Mateel Promises to ‘Pull the Plug’ on Sizzla’s Performance if He Uses ‘Derogatory Speech’

Sizzla by Kim Sallaway

All photos by Kim Sallaway. See more of his Humboldt photography here.

Just as Reggae on the River is set to begin a festival of love and light today, a controversy pushed headliner Sizzla on the stage of a discussion about what is acceptable behavior.   Sizzla (along with 10 other reggae musicians) was refused a visa to the United States because his lyrics advocate violence towards homosexuals. However, Sizzla was recently given a visa and Reggae on the River is his first venue.

Yesterday, the North Coast Journal and the Lost Coast Outpost posted stories about Sizzla. They pointed out examples of Sizzla’s lyrics.

Sizzla released Nah Apologize in response to calls for him to dial back on his songs advocating death for gays or batty boys. In it he declares, “Rastaman don’t apologize to no batty boy/If yuh diss King Selassie I, mi gunshot yuh boy.” (Oddly, just a few lines before, he proclaims, “Ras Tafari just throw forth his love and kindness in the morning and the faithfulness/Every night.”

Today, Justin Crellin from Reggae on the River responded to the stories. He wrote,

Please note that Sizzla has been booked on the show since we first announced the line-up over 5 months ago- and we received no concerns about him being on the bill until very recently- despite a great deal of local publicity.  That said, we now recognize there are concerns within the community about his appearance on the show.

We have an assurance from management that no derogatory speech will occur and have protocol in place to pull the plug on his performance should anything like this happen.  We will also be posting a values statement at our artist merchandise booth and will be talking from the stage (and in our press tent) encouraging our audience to sign this document with the intent to share it with his management and send a message about where we stand as a community and to underscore what we expect from our artists- with the ultimate goal of fostering real dialogue on an issue that is sadly pervasive in Jamaican culture.

To this end, we will also be utilizing funds from our 2016 Ambassador Program- which funnels 10% of funds from our Ambassador ticket sales to global charities related to reggae culture- to directly support the work of an NPO in Jamaica that is working to combat this issue and foster tolerance and understanding regarding the LGBTQ community.

Tune in Saturday as the show is being livestreamed to see what happens when Sizzla sings.
sizzla_sallaway_rotr_23_5876

 

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Mogtx
Guest
7 years ago

Well leave it to reggae in the river to bring controversell artists. They must be hard up for performers .the guy barely got his visa . I guess he doesn’t have freedom of speech wonder how this will go over ?

Shamefull
Guest
Shamefull
7 years ago

When it comes to tickets our “community” center will even push hate to sell a few more tickets. Just by booking him proves how much they don’t pay attention to the music. What’s next Trump signs on the main stage?

stranger
Guest
stranger
7 years ago

I wasn’t going.. But now I’ll never go.. What were they thinking?

local
Guest
local
7 years ago

If a statement was to be made about not wanting him to come.. contact Immigration.

Hugo Phuckurselph
Guest
Hugo Phuckurselph
7 years ago

Wha him say, sir? Ehh, me no understand da lyrics, me only like da riddims…

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
7 years ago

If he advocates violence against anyone he shouldn’t be allowed in the USA, let alone play Reggae on the River.

Pooh Daddy
Guest
Pooh Daddy
7 years ago

Why does everyone around here like reggae music so much anyway? All kinda sounds the same.

Remember
Guest
Remember
7 years ago

I seem to remember a show at the Mateel years ago with another disrespectful artist….

Terry L. Clark
Guest
7 years ago

The terrorists hated us for our rights like Free Speech. They must love us now…

Coletta Hughes
Guest
Coletta Hughes
7 years ago
Reply to  Terry L. Clark

Hey there Terry L. Clark hiding behind a Guy Fawkes mask. Advocating for the murdering of groups of people based upon their sexual orientation isn’t what freedom of speech was meant for. But then again maybe that’s why you’re hiding behind a mask that represents equality while saying what you say.
Oh look! I just saw a stray dog running in traffic along the 101 just north of Arcata… You should probably go run after it lol.

