gay
A nuh fi wi fault
Ah same way Miami man stay
A nuh fi wi fault?.

We nah keep battman friend
????????
Badman nah par wid men
????????
Shotta just rise your Mack Ten
????????
????????
A!
A nuh fi wi fault
When two men ???????
A nuh fi wi fault
Big nife a cut off dem ??
A nuh fi wi fault
Den me throw away deh head in deh boat
A nuh fi wi fault
A nuh fi wi fault
A nuh fi wi
A nuh fi wi fault
Jamaican don't like gay
A nuh fi wi fault?.

Its wrong
Two woman gonna hock up inna bed
Thats two Sodomites dat fi dead
A nuh fi wi fault
Battybwoy run inna me gun
A nuh fi wi fault
Coz tha fassy dem get shot down
A nuh fi wi fault
When Father got boom down Sodom
A nuh fi wi fault
A nuh fi wi fault
A nuh fi wi
A nuh fi wi fault

Dem find battyman we don't play
A nuh fi wi fault
A long time that fassy dem ah dead
A nuh fi wi fault
Ah dem make de syphilis a spread
A nuh fi wi fault
A nuh fi wi fault
A! den

Long time we ah warn dem anna observe
Battyman fi dead!
Please mark we word
Gimme the Tech Nine
Shoot dem like bird
Dis ah Harry Toddler heard
But ah fi wi fault
When yuh hear ah Sodomite get raped
But ah fi wi fault
When we ah ???? ah gal inna place
But ah fi wi fault?..

Capleton's show moved from Toronto .........

With Toronto in the middle of Pride Week, Jamaican dancehall singer Fireman Capleton, known for violently anti-gay lyrics, has had to move his Canada Day concert from downtown Toronto to Brampton, after criticism from the gay community.

According to Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail on June 30, With songs alluding to fierce violence against homosexuals, the singer was originally booked to perform at the Sound Academy, the waterfront concert venue. According to Catherine Fowler, a spokeswoman for the venue, “we were unaware of the nature of the lyrics of this artist” when Capleton was originally booked by an outside promoter.

Sound Academy was contacted by the gay-rights advocacy group Egale Canada, which also alerted Toronto’s police hate-crimes unit. Capleton, whose music regularly extols Rastafarian tenants of purity and individual rights, nevertheless includes references to such violent acts as “bun out ah chi chi/blood out ah chi chi,” referring to burning and bleeding a homosexual.

For years, Capleton and a number of other dancehall artists, such as Buju Banton, Sizzla and Beenie Man, have faced protests by gay-rights organizations. In 2007, Capleton signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, condemning homophobia. Yet reports and video clips indicate he has continued to trade off of anti-gay sentiment as a way to hype performances.

His promoter, CVR Entertainment, could not be reached for comment. A message on what appears to be CVR’s Twitter site notes that the concert has been moved to Brampton’s Rozz Entertainment Complex, “due to the batty Man Parade & their one side ways.” This refers to this weekend’s Pride parade. (Batty man is a derogatory Jamaican term, typically used against homosexuals.)

Ms. Fowler from Sound Academy said that the venue was already considering cancelling the show before meeting with hate-crimes officers Thursday morning and confirming the cancellation.

No one was available at Rozz Entertainment late Thursday for comment. Helen Kennedy, Egale Canada’s executive director, said her organization will continue to condemn the planned performance and will remain in contact with the hate-crimes unit.

EGALE Canada has released a statement on June 30th:

Egale Canada commends Toronto's Sound Academy for taking the initiative to cancel a concert for anti-gay dancehall artist Capleton. Initially scheduled to perform in Toronto on the eve of Pride, Sound Academy has pulled the plug on Capleton's venomous homophobia.

"Capleton" (Clifton G. Bailey) has openly advocated, encouraged and glorified violence against and murder of gays and lesbians. His anti-gay dancehall tracks include lyrics such as: "All queers and sodomites should be killed," "Yow, string them up and hang them up alive."

The news of the cancellation follows a swift response from members of the LGBT community in the days leading up to the event. "We are extremely glad that Sound Academy has listened to the voices of the LGBT community and shown respect by pulling the plug on Capleton," said Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale Canada.

ENDS

here is a clip from the show

interesting that the opening song was "Slew dem" is that a hint to the Canadian gay activists who pressured the move?

Remembering Donahue Jimmy Bulgin: April 11, 1966 - April 14, 2005

Donahue Jimmy Bulgin: April 11, 1966-April 14, 2005

Thanks to a fellow DJ/Queen from Toronto DJ Relentless I was reminded of this awful event in 2oo5 and like me Relentless also made a decision to desist playing certain dancehall tunes in protest against murder music, here is one of many poems that were dedicated to Bulgy as he was also known at the time of his murder in western Jamaica.

Thanks Relentless for this.

