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No Signal Sparks Cancel Culture Debate Over Playing Vybz Kartel’s Music, While Banning R. Kelly’s

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r-kelly-kartel
R. Kelly and Vybz Kartel

Leave it to Twitter to take a topic to the mainstream; the latest debate is the issue of acceptability of Dancehall titan Vybz Kartel’s music versus R&B tycoon R. Kelly’s.

Both artistes are in jail for different yet ghastly crimes. Kartel, 44, has been convicted and is currently sentenced to serve 32.5 years-to-life in prison for the murder of his associate Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams, while Kelly was recently denied bail and remains in federal custody over racketeering and the multiple sexual misconduct charges against him.  They both claim they are innocent and are fighting their respective conviction and charges.

The debate fired up when No Signal, a UK based radio show, tweeted a bold response to a follower who suggested that they should battle American singers R. Kelly vs. Usher, opposed to the scheduled battle they had coming up with Chris Brown vs. Usher.  The show recently launched their new ’10v10 Battles’, where they pit various artistes, sometimes from different genres to compete against each other.  Over the weekend, they snatched up over 70,000 followers and hundreds of thousands of listeners, a feat made owing courtesy of their iconic Jamaican and Nigerian features that saw Vybz Kartel battling WizKid and Popcaan v. Burna Boy. The Jamaican deejays lost their rounds.

No Signal’s inquisitive follower Vanessa Bling (not to be confused with the Jamaican deejay) tweeted, “R Kelly v Usher would’ve made more sense @theresnosignall #NS10v10.”

No Signal responded gallantly, “We do not play Robert Kelly. Ever.”

And so the saga began.  Is it okay to play Vybz Kartel’s music, but “cancel” R. Kelly?

“Cancel Culture”, a recent phenomenon, is the idea that someone, usually a celebrity or public figure can be boycotted for their ideas, comments or deeds that are considered offensive — usually on social media but sometimes with real world, career-ending effect.   In the last three years, entertainment celebs facing cancellation included Kanye West, Kevin Hart, Louis CK, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and now R. Kelly.

There were tweets forming 3 varying opinions on the matter. The majority questioned the radio show for supporting and playing the music of Vybz Kartel, a convicted murderer but denouncing R. Kelly an alleged rapist and predator.

Some of the majority held the notion that both crimes are equally sinister, while others  unequivocally insisted that murder is by far the worst crime of the two.  They both agreed that the Worl’ Boss’ music should have been banned as well given the show’s stance on R. Kelly.

https://twitter.com/ohfads/status/1257518589726294017

https://twitter.com/Akua_B_Tinted/status/1257627104390385665

https://twitter.com/meettherichard/status/1257545088621842432

Others thought differently and sided with No Signal as they too celebrate Kartel’s music and felt Kelly’s crimes were more horrid and unforgivable.

https://twitter.com/ANyamuchiwa/status/1257423617488494595

https://twitter.com/postysosty/status/1257682029832998913

https://twitter.com/BShaynee/status/1257738992189165571

https://twitter.com/choco_donis/status/1257729838875578368

The impartial few felt the music should be separated from the artistes and enjoyed in its entirety without regard for personality or deeds of the singers or their reputations.

Where do you stand? Let us know in the comments.