TN
Guest
TN
7 years ago
Reply to  Coletta Hughes

Terry does have a point, I guess it’s ok for rap artists to promote violence against women. Nobody seems to care🤔
Reggae music sucks anyway

Coletta Hughes
Guest
Coletta Hughes
7 years ago
Reply to  TN

There’s a lot of hate for women and LGBT people that comes from this angry culture of rap and reggae alike. Don’t make it right and as long as people are silent about it, it will remain a culture of hate cloaked in the false image of peace & love. People need to speak up; unless you dig using women for their bodies and murdering gays.

BiggRobb
Guest
BiggRobb
7 years ago
Reply to  Coletta Hughes

woh. Are you promoting someone to kill themselves?

While your right on with your sentiment towards Sizzla. Your intolerance towards Terrys opinion is a bit much.

Fortunately freedoms in this country include speech. Which is meant for ALL, whether you like the speech or not. That’s what makes America great NOW. Denying his visa was a good start. Not going to Reggae on the river is another way to show your disdain. HOWEVER, reggae music has many genres and ages. I prefer toots. Might wanna listen to him before you think all reggae culture s like Sizzla. Stay up Coletta!

Fishman
Guest
Fishman
7 years ago
Reply to  Coletta Hughes

The hatred he speaks of is directed towards the politicians and gangsters that rape the young boys in the community. It’s hard for Americans to understand a culture we were not raised in. Of coarse it’s not right, but if people do not want to listen….then don’t. Sizzla puts on a helluva show!

I hate whiners
Guest
I hate whiners
7 years ago
Reply to  Coletta Hughes

what about the people in the world that see gays and lesbians as DISGUSTING? Fat people, racists and gays and lesbians disgust me. But nobody cares about what I like or do not like. I will now be attacked for sharing my opinion but why is my opinion so wrong? [edit] In fact its really dumb when you think about it. so yeahs gays, racists and fat people, we could do without them in my opinion.

Jah No Say
Guest
Jah No Say
7 years ago

Have fun with that. He will say something derogatory. The problem is trying to understand what he is saying. I like Sizzle, but knowing they will “pull the plug”, I guess I will stay at home and save some money.

Bumba Clot
Guest
Bumba Clot
7 years ago

How come no one ever comes down on the high and mighty Bob Marley with homophobic lyrics dating back to 1973? The songs ‘Midnight Ravers’ and ‘Who The Cap Fits’ both contain homophobic lyrics. We could also go into a discussion about the misogyny of Jamacan culture.

Coletta Hughes
Guest
Coletta Hughes
7 years ago
Reply to  Bumba Clot

Maybe because he’s freaking dead as a door nail?
But I agree people should speak of him for being the hater he was.

Education is the key
Guest
Education is the key
7 years ago

education and dialogue are the keys not completely shutting down our opportunity to show people like sizzle that it is ok for anyone to love anyone they want. He was most likely raised from age one that there was something wrong with being gay and his government did nothing to educate the youth that it was OK,so all of his elders teachers and authoritative figures told him from the beginning of his life it was evil to be gay. So who’s fault is it the systems or his for believing everything he has been taught from day one and now you want to tell him he’s not allowed to come here. All that will do is spread more hate and he will believe that gay people are evil because he won’t have the opportunity to learn.

Over jah
Guest
Over jah
7 years ago

Will they have a translator or are there enough egomaniac white people in Humboldt who understand patois to catch him? If you don’t like it,dont go.

Over jah
Guest
Over jah
7 years ago

I love how crellin defends himself in the opening paragraph.. chunky. We tried calling him years ago two years in a row to get a free day pass because we are neighbirs and hafta out up with a lot of people in our neighborhood for two weeks and he never called us back. The material is not what it once was. It’s just run by arrogant pot growers who think their status as a ganja grower gives them insight into more than it does. And the power tripping!! I am sick of whenever we have gone to reggae the amount of local guys riding four-wheelers acting like they own the world. Weak festival.