The poem:

Jamaican Birthday

By Monday the missing person flyer I designed was unnecessary The dogs had already found you

Everyone said you looked stunning at Grandma’s funeral wearing the blue Yves Saint Laurent suit I gave you compliments of the Salvation Army thrift store

Breathtaking it would be to see you now in moonlit rain styled with the passion of
machete fire and hate adorned in a plain bed sheet a gift of the police

For your 39th birthday your mother roasted breadfruit (although you preferred it boiled)

I reopened a credit card that flew me to you with birthday presents undeclared at the Jamaican Customs house I returned to New York with my complexion no darker from the sun’s fire

No anti-gay fire burned we chi chi men even as the new CD player I carried down
blasted Carl Bean’s disco declaration I’m happy I’m carefree and I’m gay I was born this way 1

The dogs found you in your own yard in a fatal reversal of your 39th birthday to nine night in three days with an offering of flesh to tear from bones for guard dogs that never barked at strangers dogs whose tails wagged with the satisfaction of a full belly

A boy half your age half your size drives your missing car What music does a killer listen to in his victim’s car? He wears your clothes
clothes twice his size clothes carefully removed from their hangers in the bedroom closet while your body was burning behind your house in the bushes underneath the birds of paradise

The blue Yves Saint Laurent suit remains in the closet You won’t be wearing it at your own funeral Breathtaking it is to see you now skeletal organs exposed through browned bones
ashy skin no lotion can soothe nor hand will touch after the dance of flames rode your body
to the twilight rhythm of crickets and frogs

Quiet is fire Loud was your voice balling out to neighbors down the hill who did not call the police
because your yelling stopped before the last cutlass chop drew blood that rain washed away
away away away

Four nights of rain cleared the stains of eight cervical lacerations but did not wash away our love
my tears the assassin’s intent your ashes You are ashes and memories of your smile never before so painful to see You skinned your teeth permanently but I can’t hear your bellowing laugh only the gasps of your name exclaimed in horror that four nights of rain can never carry away from your death night to your earth day

Capleton's "Shot him up" .................

So in going through my archives I found an old Capleton track entitled "Shot him up" which was recorded probably way back in his hayday coming into the industry before he branded himself 'The Fire Man" and I was not so out yet and involved directly in advocacy. In some previous posts I had mentioned that the artist song's never really called for the exact form of final punishment for gays and lesbians but this oldie is unmistakable in it's ode for the types of actions to be taken, notably gunshots as prescribed for a male perceived to be involved in same sex activity.

Some of the lyrics from the scruffy mp3 recording which clearly was lifted or ripped from a vinyl record as one can hear the scratches in the background and the somewhat warped sound as compact discs were not so in fashion for singles in our local record industry. The song starts off with an anti oral sex position as is used in other songs of this type back in the day and then it segways into anti homosexual messages as well.

Excerpts include:

"Shot him up, boi yuh mussi batty rider" (batty = bottom or ass or shoot him up you must be an ass rider)

"....wah mek yuh nuh waan vagina?" (what allows you not to want vaginal sex?)

"You condemn, boi yu mussi batty rider we ago kill yuh inna Jamaica" (You're condemned you must be an ass rider we're gonna kill you in Jamaica)

"...Inna man shyt tank man want release ..." (In another man bottom/ass you want to release)

"....give him a coffin and wreath fi a permanent sleep....." (give him a coffin and a wreath for a permanent sleep

"...Mi luv punany bad and mi luv it to mi heart, mi noh mi an de pum pum could neva part" (I love vagina bad and I love it to my heart I know me and the vagina could never part)

"Annmarie and Jennifer mi luv fi see when dem walk inna dem tights and dem pum pum shorts and as mi see dem mi waan tear dem apart" (Annmaire & Jennifer I love see them walk in their tights and vagina exposing shorts and as I see them I want to tear them apart) ("tear them apart" meaning rough sex)

"...some boi dem get nasty and go tun faught pon de oman dem road dem don waan fi walk, dem a ride man donkey an ride man horse, from a boi a battyboi nuh mek him life start" (some boys get nasty and turn (faught = worthless person) on the female's road they don't want to walk they're riding men's donkey (suggesting comparative penis size) from a man is seen as gay his life is not to start

"...from a boi a battyboi gunshot fi bark..." (from a man is deemed gay gunshots are to bark) (he is to be executed)

"...weh dem get dem dirty mind & intention? dem a brag dem a boast bout dem inna name brand from de day mi noh dem dem nuh have no oman" (where they get their dirty minds from what is their intention? they're bragging and boasting they are wearing name brands (clothing/shoes) yet still they do not have a woman)

"....mi nuh see dem wid Sue mi noh see dem wid Pam mi nuh see dem wid Winsome neither Sharon, mi see dem wid Tom mi see dem wid John mi see dem wid Dick and de one name Devon" I don't see them with Sue I don't see them with Pam neither Winsome or neither Sharon I see them with John and other men mostly)

"..look how de oman dem fresh an look how dem young" (look how the women are fresh and look how they are young)

"...some boi dem get nasty and go bow dung den gone outta street gone fuck man bottom from a boi a battyboi we ago gun dat dung" (some biys get nasty and go to have anal sex once you found out we gonna gun you down)

"...lend me the 16 and the magnum from yuh nuh like nuh battyboi clean unu gun" (lend me the m16 and the magnum (popular guns used in Jamaican gangs and sung about) if you don't like a gay man then clean your gun [suggesting either clean ones gun to go and kill someone or empty the shots unto the intended target])

Those are just some of the lines from the song if there is a better quality audio source I would appreciate it as I wanted post it but is sounds scratchy. The typical message of hyper-masculinity is also reinforced in the song, the expectation of men having several female sexual partners and once one does not meet these societal expectations then one is deemed gay. This is indeed sad as one would have imagined someone under the Rastafarian order who not think of calling for death in such a cold manner or in any form for that matter on anyone else when the faith doesn't reflect that kind of end in its teachings. One wonders if these Rastas are really such or just a show to get ahead in the music industry.

