Protoje Blasts ‘Handout Mentality,’ Defends Lila Iké From Backlash Over ‘Collab’ Comments

Protoje has come out in support of his mentee Lila Iké who faced backlash last week for comments she made about collaborating with other upcoming artistes.  Protoje called out the “handout mentality” that many in Jamaica have shown without earning their stripes.

In an interview aired on TVJ’s Entertainment Report, Iké was asked if she was pursued for collabs since the success of her debut EP, The ExPerience, which was released in May.  She responded in the affirmative but said that they were mainly upcoming artistes looking to use her name for a quick “buss” and to establish themselves.

The Solitude singer drew the ire of many fans on Instagram and Twitter when she said she was not in support of that and that some of those up and coming artistes were not on the level “fi deh pon a song with Lila Ike”.

However, she later said her words were taken out of context and posted a video on her Twitter account in defense. In that video, which seemed to be made by a member of her team, Iké said if she is to do a collab it would be “once it is that you’re great at what you do and have work ethic.”

The additional comments, which weren’t aired on the TVJ interview, didn’t convince many detractors that her statement wasn’t obnoxious and “too hype”.

Protoje, on Sunday in a series of tweets, voiced his support for Iké.

In one tweet, he said, “One of the realest. Me know your character. Keep shining royalty @Lilaike #theExperience”.

https://twitter.com/Protoje/status/1279823288722755585?s=09

In another tweet shared minutes later, the artiste attacked the “handout mentality,” in Jamaica by what he called “real tomatis”, who called themselves artist.

“This bloodclaat hand out mentality a one a the biggest problem in a music business, actually we whole country. Everybody want a buss and wouldn’t even know wah fi do with it when dem get it. No work pon craft, just a work pon who can buss dem. Some real tomatis bout artist.”

https://twitter.com/Protoje/status/1279824426947809290

It seems that Protoje also plans to troll Iké’s critics, as he also tweeted, “Y’all are gonna really love my new interviews then.”

https://twitter.com/Protoje/status/1279823208825401344

Protoje, who founded the label In.Digg.Nation Collective Independent Creative scouted Iké in 2017. In an interview with Billboard, Iké, whose real name is Alecia Grey, said their working relationship began when he contacted her on social media.  “Protoje reached out to me on Twitter and said he heard one of my songs, he loved it, and we need to link; I thought is this the real Protoje,?” she said.

Iké has credited Protoje for her success.

Earlier this year, Protoje’s label signed a deal with RCA Records and Six Course, which would see Lila and Sevana, who his team also manages, releasing new music through that collaboration.

In a Tweet in March, Protoje called out veteran artistes who have not given “another artist a platform or help buss somebody.”

Fans speculated that his comments were aimed at Buju Banton, who a few days before, had strongly expressed his concern that Dancehall music was losing its authenticity.

Meanwhile, many seem in favor of Protoje’s comments about the backlash against Lila.  Coming out in support of the artiste was @davidmullings who replied “Spot on Proto! Too many people in the society have been raised to believe in handouts because the political system has been built around that. Add in the “Eat a food” mentality, and the cultural rot shows itself regularly. Massive cultural mindset shift is needed.”