World wide problem
Guest
World wide problem
7 years ago

A Very high percentage of Jamaicans think it is completely wrong to be gay and their government has encouraged those thoughts so should we as a country never visit Jamaica should we not let any Jamaicans come into America because I would bet a huge percentage of the Jamaicans that visit America think being gay is wrong and that’s because that’s what they’ve been told and taught along with thousands of other people around the world that visit here. Being gay is still a punishable crime in many places. imagine being a 10-year-old in one of those countries and you’re being taught that it is illegal and wrong. Does that make that 10-year-old a bad person to whole heartedly believe what they have learned?

Eric Kirk
Guest
Eric Kirk
7 years ago

Sizzla is 10 years old?

Fishman
Guest
Fishman
7 years ago

Or being a 10 year old and the dope dealers and politicians are raping you and your friends. It is a huge problem, and this is why they always sing about saving the children

Zen
Guest
Zen
7 years ago

So if he starts saying stuff on stage the audience can boo him off. Whether I agree or not people have a right to their opinion. This politically correct world we live in is nauseating. It’s ok for people to vocalize their love and acceptance of gays yet no one can say they don’t agree with the gay culture? It seems a double standard. Me I don’t care what someone’s sexuality is as long as they are happy. If I heard a song bashing homosexuals I can choose to not listen and walk away. Come on people!

Over jah
Guest
Over jah
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

How do you not agree with something that someone is? Doesn’t make sense when it comes to who someone wants to be with. Just small minded ignorance. Being gay isn’t a lifestyle choice like being a pot grower or journalist , it’s who someone is just like their ethnicity.

Coletta Hughes
Guest
Coletta Hughes
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

We all have a right to be who we are just so long as it doesn’t hurt other people doing so.

Zen
Guest
Zen
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I can see your point too. I just don’t get the hate. So much friggen hate and judgement. Because someone is gay, white, black, law enforcement, Christian, Jew, American, Muslim. Hate hate hate.

Benbow
Guest
Benbow
7 years ago

Well to be politically correct, that’s so LGBT!!!

J
Guest
J
7 years ago

That’s all well and good but what measures is Reggae in the River doing to cut back on rape and sexual assault. And will they at least announce to the public when they are looking for a rapist that just assaulted a woman and is still loose? They often get a description from the victim how about put a BOLO out ROTR. Jeez!

Poster formerly known as Matt
Guest
Poster formerly known as Matt
7 years ago

I think a lot of people, like Zen (above), are confusing being anti-gay vs advocating for the murder of gay people. Sizzla is in the latter category. It’d be like booking a neonazi with lyrics about hanging Jews and African Americans. There’s a difference between intolerance and hate speech that encourages violence.

Mendoyahoereggaefan
Guest
Mendoyahoereggaefan
7 years ago

Good point. It’s one thing to disagree with homosexuality, it’s another to advocate violence and hatred.

Zen
Guest
Zen
7 years ago

I see your point.

Mogtx
Guest
7 years ago

To benbow Lesbians Gays I think B is for bisexual T is for trans gender
I remember when raggae started .its was mostly about running around naked getting ,stoned ,listening to music in my opinion sucks I’m a rock and roll kinda guy .so I guess that’s why I’ve only went once .,and I was working there like I said I got paid .32 yrs of pollution in and around the eel river .I speak the truth .I think the matel center has made enough money with the rastafarians. I have a idea how about rock and roll on the river I don’think you’d catch the rock a roll crowd defacating in the eel river .just my opinion.

Over jah
Guest
Over jah
7 years ago

So where do the bears shit?

Coletta Hughes
Guest
Coletta Hughes
7 years ago
Reply to  Over jah

In Eureka behind the mall… But only after shopping at Walmart of course lol :p

janelle
Guest
janelle
7 years ago
Reply to  Coletta Hughes

Not funny.