It was in Sacramento in November 2010 that he faced some opposition from Stop murder music activists there:

More HERE

Also see: Capleton's Dichotomy: perception vs reality in music from January 2010. Since these responses on the ground he has faced opposition in Europe, the Caribbean and Canada and was said to have signed the Reggae Compassionate Agreement, RCA a document he refutes he has seen. Whenever we find these old tunes we must expose them as the artists who perform them for the most part have not retracted or changed their positions on the damning content, they must be held accountable as public figures.

Peace and tolerance

H

I-Octane's "Nuh Dream Bout Boy"

NUH DREAM BOUT BOY - I-OCTANE by khoolray

I-Octane

So we are all entitled to our opinions and rightfully so but there are times when opinions passes the stage of such and lead to subtle homophobia which also must be pointed out and criticised for just that. According to reports from listeners of a particular radio station this week where the former rising Star contestant's above titled song was played, the host of the particular program proceeded to add his own views (as if anyone asked when his job is to host professionally) by saying "Not even mi fadda" (not even my father) clearly suggesting some sort of homophobic insinuations.



Why are Jamaican men so insecure about their own masculinity? so much so to the point that anything that involves other men closely or deemed too close is also deemed as something sexual or cohersively so as if in the same way Jamaican men hit on or try to coherse women is somehow the same way another man in this perceived "too close for comfort" position will also try to do.

This kind of fear comes from the bigger belief that homosexual males are predatory and are somehow trying to change everyone else into homos or gays for pay usually. This incessant need to be hyper or hegemonically masculine causes all kinds of paranoia and fear amongst young men, the pressure to not have anything trace of effeminacy behaviourally speaking but very limited feminized or metro-sexualised aesthetics are allowed given the nation's increasing tolerance of such looks, i.e. tight pants, bleached faces, close fitted brand named tops, man purses, flip floppers with manicured nails, powdered faces in some instances similar to the Frenchmen in the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries and other similar typed expressions once held in taboo by dancehall and by extension the public. This smoother style of homophobic tinged lyrics slid under the guise of carefully worded tracks has been in the doing for a long time before the Stop Murder Music Campaigns were on in earnest worldwide especially with the US leg being the last to catch on somewhat. Other ways of sliding in the perceptions were used by other offending artists where one-liners are used containing phrases or words like "number two, "too many men" "fish in the sea" "funny man" "child molester" and others.

The artist also has another song "Woman Wi Seh" which was at the centre of some controversy over it's release see it here:

The song was said to be unauthorised and was released without the proper channels followed, see more on this HERE .

He has also had a rumoured beef with a fellow sinjay names Khago over the "hair issue" as since another dancehall heavyweight Vybz Kartel apparently dawned hair extensions he has been bearing the brunt of what amounts to a backlash from other artists old and young in the business alike. According to the Star News and other blogs:

Singjay Khago (above) has refused to comment on the rumours and speculations as to whether or not there is brewing tension between himself and I-Octane.

Over the past couple weeks there have been speculations that the two artiste are at odds since the release of Khago's song Blood A Boil, which seems to be some sort of counteraction to I-Octane's Nuh Ramp Wid Wi. direct hit In Nuh Ramp Wid Wi that was released in January on Cashflow's 'Bus Stop' rhythm, I-Octane said, "Nuh bwoy pon Earth can put dem hand inna mi natty/ Nuh bwoy caan draw mi locks when mi wash it and a flash it."

On Sunday, Khago's song surfaced on the Internet seeming to be a direct hit at I-Octane. In his song he says, "Mi sure seh woman alone wash dem hair and flash it/ Mi a nuh sissy man a road/ Nuh bwoy caan dream see mi/ Anything mi put on a haffi fi mi/ Mi nuh beg fren from enemy/ Talk bout the chart tekka/ Mi nuh pay a cent fi dat/ Through all a dat mi still manage fi remain black mi nah run lef mi block."

Although it seems like the song was directed at I-Octane, Khago was rather silent on the issue. "You know mi don't want talk bout dem ting deh though. A mix-up, nuh true," he said when contacted yesterday. There was no comment coming from I-Octane either as the artiste is in the United States doing a series of shows.

However, his manager, Ray Alexander, said I-Octane will not be responding to the song. He also said he is not sure if the song is being directed at his artiste or Rastas in general. ignorancy "Di artiste not even responding to it 'cause there is nothing to respond to.

To me is just ignorancy 'cause every Rasta flash dem locks fi get out di excess water," Alexander told THE STAR, noting that hair dryers damage the locks. "I am not sure if it's Octane him going after 'cause every Rasta flash dem locks. To me it's an insult to every Rasta weh flash dem hair."

Meanwhile, the public has also been engaging in the discussion. "Mi rate the two artistes dem enuh. Love the type a music dem usually sing but mi neva know seh dem did have problems with each other?

The clash ting nuh good fi every artiste still enuh," one person commented on YouTube. Another said, "Clash is good for dancehall, that's where dancehall came from. Good to be competitive, just keep it lyrical and non-violent."

Nuh Ramp Wid Wi BY I-OCTANE by khoolray

The song which basically suggests that another man cannot be in his hair apparently men with any additional hair or hair extensions are gay. Pity that this is how foolish the entire phobia becomes sometimes.

"Nuh boi caan ramp wid man like how dem play wid dem caty" (no man cannot play with me as how he plays with his girl) clearly tells us where is going but to suggest that he or his supporters thinks what happens in same gender loving relationships tells us how ignorant the homophobes are.

