by Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Lady Saw - Nathaniel Stewart

Beenie Man may be the 'disputed' king of the dancehall, but deejay Lady Saw undoubtedly reigns as queen. She is used to painting the dancehall red with her raw lyrics, but more recently, Saw has toned down with a more mature outlook.

In an interview with the Star, Lady Saw talked about the business today and more personal matters.

Lady Saw gets her fair due of respect from other artistes. According to Saw she has many 'wannabes', but she sees it as an honour that persons idolise her and want to be like her.

While at one time it was taboo for a female DJ to talk about sex in explicit terms, now, it seems the trend, as some female DJs are trying to be more lewd and hard-core than 'Mumma Saw'.

But Saw admits that even she went overboard on a number of occasions. "Sometimes I go overboard. Having dem (other female DJs) go overboard, listening to them go overboard, I realise how bad I was. I get on bad sometimes. Give me some white rum and I'll say things. Now that I'm settled down with this man, I will hold back," she says.

It seems the lioness has been tamed. Saw admits to having seriously considered marriage as a next step. She claims that she and boyfriend 'John John' have talked about marriage, but don't have the time to plan a wedding.

Advice for women

These are big words from a woman who once schooled woman on how to keep a man. Whether it be to "rub down him belly and tickle him spine", or the 'good wine' and 'keeping it tight'. But, does she practise what she preaches?

"I think I was born bad," she says. "When I was younger I used to compete, I was serious bout sex. Now, I've had my man 13 years, we're good together, he can't leave me and I can't leave him. I don't practise it, but it's in me. Sex is not everyting, you haffi can cook. I'm the boss in the kitchen. You haffi be wife in bed and a bad ass bh. Him nuh haffi go a road fi nuting. Every man give bun. I could neva sit and tell yuh him don't do it. I tell him if yuh do it, use a condom."

Although some may see her as 'slack', according to Saw, being rude is better than the violence that is currenty running the dancehall.

"Presently I don't know what's going on, too much war and violence. I think it's gonna get physical. I look at dat and put myself in dere shoes, I could go like dat. When I was on break I hear nuff tings bout me but I'm all grown up. I'm not gonna stoop to their level. I could have gone 'mek mi show dem who's Muma Saw now'. I thought about it and jail too. I see it in the dancehall and it's better dem talk bout sex instead."

If Lady Saw can tone down her notorious acts and lyrics, she certainly cannot live down her notoriety. Saw was proclaimed the Queen by her many fans and other music professionals. So far, no one has come to challenge her status.

"It doesn't matter who come and who goes. I'm the best whoever did it. No one ever done what I did. You have talents out there but I'm like Queen Latifah and Mary J Blige. I neva ask for the title, but people call me di Queen. I don't see why people are bothered by that."