Pooh Daddy
Guest
Pooh Daddy
7 years ago
Reply to  Over jah

In the woods.

Hearitall
Guest
Hearitall
7 years ago

There is a big difference between happy peace love Americanized reggae music and Rastafarian reggae music. Rasta is a religion. A conservative religion rooted in old testament doctrine that prohibits homosexuality. Why anyine is surprised that a Rasta is against homosexuality is beyond me? It’s like being shocked that St. Joes doesn’t tue tubes. It’s a Catholic hospital. If you don’t agreewith rasta beliefs , don’t attend a rasta rooted music festival.

Hearitall
Guest
Hearitall
7 years ago
Reply to  Hearitall

PS this is one of many reasons I am not attending Reggae on the River.

I hate whiners
Guest
I hate whiners
7 years ago
Reply to  Hearitall

nobody cares why you are attending or not, you dont like Rasta music nobody cares, stay at home. Why the need to tell us you will be staying at home? WE DONT CARE

onlooker
Guest
onlooker
7 years ago

Re: “the gay lifestyle” .. oh boy. where to start with that. Some people still have the mistaken idea that gayness is a choice, like you wear a cowboy hat one day and a bowtie the next. Gayness is not about a choice, or a fashion, or a lifestyle. It’s about who you are, who you love, how you see yourself in the world. Here’s an analogy. You can be born a brunette. that’s what you were born with. You can dye your hair; that’s a choice. Or born with blue eyes, that’s what you’re born with. You can get tinted contact lenses, that’s a choice, but your eyes are still blue. That’s not a choice, or a “blue-eyed lifestyle.” You can’t choose to be gay. You can only choose to hide it, or live as openly in your sexual orientation as the dominant part of our culture does.

Then here’s why this fellow was denied a visa to the US for 8 years. Not because he’s a rasta, not because he’s part of an old-fashioned religion whose current writings or interpretations are anti-gay. Because he promotes hatred toward, and murder of, gays. He was denied access to the US because of his hate speech and his active promotion of violence toward a target group of people.

Dan M
Guest
Dan M
7 years ago
Reply to  onlooker

thank you onlooker…as a gay man, I very much dislike the phrase ‘the gay lifestyle’. Being gay is a small part of who I am and I’m pretty sure my life is not much different from any one else in my community who is looking for growth, fulfillment, friendship, security, someone to share my life with and the love of family, etc.

Rio mom
Guest
Rio mom
7 years ago

Haters attract haters. Even if they can’t understand a word each other says. It’s a negative vibe thing. Hopefully those in charge will take responsibility when the haters take it to far and someone gets hurts.
I will be watching the news.

BiggRobb
Guest
BiggRobb
7 years ago
Reply to  Rio mom

So everyone at reggae is a hater?

rio mom
Guest
rio mom
7 years ago
Reply to  BiggRobb

Of course not – haters appreciate any kind of hatefulness. They are attracted to it. Are you hating on me? Kind of a weird question to ask. If you want to fight – talk to Pink. I am sure you have better and more positive things to do than twist my words Bigg Robb 😉
Peace be with you …. I have been to this river event and loved it.

BiggRobb
Guest
BiggRobb
7 years ago
Reply to  rio mom

Peace be with you too. My nickname is Bigg Love😘 I was just looking for clarification. Not a weird question just an honest one.

Ben
Guest
Ben
7 years ago

Justin… We don’t need this crap.. Surely you knew of his visa problem.. I’m very very disappointed in your judgement.. It sucks..!