Clearly we have a new generation of anti gay artists to contend with now intertwining all kinds of old and new stereotypes about male homosexuality to include hyper masculinity but how do we arrive at some understanding without having to resort to closing down concerts and stopping tours in the face of a new metrosexual revolution in Jamaica?

Who was I-Octane speaking of here? one wonders, he used to lend someone clothes?.

Peace and tolerance

H

"Nuh boi cyaan" (No Boy can't) song reinforces stigma of same gender loving men as rich predators

As we continue to watch the happenings all over this new dancehall track on the Belt Buckle Riddim released May 2011 by a DJ J-Yungg suggests in its lyrics among other things that rich men somehow are the ones pushing homosexuality unto poorer men who in turn fall or switch (sell out) and act in gay for pay circumstances which plays into the whole world of secrecy, clandestine homosexuality and or the down low phenomenon.

The line that speaks to the perception says:

"Nuff boi a deh wid rich man and a call dem honey (alot of boys are with rich men and calling them honey)

Buy dem out wid dem money" (buy them out or persuade them with their money)

Even after all these many years when the belief first took hold in the seventies or there about when international happenings at the time on gay advocacy through media especially in the United States showed mostly Caucasian gay men at the forefront of the struggle thus also reinforcing the belief that homosexuality is also an "import" The predatory aspersion has been stuck on us ever since and with tabloid papers carrying same sex paedophilia stories as gays raping boys going unchallenged for the most part it is cemented more with each edition where it is heralded.

We have not had a proper and sustained response to this stigma that is so stained on us now we wonder when and how we will be able to convince the cynical and truly anti gay sections of the populations and not just those who use public homophobia as a cover up for their own struggles with sexuality, urges or realised orientation.

He did begin the song by saying:

I NUH CARE HOW YUH LIVE YOUR LIFE (I DO NOT CARE HOW U LIVE YOUR LIFE)

Some more of the lyrics are as follows:

Chorus

Nuh Boi cyaan pull mi belt buckle

Nuh Boi cyaan feel up mi muscle

Nuh Boi cyaan tek off my underpants

Yuh mussi waan life unbalance

Rept

Verse 1

Loose talk dawgg no mi nuh run it (loose talk I am not into it)

Certain tings mu nuh find funny (certain things I don't find funny)

Nuff boi mek rich man a call dem honey (alot of boys let rich men call them honey)

Buy them out wid dem money (buy them out with money)

Fi mi fren dem stay by my side everytime (my friends stay by my side)

No dem nuh watch mi behin' (no they don't watch or admire my behind / ass)

Fi mi ladder nuh boi caan climb (my ladder they can't climb) [ladder suggesting penis]

Caan put dem lips pon mine (can't put their lips on mine)

Rept cho

Verse 2

Pull my belt no boi caan (pull my belt buckle no boy can't) [boy there used as a demeaning or lowering of power of the accused]

Pardi the line I draw (partner or friend the line I draw)

I nah mek no boi rub my jaw (I won't let a man rub my jaw) [suggesting romantic contact]

Fi buy mi tings I want (to buy things I want)

Some boi caan thump my fist (some boys can't thump my fist) [a greeting style of knocking fists together]

No way full a scale, dem a fish (they are full of scales they are fishes) [fish another term for gays]

All because a de money dem switch (all because of money they switch)

Pon de side man a digg dem pit (suggesting anal sex) [digging pit means anus]

Cho

till fade

It is not far from the reality in some sense as gay for pay does exist where mostly hyper masculine types who are interested in keeping up appearances in the latest shoes clothes (mostly high end brands) will get down if the price is right but will also deny to the ground and actually engage in public homophobia to stave off any suspicion of such activity as the stigma has captured the nation, they often stipulate that their effeminate partners (if they do associate with one) is not to be seen in public with them and all linkages are to be done privately. The problem with this arrangement is that when there is violence due to a disagreement over pay or roles in the arrangement the circumstances are hard to investigate by the authorities and piece together.

Peace and tolerance

H

UPDATE a response from the artist or a member of his team came today via email at 2:22pm Jamaica time.

to whom it may concern

i have seen u made a post on your blog about a recent song i did which in most aspect of what u wrote i think u are misinterpreting what i was trying to accomplish by singing this song....
first off i am utilizing my freedom of speech and my freedom of choice... at no point in my song did i say BURN,KILL,DEM FI DEAD...in all honesty i dont care what a next man does or who he loves or sleep with thats non of my business...

all i was doing is stating where i stand as in i am straight.... and i see u left out the part of the song in the intro where i said I NUH CARE HOW YUH LIVE YOUR LIFE (I DO NOT CARE HOW U LIVE YOUR LIFE),instead i see u write NUFF BOY DEH WID RICH MAN i said NUFF BOY MEK RICH MAN A CALL DEM HONEY.....

PLEASE NOTE i am not bashing gays because everybody is free to do as they please..i am just saying this is where i stand as in am straight.

peace!!

Homophobia A Big Problem (Gleaner Letter) ........................ but?

Like everybody doesn't know this already I guess that's why the anti gay letter writers have not had their letters published or haven't bothered to respond as the argument is worn out. These same letter writers in their professional capacities and so called insulated class wall structure turn their noses up at LGBTQI people at the lower socio economic levels and are only drawn for convenient presentations such as letters like this for statistics and appropriate call letters and descriptions to show off so to speak yet nothing is said in regards to the internal bigotry directed towards the same persons who are more likely to become homophobic victims.

