Two of the hottest deejays in Jamaica during the 1990s were Tiger and a soundalike named Zebra. A similarity in delivery made them the Bounty Killer and Merciless of their day.
Wingy Danejah was a big dancehall fan during their reign. He revisits that era with Split Personality, his latest song which encourages youth to be themselves.
“I used to pretend to be somebody that I’m not. The message I’m trying to send is, to tell people to be themselves. Be a leader not a follower,” he said.
The Florida-based Jamaican has been a gospel artist since the 1990s. But he remembers listening to the aforementioned deejays, as well as Shabba Ranks, Ninjaman, Pinchers and Lieutenant Stitchie when he was in the ‘world’.
For Split Personality, he adapted the tone that made Tiger and Zebra famous.
“When I did secular music, I used to imitate Tiger and Zebra before I found my true identity, and when I got saved I just stopped. I chose this style to reach people in the world that’s not saved to bring forth the message of Jesus Christ in a voice that that they think they know,” Wingy Danejah explained. “This world is also built off of controversy, so like the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:27, ‘Use the foolish things to confound the wise’. Dancehall music is not what it was back in the ‘90’s, these artists are now singing about demons, drugs and killing. Is that what we want to teach the younger generation?”
Tiger, best known for hit songs such as Puppy Love and When, was at the peak of his popularity when he suffered severe head injuries in a motor accident in Kingston, Jamaica in January, 1994.
Zebra was often criticized for stealing Tiger’s sound. He is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence for rape.
Split Personality is the follow-up to Hands Up, Wingy Danejah’s song with Puerto Rican singer Biancallove.
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