Over jah
Guest
Over jah
7 years ago

Anthony b and a few other musicians are also baba ras (one of the few mansions of Rastafari) and that sect in particular is know for being a very anti gay religion. So a festival all of love and light?? Halfway . The rest is just ignorance and ego and that racist Agnes talking into the mic

saucy
Guest
saucy
7 years ago

people still go to RotR? I haven’t been for almost 10 years. Too hot and too dusty, plus ticket prices are ridiculous. I used to go just to drink and do drugs, but then I realized I can do that at my house for free XD

Farce
Guest
Farce
7 years ago

Oh wow! Yeah, that will make everything cool I am sure. “We paid top dollar to fly in a guy who encourages killing homosexuals but we really are about love and understanding. We told him not to say mean stuff on our stage.” Nice fixing it up there!..sarcasm…I’d say the person doing the booking for this event is clueless and should be replaced yesterday.

Mendoyahoereggaefan
Guest
Mendoyahoereggaefan
7 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Agreed.

John Olson
Guest
John Olson
7 years ago

I never heard of Sizzla before today, Justin Crellin, because I don’t dwell in that gutter, so of course I did not complain before. You knew all about him, however, and you deliberately hired the longtime, international symbol of hatred and violence, making him look acceptable. The fact that you know you need a kill switch for his performance means you know you’ve done wrong. Shame on you, Justin, and shame on the Mateel.

John Olson
Guest
John Olson
7 years ago

Call the Reggae sponsors and tell them what you think about how their sponsorship money is being spent. They are listed here. http://www.reggaeontheriver.com/sponsors-2/

They’ll be happy to know that they are forever linked with sponsoring an international asshole who advocates hatred and violence against gays. I’m sure the Mateel Community Center did not tell them about this beforehand.

ashton
Guest
ashton
7 years ago

Perhaps a 7 second delay so the lyrics can be censored if need be…. ah shit! it’s live… Good luck with the plug
pulling thing… you might need it

Pete Seeger tried to pull the plug on Bob Dylan once
(just a little history)

John Olson
Guest
John Olson
7 years ago

I’m going to hope that the Mateel Board of Directors is having an emergency meeting tonight about how to get out of the homophobic public relations disaster they’ve muddled into.

Who Is The Board of Directors?

2016 Board of Directors:

Garth Epling ~ President
Casandra Taliaferro ~ Treasurer
Anna Rogers ~ Secretary
Brian St. Clair ~ VP
Patty Torbert
Jackie Pantaleo
Dusty Hughston
Charlotte Silverstein
Jubal Sherman

Mendoyahoereggaefan
Guest
Mendoyahoereggaefan
7 years ago

Booking Sizzla in the first place was just a bad decision. He’s controversial and not a good live act. Even before he blew his voice out and he was putting out quality music he sucked live. Questionable vibes and cutting every song short trying to get the hype thing going isn’t that fun. Reggae has become more intelligent and respectful of all people, not just Rastafarians so why showcase a tired act like Sizzla? Even dumber is to have Protege, one of the most conscious and crowd pleasing artists play Thur when a lot of people can’t be there. Very frustrating. For all the great reggae the Mateel has brought us over the years, they have equally made horrible decisions and made me want to pull my hair out. Arg.

The wise one
Guest
7 years ago

When these artist ie sizzla say ‘mi get mi big gun and go shoot batty boy’ he does not mean literally. Rasta use a thing called word sound and power. The music is his gun and it is evident by the lgbt response that they don’t understand this. Sizzla is technically using a different language which isn’t being translated correctly to purposely allow for a incorrect interpretation. How many gay people has sizzla shot or attempted to shoot ??? NONE ! How many has he been accused of shooting or attempting to shoot??? None! He is using metaphor for what is written in the Old Testament. Should be ban the publication of the bible because it’s that book that states homosexuality should be punished by death. Or should we ban the USA government who actually allow the killing of black American citizens by US police force to go unpunished. Some hypocritical arguments going on here then hey????? Jeez, don’t go to the shows. Stop using sizzla to fight against Rastafarian culture.

I hate whiners
Guest
I hate whiners
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

news fact! Nobody cares about gays and lesbians rights but gays and lesbians.

Kathy Grey
Guest
Kathy Grey
7 years ago
Reply to  I hate whiners

FALSE! I am not gay. I care about gay rights.