How convenient?

This kind of one sided advocacy or agitation is so hypocritical when are we going to deal with those who really face the brunt of the problems?

The job and residential displacement, nothing appears in letters like this or stand alones to talk about how we are discriminatory to each other at varying levels to include to the advocates themselves whether they want to admit it or not, the recent case of a beating yet again in New Kingston when finally the biker boys have been arrested yet it took several heated phone calls to the JFLAG representatives to get them to respond yet no further movement so we may not even get to prosecute the perpetrators at all.

The fact that so many LGBTQI people are in positions of power especially the psychiatric and psychological expertise communities where are they on the grassroots changes that are needed? Where are they on gay on gay violence? Utter silence as it is convenient to do so, that's the answer I see now.

By the way Beenieman has since performed anti gay lyrics and sided with other murder music artists especially Buju Banton in the early days of his woes in Miami and San Francisco where fervent protests were held, please get the facts letter writer.

Have a read of the letter and see what you make of it but please think about the pointers made.

Homophobia a Big problem:

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Homophobia in Jamaica is much more prevalent than substance abuse, and the earlier we come to the realisation that it can isolate us internationally, the closer we will get to equality and justice.

In 2004, the self-proclaimed 'King of Dancehall', Beenie Man, came to his senses and apologised because gay-rights groups pressured MTV VMAs executives to dump him because of the hateful lyrics in his music.

The 'Doctor' apologised. Since then, he has ceased performing music which perpetuates homophobia.

One would think that others would become more sensitive, even to the point of desisting, but there seems to be very little change.

Embarrassing

Jamaica is out of step with other countries. This is not only problematic, it is embarrassing to those of us who provide counselling and other forms of support services to people in same-sex relationships or those outside non-traditional families.

It should come as no surprise that a significant number of Jamaicans in the process of being deported are seeking political asylum because they are concerned that their safety is not guaranteed in the Jamaican society, primarily caused by the prevailing violent homophobic atmosphere. There is also a small percentage of these people in same-sex relationships who worry that their partners might not be allowed to visit them if they are incarcerated.

I am, etc.,

G. GEORGE WILSON (Dr)

glengeorgewilson@aim.com

Springfield, St Elizabeth

Lutan's 'Fire' misunderstood - Says he has no issue with homosexuals

Reggae artiste Lutan Fyah, who is known for songs such as 'St Jago De La Vega' and 'Save the Juvenile', wants to set the record straight after seeing what he described as a 'misunderstanding of his lyrics' in another newspaper.

The matter at hand he said was the 'bunning out' of homosexuals which he was said to have done at the recently held Western Consciousness stage show.

According to Lutan Fyah, this was not the case.

"Yuh always have some people inna the media weh seh me a bun out homosexuality but anuh suh it guh, mi a bun out the Catholic priests dem weh a molest the youth dem when dem guh a church," Lutan Fyah told The STAR.

mi nuh business

He explained, "Mi sing it di other day at Western Consciousness and mi see where the paper tek it an seh mi a bun out gays. Is not even something weh mi guh studio an record, is just a lyric weh mi jus guh di stage show dem an sing."

He went on to say that he does not have an issue with homosexuals because he does not care what one does.

"Really an truly mi nuh business if a man waan have im boyfriend, but mi do lyrics offa the situation weh mi see wid the Catholic priests dem but di way how dem write it a like seh mi guh pon stage an bun out the people for no reason," he said.

Due to the misunderstanding, Lutan Fyah said he has missed out on a show and he doesn't want the matter to get out of hand.

"Mi even lost a show because of the mix-up. The promoter read what dem write and was worrying that corporate sponsors would pull out and cancel di ting. Anuh like seh yuh see nuh bag a gay a run mi dung fi ban mi or nothing but mi want it fi stop before it even reach dem stage deh," he said.

Lutan Fyah said he will now be singing more cultural, roots and friendly songs. He is busy working on his new album and singles and is promoting his latest single, Be Mine, for which he is organising a video shoot.

A recent write up on his last CD Phantom War by Rick Anderson says:
"The big turban and the prominence of fire imagery may have you wearily anticipating yet another hour-long screed on the perfidy of women, the destruction of homosexuals, and the desirability of killing Babylonians by fire, but Lutan Fyah's take on "Bobo Dread" doctrine is refreshingly openhearted and tolerant. "Screaming for the Poor" is more sad than angry, and it's a lovely song to boot; "Blood Stain" rides on a sturdy but not overbearing rockers rhythm, while "Rasta Still Deh Bout" -- a combination track featuring up-and-comer Josie Mel -- is a pop-smart gem, a highlight on Phantom War as it was (in exactly the same version) on Mel's debut.

(The video featured on this album's CD-ROM track also duplicates the one found on Josie Mel's album.) "Reflections" brings a slightly different vibe, a bit more soulful and R&B-ish, and also features what may well be the first-ever use of the "reciprocity" in a reggae song. "Still Deh Deh" does a brilliant job of bringing high energy to a midtempo groove, and "Bet on It" is built on a sharply skanking electronic beat that works perfectly. There's some filler, like the self-indulgent twaddle that opens and closes the disc, but within this hour-plus program there's a truly outstanding 45-minute reggae album."

