Deejays tell industry players

Curtis Campbell, STAR Writer

Dancehall artiste Chaka Demus and Maestro Don have lashed out against some industry players for their tendency to ignore developing Jamaican talents. According to the Portmore-based deejays, several talented recording artistes have been sidelined, while less talented persons are given the platform to shine.

"The issue I have is that more emphasis and attention should be directed towards developing the young talents. There are a lot of talented youths with fresh and creative ideas to bring to the table. At the end of the day, mi nah guh fight a man and say a man must stop sing this and dat. Mi cyaah duh dat because a dat a feed dem. But it out deh fi every man, a nuh one set a man or one man fi run it. Shove out the youth dem and spend some time to give wi a listening ear," Maestro Don told The STAR.

The artiste said he is not the only person with such a concern. However, others are not bold enough to speak up.

"As major industry players, we need to have some of the ones with good hearts because we have some out there but we need some more. A nuh one person wi a build enuh, a di music industry; the entire dancehall genre, and united we stand but divided we fall. Look how the rapper dem duh it collectively," Maestro Don said.

He also gave props to the radio DJs, sound system selectors, and promoters who have been promoting new talent. The deejay recently released a music video for Grateful and is working on a mix-tape, Chasing Time.

Artiste-producer Chaka Demus also gave credit to the radio DJs and selectors who have been supporting new talents, but said more can be done.

"Don't let it get to yuh as a young artiste, just gwaan try. If I had given into the politics of the music industry when I was a young artiste, I wouldn't reach where I am today. Back in the day, a same suh producers wouldn't record me in the studio. So I had to pressure them over and over until I finally got the chance," he said.

The Murder She Wrote hitmaker said despite his status as an icon, his productions have also gone without sufficient recognition, therefore, he has advised the artistes under his label to find their own way out of the maze.

"I have my own artistes promoting and they are not getting any airplay. But there is social media, so go on the Internet and promote yourself. That old man, Gully Bop, didn't buss through radio, he did so through social media. Mi tell my artiste dem to gwaan a road guh try buss because I don't have the money to pay radio. Wi end up all spend $ 500,000 and nuh mek back a dollar," he said.