Mikey Dub
Guest
7 years ago

Sizzla is much older now he’s so mellow now relax he’s not gonna say anything.
Last time he played the Mateel he was ultra cool and nice people have to understand that most of that stuff he wrote was when he was like 19 years old chill out people !!!

janelle
Guest
janelle
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

That was in a different place and different culture.

Here we value free speech, the only limit is to protect us from physical harm. The classic is yelling fire in a crowded theater because in the panic people are likely to get hurt. In the same way advocating violence is not protected, it leads to the bombs being thrown into churches where little girls are killed.

His is a mixed message he also said this:
” ‘When you look pon the television you see all kinds of terrorist act, try not make it reach here because we don’t want it here and those things will only distract you from education, development, and repatriation,’ he said before closing his performance.

He also mentioned his disapproval of the shooting around the world among police and civilians and general gun violence. ‘Me ah also bun domestic violence, we don’t want to see nobody get shoot by police down here, and nobody ah shoot police. Keep Tortola clean, lead by example,’ Sizzla appealed to residents.”

It sounds as if he has been told his message of love and respect is welcome, advocating violence against “funny man” isn’t and that it will end his performance. Hope it is a wonderful ROTR.

Kathy Grey
Guest
Kathy Grey
7 years ago
Reply to  janelle

So is it okay to rape-murder lesbians, as happens in Jamaica, because that’s a “different place and different culture”? SICK! Wrong is just… wrong.

The wise one
Guest
7 years ago

It’s not literal – burn means he disagrees with something that’s all – Jamaican language is not Englush so please accept the translation or stay ignorant to the truth – no offence meant.

I hate whiners
Guest
I hate whiners
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

your comment makes no sense, freedom of speech means nothing should be edited or deleted. But you clearly do not believe in freedom of speech because people can not speak freely or you will edit them. Look at yourself in the mirror before you start pointing fingers.

Deluth Lautrec
Guest
Deluth Lautrec
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Sizzla issue aside. I live more than 6 miles away from the ROTR site. Over the 32 years it has been there I never heard it where I am, except those few years when it was at the Dimmick Ranch. The night acoustics there, for lack of a better phrase, did make its presence known by base sounds carrying over at least 6 mountain tops and down to me.
Last evening, Friday 8-5, around midnight until well past 4:10 AM, 8-6, I was awakened several times to the thump, thump, thump of the bass drums coming out of Frenches Camp. Not especially loud, but not sleep inducing either. Windows were closed, btw, it was a chilly night.

I thought there was a noise and time clause in the CUP and I’m not aware of any schedule where bands would be playing up to that ungodly hour of the morning.

Perhaps someone at the MCC can explain this. Just when I thought that the new, improved, Mateel was getting it’s act together it’s like back to square one. What gives?

otherside of the hill
Guest
otherside of the hill
7 years ago
Reply to  Deluth Lautrec

It is louder than ever-even with the wind. Did I hear bass runs at dawn?!

Deluth Lautrec
Guest
Deluth Lautrec
7 years ago

Apparently, that “plug” they were prepared to “pull” if sizzla overstepped the bounds of propriety, cannot be found. Anywhere! Heavily amped music continued all night (Sat) until 7:20 AM Sunday, after a Fri-Sat session that ended after 4:00 AM. I thought they had a 1:00 AM music abatement in the CUP.

Where was LE on this? They closed down the pot lounge because of permit irregularities but do nothing about a more than 6 hour music extravaganza past curfew? Time and a half, or double time $$$ charged to MCC, takes care of that, I guess.

This is a willful and deliberate encroachment into the quiet enjoyment rights of neighbors. No wonder the good Mateel folks of So Hum did not want ROTR up in Myers Flat in 1996, where the late Doug Green was trying to move it. Not In My Back Yard, oh no. We like it just fine down on the southern border. Nobody in Garberville north hears it, just rake in da moola. “Please sir, or madam, can I have more?”