This response from Lutan was unexpected as he never normally has issues with the quality of his music as he is more a poor people defender and on unemployed youths advocate also on ganja as well. The "other paper" referred to above seems to not exist as a search for this story proved futile unless I am missing something here. What we now know is that Sizzla Kolanji had committed an infraction by performing his version of Buju Banton's Boom Bye Bye at a recent Coke Zero event in Montego Bay. Could this be a publicity stunt to put himself in the limelight following on the Sizzla incident, one gets the impression that not all of the Rastafari movement is in league with this anti gay lyrics but also want to promote their own stuff but are clouded or blocked by mainstream dance-hall which more and more presents a very metro-sexual image which hits close to the stereotypes used in anti gay lyrics.

Let's continue to watch this story if it goes any further.

Peace and tolerance

H

(parts of this post contains excerpts from the Star)

Trinidad lifts Mavado ban - Only allowed to do positive music

Sadeke Brooks

After much persistence the ban preventing Mavado from performing in Trinidad has been lifted.

After being banned from the country in 2008 due to the supposedly violent and sexually explicit content of his lyrical repertoire, the artiste was finally allowed into the island to perform last Tuesday. He headlined RF Promotions' 'A Better Tomorrow' concert that was held at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya.

Promoter for the event, Roy Francis, said he had been trying to get the ban lifted for years and was finally given the permission merely days before the event.

"For years we tried and we end up going through the proper channels like the government and the government realised that he changed up his lyrics. That's how they decided to lift the ban. They only gave us one week to advertise. The concert pull off real nice," he told THE STAR.

feel good

However, there were restrictions. Francis said Mavado was only allowed to sing his positive songs. In addition, he was not allowed to put out flyers, as only radio promotion was permitted.

"We had a smooth crime-free concert. The government even said he could come back and I am bringing him back on the 30th of July. I feel good 'cause for years we fight and it finally come through," he said.

When the next concert is held in July, Francis said, "it will be better 'cause people had doubts that he could come to Trinidad."

Mavado was also pleased with going to the island neighbour after such a long hiatus.

"Trinidad was alrite enuh because I was banned like for four and a half years. Because people didn't really believe that I was there, the crowd turnout wasn't as large as I had expected but we're supposed to go again soon and next time I know it's going to be bigger. It's just like in Guyana when that ban was lifted. When we first went back it was like 4,000 people and the next time was like 25,000 people," he told THE STAR.

Mavado's manager, Julian Jones-Griffiths described the ban being lifted as a positive move.

"The ban being lifted, albeit temporary, is a very positive sign even for other artistes," he said.

In addition, he said the issue of Caribbean countries banning Jamaican artistes from performing in their islands needs to be addressed.

"Other Caribbean countries have other bans and I am working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address it. The music industry deserves the government's support and lobbying, especially with CARICOM and CSME. The legality of banning CARICOM citizens working in CARICOM territories needs to be addressed. Mavado does not have a criminal record so there are no grounds to ban him on," Jones-Griffiths told THE STAR.

He added that Mavado is still unable to perform in countries like St Vincent and the Bahamas.

ENDS

Here is a song he did earlier towards gays and supposedly towards his rival DJ at the time Vybz Kartel before the truce arrived at during that meeting at the Office of The Prime Minister last year.

Dem A Fag Lyrics

[Intro:]
Chat dem a chat like gal, HEY! SCATTA! I WARN TO DEM!
Hey! Mi nuh tust dem! Rifle shot a buss dem!

[Chorus:]
Di bwoy dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
A battyman alone nuh waan know God
Mi see seh dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
Well bleached out and full a tattoo like drag
Di bwoy dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
A battyman alone nuh waan know God
Mi see seh dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
Well bleached out and full a tattoo like drag

[Verse 1:]
HEY HEY! SEE DEH!
Him mek him fren dem press press him like button
SEE DEH! Nuh rifle shot a chop chop him like button
SEE DEH! Mi keep my gun mi smif and wesson neva heavy
SEE DEH! Why yuh a chase like gal Scatta wah tek dat freak deh? !
45 shot scatter, cau di pussy dem a trace like Macker
Curl up inna yuh gal like dagger, see, gi di bumbohole copper!


[Chorus:]
Cau dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
Mek dem know, a battyman nuh waan know God
Cau di bwoy dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
Bleached out face, tattoo dem neck like drag
Di bwoy dem a FAG! (FAG!) Dem a FAG! (FAG!)
Mi realize seh dem a big gun gab
Yo di bwoy dem a FAG! (Dem a FAG!) Dem a FAG! (Dem A FAG!)
HEY WAIT DEH WAIT DEH WAIT DEH WAIT DEH WAIT DEH WAIT DEH WAIT DEH!

[Verse 2:]
A him nuh waan know God and God nuh waan know him
Righteous way inna life him Muma neva show him
A bare sodemite and battyman a seh dem know him
A him a blow di gal before mek di gal blow him
Ever him tell man carry gun
But my gun dem organized and centralized just like di Calico
A nuh threat fi go borrow gun
Check di gully side which part mi live
Mi cousin cross fi come and borrow gun

[Chorus:]
BAD! (BAD!) Dem nuh BAD! (Dem nuh BAD!)
Mi know di pussyhole him a fag
Di bwoy dem a FAG! (Dem a FAG!) Dem a FAG! (Dem A FAG!)
SCATTA! At last bwoy dem nuh waan know God
Di bwoy dem a FAG! (Dem a FAG!) Dem a FAG!
Send fi gun cau dem a big gun bag
Because dem a FAG! (Dem a FAG!) Dem a FAG! (Dem a FAG!)

