‘One Babsy pon di app’: Grange hails dancehall at Summa Sizzle launch

When Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, attended Wednesday’s launch of Summa Sizzle – the stage show curated by dancehall superstar Beenie Man and which returns after a hiatus – and took to the podium, what unfolded was a presentation with a difference.

First off, the genuine camaraderie, respect and love that she and Beenie Man shared was palpable. It was one Beenie Man and “one Babsy pon the app”, the catchphrase which celebrates Grange’s militant support for dancehall and culture in general, and which she smilingly tossed into her discourse. Beenie Man heaped praises on her for doing an outstanding job for the entertainment fraternity, and Minister Grange spoke of his talent and the respect that he always extends to her. And she also used the opportunity to give a brief history of the emergence of dancehall music and its players.

Grange shared that, in the ‘80s, there was a Pop and Variety Competition which was part of the annual Festival celebrations. One of the categories was “Deejay”, and when she was placed in charge, she took out that category as a standalone and faced much opposition, with one parish representative telling her it would happen, “over his dead body”. Needless to say, it happened. And that competition became the vehicle for identifying the artistes who would rise to become some of the era’s greatest dancehall deejays.

“Yellowman was the first winner … and we also had winners such as Tony Rebel and Papa Biggy,” Grange told a captive audience.

It was two years after winning the Tastee Talent Contest that King Yellowman entered and won the Festival 81 Deejay Contest, and among the finalists that year were deejays who would go on to make a huge impact on the scene – Nicodemus, Toyan and Johnny Ringo.

“It was good to see dancehall growing and empowering ghetto people,” Grange stated, as she highlighted the impact of some of the artistes whom she managed in the early days, such as Shabba Ranks and Patra.

“We took dancehall into the US and penetrated the coast and taught America the butterfly through Patra. Shabba was out there with the stretch limousine and, as soon as we mek the money, it go into promotion,” she shared, pointing out that sometimes artistes “will appear to be earning a lot of money but a lot of that money goes back into building the product”.

It was during that time that a young Beenie Man would often turn up at her office on Pawsey Place in New Kingston, and, although she knew he was talented, she made the conscious decision not to add him to her Specs/Shang roster of artistes, because “it would not be fair to him”. There was too much going on with the other artistes in the camp, and she was concerned that he could possibly get lost. Beenie Man recalled being inspired by Shabba Ranks, who was the first dancehall artiste to win a Grammy in the Best Reggae Album category, and even wanting to be greater than him.

Fast-forward 40 years and Beenie Man, a Grammy Award winner, remains at the top of his game and “Babsy” as he referred to the minister, using her pet name, did not hesitate to take time out of her busy schedule to attend the launch of his Summa Sizzle, which takes place on August 15 at Woodleigh Sports Complex in Clarendon, and is happily on board as a sponsor.

“But we won’t tell how much the sponsorship is,” she said with a smile, and Beenie Man agreed.

Artistes on the line-up are Beenie Man, Ashanti, Capleton, Spragga Benz, Louie Culture, Harry Toddler, Nigy Boy, Silver Cat, Shaneil Muir, Yaksta, Skeng, I-Wataa, Intence, Tifa, Rajah Wild, Shane-O, Dovey Magnum and others.

After returning to her seat, Grange looked in the audience and spotted Ricardo ‘Drummie’ Davis, drummer of the award-winning Ruff Kutt band, in the audience. She invited him to join her on stage, where she highlighted the band’s sterling contribution.

Ruff Kutt, who backed Shabba Ranks back in the day, will be doing the honours at Summa Sizzle.

“Over the years, Ruff Kutt has been providing the backing for Summa Sizzle … we have never missed one,” Davis told The Gleaner. “What I like about Summa Sizzle is the variety of artistes and the top-level performances. We still tour with Beenie Man … and, as a matter of fact, we will be leaving in a few days for Europe; we’ll be doing Belgium and England and be back in time for Summa Sizzle.”

The Kingston Public Hospital, which is celebrating its 250th anniversary – “Just like America”, Beenie Man pointed out – is to be the beneficiary of this year’s Summa Sizzle.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com