Have no idea who is in charge here, Crellin? Epling? Who?

It’s time to start making legal inquiries into Humboldt Planning and the owners of the property, Arthur family trust’s culpability and legal liability in this in-your-face noise pollution.

MCC is a toxic organization that can’t be trusted sitting your cat.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
7 years ago
Reply to  Deluth Lautrec

Then you better get ready for even more Boom Boom Boom baby, if the Southern Humboldt Community Park Board gets what they want. They are requesting and proposing allot of outdoor musical festivals, genres and concerts right in Garberville’s back yard, for example; two day music festival with up to 4000 attendees and 1000 vendors, staff and entertainers with camping onsite. Plus; 5 more musical concerts and performances with attendance up to 2,500 people daily in addition to staff and vendors camping on site. Here’s how they say it: “The attendance would fluctuate over the course of the day and the total number of attendees on the site at any one time would be less than the 1-day total”, Wow, I’m sure the Mateel would love to have that kind of latitude with ticket sales at Reggae…

Oh yeah, the Park Board also wants to have an unlimited amount of what they call “small events”, with up to 800 daily attendance that include amplified music events and concerts all year, but mostly in the spring, summer and fall and only until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. And of course we know amplified music is played softer and at much lower volume with events under 800 people, right?

I’m sure the Park Board will be accountable for their actions, easy to contact and make dam sure no one will be disturbed or affected by their events…

https://soundcloud.com/kmudnews/southern-humboldt-community-park-releases-eir

otherside of the hill
Guest
otherside of the hill
7 years ago
Reply to  Deluth Lautrec

I had a morning greeting of throbbing music 6am Sunday, miles away- Do they ever sleep? The psychology of the festival environment is a puzzle, people are paying to live like a refugee for 3 days, marinated with over stimulation, and over exposure, drugs and alcohol, on gravel…
Whooo Hooo! PArty!

Kathy Grey
Guest
Kathy Grey
7 years ago
Reply to  The wise one

Ummm no, “burn” is NOT METAPHORICAL. Anyone who has lived for a while in Jamaica will have seen mob machete-and-fire killings, of accused thieves, accused homosexuals, accused “obeah woman”. Chuck Fenda glorifies this sick phenomenon in his tune “Gash Dem and Light Dem”. Dwayne Jones, a sixteen year old boy, was brutally tortured and murdered in his own town, in his own country, for wearing a dress to a party. He was macheted, stabbed, run over with a car, left for dead… and then macheted, stabbed and run over with a car AGAIN when his killers came back two hours later and found the breath of life in his unconscious body. It’s been a few years now and no one has been charged.

The wise one
Guest
7 years ago

That’s why no artists is saying burn a hair colour ?? Cause Rastafarian culture does not care what colour your hair is ha ha – sorry for laughing but that is a strange comment.

Food for thought
Guest
Food for thought
7 years ago

First man in history to have a problem with lesbian…..

Don't touch my mic bitches
Guest
Don't touch my mic bitches
7 years ago

This is a lame bit of controversy. Humboldt and Mendo peeps have been listening to all sorts of this type of Reggae for years. Bounty killer, beanie man, sizzla, the list goes on and on. The Violence and gay bashing has been there the whole time and no one cared before. People just need to stop being [edit]. That’s their culture, not ours. The LGBT community actually have rights here. That’s awesome too, but asking an artist to change his material so it doesn’t hurt someone’s feelings is fucked up. Unless they’re starting a hate rally, if you pull the plug on any artist I will never attend another Mateel function ever.

Kathy Grey
Guest
Kathy Grey
7 years ago

No one cared before? Stop Murder Music, as an organization, has been active for a decade! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Murder_Music

Hick
Guest
Hick
7 years ago

Can’t we all just, get along?

I hate whiners
Guest
I hate whiners
7 years ago
Reply to  Hick

not when their are gays and lesbians running around complaining. They want to be included in society and not judged but anyone noticed they are the most judgmental people on this planet?

