Organizers of Sting recently announced that come next month they will be honoring several artists that have helped to make the event one of the greatest stage shows in the Caribbean. However, veteran dancehall artists Ninja Man and Bounty Killer, who have been named among those to be honored, have said that they will not be attending Sting this year, not even to collect such an award.
Bounty Killer told THE WEEKEND STAR that he doesn’t believe the Sting organizers, including Isaiah Laing, are being sincere in their move to honor entertainers.
“It’s always great to be honored, but only when it’s sincerely done,” he said.
“I know Laing very well, and he doesn’t appreciate or honor what we artists has done for him.”
He added that he believes all the talks about honoring artists is only a part of Laing’s most recent publicity stunt.
“If they wanna do this as a publicity stunt to say they honoring me, I will send someone to go and collect it. But I ain’t even going ’cause I know these people and they don’t respect foundation. They are all about the hype,” he said, explaining that if the action is indeed sincere, the honor is well deserved.
Although his words might have stung a few, Bounty Killer stressed that he has no qualms with Laing
“Me and Laing don’t have anything, we just don’t see eye to eye. If him see me and say, What’s up?’ I say, ‘Hi, no problem.’ We talk, we’re not enemies,” he said.
“I get to understand as a youth coming up that these people don’t really rate me or honor me. Dem man deh nuh too rate nobody, dem man deh just rate the sensation of the moment and who dem can sell some tickets off of.”
NO HARD FEELINGS
Ninja Man also expressed that he has no hard feelings against Laing, but revealed that he would not attend the show to collect any award if he is indeed being honored.
“If dem feel like is time dem fi honor me, then give thanks ’cause is an honor still, but somebody a go collect the award,” he said.
“Mi have nuff daughter and son weh proud a dem father fi go collect award man. Mi nuh have no time fi dem deh something. A nuh disrespect nor nothing. Mi do enough work, and when mi fi get honor nobody neva a pay me nuh mind. If mi never a quarrel, nobody wouldn’t a look fi honor me.”
When asked whether he believes the move by Sting is a publicity stunt, Ninja Man had this to say.
“I’m not in Mr Laing frame of mind. I don’t know what is in his real intentions, but all I know if him making a move like this, it would be a positive move to bring back Sting to the level that it’s supposed to be. And if him a make a move like this to honor the artist this year and not clashing them, it will be a more appropriate show to bring a proper energy to Sting,” he said.
Other artists who are expected to be honored at this year’s show include Papa San, Lady Saw, Lieutenant Stitchie, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Vybz Kartel, Shabba Ranks and others.
The awards will be handed out in different categories including top performer, Sting Icons and Sting Champions.
This year’s Sting is the final show being held in the format that Jamaicans have come to know, as come next year the annual event will be known as One World Sting and will be held annually in other countries with the aim of spreading the brand and fusing reggae and dancehall with all genres of global music.
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