2 Murder music infraction and shots fired at event

Judging by the Jamaica Observer report on Saturday night last March 26th where one of the first major public infractions by a dancehall artist promoting murder music occurred , as the weekend was also one of the busiest gay party entertainment happenings of the calendar year so far with all of four fully promoted events coinciding and three were well attended one was closed off early by the cops in Kingston.

The instigator this time was Elephant Man known for his sometimes desperate way of operating he will draw for anything to get a "forward" as we call it in the business or a strong response from the crowd referring to an encore in other words. Violent references are usually used to please an eager crowd made up mostly of men who demand sometimes gun totting lyrics and react with great joy sometimes firing shots or literally lit and blazing aerosol spray cannisters live (photo above) in the audience as a way to "burn out" whatever is the subject of the song being performed at the time.

Here is the Story from the Observer:

Shots fired at Ocho Rios concert

THE March of Three Kings concert headlined by Mavado, Elephant Man and Wyane Marshall was marred by gunfire which caused a stampede from Margaritaville in Ocho Rios on Saturday night .

"A music and love wi seh," shouted Mavado in the parking lot at around 4.35 am to the shaken departing crowd.
Three minutes earlier three gunshots rang from just outside the venue. It resulted in scores of patrons taking cover behind trees, cars and bodies. This was preceded by shouts of "fight, fight, gun!". In total the crowd sought cover three times in an attempt to exit the parking lot. It wasn't immediately clear who fired the shots .
Prior to the stampede, the crowd's initial focus was on a bleeding man, possibly intoxicated, of unsound mind, or both, lying in the parking lot. "Him get hit by a car," stated one patron.
Unresponsive calls to him resulted in the thickening of the crowd and honking horns. Then came the shots.

During the concert, the sound selectors, Elephant Man and Mavado all voiced expressions of violence as a means to rev-up the thick crowd. The favourite target of the selectors and Elephant Man were gays whilst Mavado lyrically attacked his nameless enemies. Wayne Marshall kept his set clean. "We nah kill no fish. We just saying we nah switch non at all," he stated in reference to gays.

Despite the gunshots and the abundance of lyrical violence, the show contained colourful performances including comedic skits by Elephant Man. He invited a fat woman on stage, whom he described as a female elephant, and did his usual antics -- throwing her in the air stopping in mid-air to 'bus a wine'.
In performance Mavado rarely sang the choruses of his songs. He relied on the introduction many times only to elicit crowd whistles and verbal gun salutes. "Dash weh that," he constantly told the selector indicating his need for the next track.
It took him 12 songs before he would sing a full song.

A maximum of three lines was given to each preceding song and many subsequent songs. It indicated his heavy reliance on allusion as a performance style. It's not surprising that Real Killer speaks to this very issue of defeating a rival with "no chorus".

His 30-minute set included five themes of songs about guns, girls, gully, God and ganja.
The 25-song list included Weh Dem A Do, Real Killer, Hope and Pray, Real McKoy, Dem a Gangsta, Amazing Grace, Gully Side, Don't Worry, No Fraid a Dem, Gal over Gun, When You Feel Lonely (Tek off You Panty), Gyal A Mad Ova (Nova Scotia), Stulla (Long Distance), Tump her Up, I Know You Want Me, Give Her Everything, 9 Lives (God of Peace), The Messiah, Jah Is Coming Soon, Star Bwoy, Give you My Everything, This Life and All Dem a Talk.

UPDATE May 3, 2011

A second infraction has occurred since on April 24th at a Coke Zero event in Montego Bay letter writing advocate and AIDSFREEWORLD Consultant Maurice Tomlinson reported om his Facebook page that "Looking much like a Jamaican Bin Laden, dancehall performer Sizzla came to Montego Bay over the Easter weekend and advocated his own brand of genocide, this time of Jamaican homosexuals. At the Pier One ‘Coke Zero Live On The Waterfront’ event held on April 24 Sizzla expressed his disgust that while both ganja and buggery remain illegal in Jamaica, only partakers of the former are usually arrested. To correct this ‘injustice,’ he therefore called for the execution of gays and launched into a vulgar and riotous rendition of the not fit for airplay Buju Banton hate anthem ‘Bum Bye Bye.’ Sizzla also snubbed his nose at any possible negative consequences for his heinous performance, daring the promoters, police, or anyone else for that matter to sanction him. And from all indications he got away with it.

The fact that Sizzla can, with impunity, engage in such clear incitement to murder demonstrates that his brand of irrational hate is still very much accepted in Jamaica. The crowd certainly lapped up his act and bayed for more. And yet, one wonders how many of these homophobic patrons stopped to consider the real possibility that perhaps there are members of the Jamaican gay community who support, like Sizzla, the de-criminalization of marijuana?

So, instead of advocating for death of fellow Jamaicans who possibly share his views, wouldn’t it have been more useful to lobby Parliament (as others like the Lawyers Christian Fellowship have so effectively done) on the merits of his claim? The sad reality however is that hate mongering murder musicians of Sizzla’s ilk usually lack the capacity to think rationally. And what is scary is the powerful influence they hold over the Jamaican public. A 2010 J-FLAG survey showed that 89% of Jamaicans remained staunchly homophobic with the vast majority listening almost exclusively to dancehall music."