I personally think it is because gays and lesbians are also thee most insecure people on this planet.

Stud
Guest
Stud
7 years ago

Don’t conform to pc bull shit …
Most of us wish we could go back and start over again

I hate whiners
Guest
I hate whiners
7 years ago

Eminem can talk about killing his wife and murdering people, black rappers can talk about cracker this and cracker that but Sizzla cannot come to America with out all the gays and lesbians freaking out? What the actual fuck. If you dont like it, dont fucking go. Nobody is making you go. Where I live we get redneck country crap music and their BS racist lyrics and all the stupid idiot fans with their confederate flags and awful beer drinking attitudes. I dont get all up in a hissy fit, it is not for me and I dont agree with it so you know what? I dont go! BIG SHOCKER. All you idiots and gays and lesbians on here need to shut the fuck up and go whine to someone who cares which is only other lesbians and gays. Life is about what you want with it, clearly you have chosen a path that most do not, personally I do not think anyone is born gay or lesbian you just need A LOT of attention or are too insecure to allow yourself to be with the other gender.

Over jah
Guest
Over jah
7 years ago
Reply to  I hate whiners

Jesus you need help

Kathy Grey
Guest
Kathy Grey
7 years ago
Reply to  I hate whiners

I am not gay. I condemn kill-the-gays lyrics. Make me “shut the f up”, now. Who cares what you think of gay people? You don’t get to incite MURDER.

Eye for an eye
Guest
Eye for an eye
7 years ago

You have to understand the underlying resentment against the homosexual community in the Caribbean. In the 1980’s the [edit] sodomized and infected thousands of young boys with AIDS on their sexual exploration holidays to the islands.

Kathy Grey
Guest
Kathy Grey
7 years ago
Reply to  Eye for an eye

“The faggots”? If anyone “spread AIDS” in the 1980’s it was Jamaican farmworkers, who have wives and children at home yet enthusiastically patronize prostitutes and/or form extra-marital relationships with women in Florida and other parts of the USA, do not use condoms, become infected, and on their return to Jamaica, willy-nilly infect their wives, their childrens’ mothers, and other women in Jamaica. And what difference does it make, anyhow, who infected whom? FIGHT AIDS. DO NOT FIGHT PEOPLE WITH AIDS.

Kathy Grey
Guest
Kathy Grey
7 years ago

#BoycottSizzla ! STOP MURDER MUSIC! DOWN with kill-the-gays lyrics that contribute to the mob murders of homosexual men, rape-murders of lesbian women, who are Jamaicans in their own country! Justice for Gwayne Jones: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Dwayne_Jones

Kathy Grey
Guest
Kathy Grey
7 years ago

#BoycottSizzla ! STOP MURDER MUSIC! DOWN with kill-the-gays lyrics that contribute to the mob murders of homosexual men, rape-murders of lesbian women, who are Jamaicans in their own country! Justice for Dwayne Jones: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Dwayne_Jones

otherside of the hill
Guest
otherside of the hill
7 years ago

There is so much to dislike about the controlled emergency that is ROTR. For one thing, the site becomes a wildlife sacrifice zone- many years ago – remember back when it was a modest one day event? an attendee complained about the state of the parking lot- you mean the river bar? I replied. Back then there where tiny frogs all over the waters edge- any frogs this year folks?…How IRE is it to be serving gallons of alcohol- Not only beer, but hard liquor- Reggae on the liver anyone?

How loud does “music” have to be? The throb of bass and drums I hear miles away is just plain oppressive, and there is no getting away from it.

I liked Reggae- Marley, Tosh, Cliff- they rocked….Red, red wine OK, Smoke two joints, why not? but how bizarre is it that the whim to stage a fundraiser with Reggae acts 32 years ago has spawned generations of festival-heads…Do these folks know anything about Rastafarianism?

Crellin’s “….what we expect from our artists” statement is strange…If the message, attitude, or culture of an artist is repugnant- don’t hire him!