Dr. Donna Hope-Marquis’ Examining masculinities in dancehall via "Man Vibes" book

Clyde McKenzie from the famous article where he asked for a truce between dancehall and the gay activists: see the poignant piece here from GLBTQ Jamaica he is also the head of Shocking Vibes Entertainment the former home of Beenieman

Donna Hope-Marquis one of Buju Banton's ardent supporters and a scholar documenting several aspects of Dancehall over the years.

Clyde McKenzie speaks to Donna Hope-Marquis’analytical work
BY BASIL WALTERS

UNLIKE its predecessors, dancehall attracts the most analytical discourse in popular Jamaican music. And for at least one good reason. It is the longest surviving genre since ska eclipsed mento to herald in our nationhood almost 50 years ago. Dancehall has been around for three of those five decades.
Its analysis continues with the coming of Dr Donna Hope-Marquis' second book, Man Vibes: Masculinities in the Jamaican Dancehall. "A piece of scholarship that is relevant, entertaining and provocative," was how guest speaker Clyde McKenzie described the book at its launch at the Undercroft, UWI, Mona.

McKenzie offered his perspective on aspects of the dancehall covered in the newly published work by Dr Hope-Marquis. These include the badman image, aggression, fashion and homophobia.
He contextualised his discourse by noting that notions of masculinity in the dancehall have been affected by an increasing tendency towards what he would describe as the feminisation of commerce in mainstream cultures.

The music industry insider observed that historically, there has been the use of the feminine form to sell everything from food to fantasy. Against that background, he advanced the view that convinced of the awesome commercial power of the feminine essence, and pressed by the need to expand their product lines and profitability, marketers have moved decisively to induce men to exercise cosmetic choices which would have traditionally been the preserve of women. Hence the rise of the metrosexual — a person (usually male) of indeterminate sexuality whose cosmetic choices approximates those of his opposite sex.
"Yet I submit," McKenzie argued, "that there might be other forces at play in the feminising of the dancehall some of which might seem counter intuitive. As we noted earlier the image of the bad man occupies an exalted space in the dancehall cosmology. One of the features
of traditional hegemonic masculinity and its expression in the dancehall is aggression. In fact so entrenched is the perceptual association of aggression and masculinity that violence was often considered primarily a male prerogative."
The well known guest speaker went on to articulate the point that we have not only witnessed the masculinisation of criminality, but have also seen the companion phenomenon which is the criminilisation of masculinity.

"It is no secret that in many innercity communities one seems marked for death for carrying the Y chromosome. The natural assumption is that to be a young male in the inner city is to be criminal. This begs the question whether the increasing examples of feminised men in the dancehall is an example of camouflage. Are these men in the dancehall subconsciously assuming more effeminate appearances in order to forestall the violence being visited upon them by the police and thugs who sometimes cannot be properly differentiated."
As he continue his indepth examination of the dancehall, he arrived at the position that informs that both men and women now have greater freedom to do and say what they wish with the growing recession of moral absolutes.
"No book examining attitudes in the dancehall would be complete without the issue of homosexuality which perhaps more than any other issue has managed to place the dancehall community at odds with mainstream society.

"The lyrical posture of dancehall has been strident in its condemnation of homosexual and transgendered forms of behavioural expressions. This stance has struck many outsiders as strange given what appears to be the increasing feminisation of the dress codes in the dancehall as Hope informs her readers. Yet while the dancehall might not be deemed a homosocial space there are indications to suggest that the charges of homophobia being levelled against its adherents might be overblown."
McKenzie then went on to suggest that there is a growing level of tolerance within the dancehall space for homosexuals. And that much of the negating rhetoric from the dancehall is perhaps diversionary, a tactic to allow dancehall adherents to continue their lyrical forays into delicate feminine spaces without being charged with being morally bankrupt and close-minded.

"Holding the conservative line might well be an attempt to be exonerated from charges of immorality particularly in the face of what many would consider patently offensive examples of lyrical creativity in the dancehall," he added.
"However," McKenzie asserted, "no account of the issues addressed in Man Vibes would be faithful to its contents without paying some attention to the vagina, that site of nativity and frequent metaphorical excursions. As (Dr) Hope points out this area of the female anatomy is possesses mystical properties that is both loved and feared.
"(Dr) Hope points to what can be described as the celebration of the mother and the denigration of the babymother in the dancehall. This placement of these two important players of the feminine in opposition to each other is perhaps a scheme in the grand power design of hegemonic masculinity to neutralise the perceived power of womanhood. After all it is often the mother who has the spiritual antidote to neutralise the the spiritual venom of the baby mother.
"It should be noted that the denigration of the babymother is often a defence mechanism employed by putative fathers to deny maintenance to their children.
Hope speaks of the promiscuity which is rampant in the dancehall and which is epitomised by the old dawg mentality. She adduces a number of reasons for what many would consider irresponsible behaviour. She also lists the penchant for pavanage which is characteristic of many of the more financially stable members of the dancehall who seek to flaunt their new found wealth, imagined or real."

But what was the thinking that inspired the author to write Man Vibes. "Who is a Jamaican man? Who is this person that we talk about, who is a real Jamaican man...Who are the men that I met in my life and who influenced me significantly. ...Man Vibes is dedicated to particular men in my life who impacted on me up to that time in my journey. The memories of my father Lloyd, my grandfather Wilbert, my mentor Rupert Lewis (I call him Sir Lewis...), my brother Trevor who is here, my son Kirkland and my friend, partner and husband Mr Marquis... And these men for me at that time, represented my man vibes in a very important way," revealed Dr Hope-Marquis