Capleton Says He Won’t Take Part In A ‘Verzuz’ Clash
Dancehall fans have been dealt another blow in their Verzuz battle hopes as prolific Rastafarian artiste, Capleton has dashed any chances that he will appear in one of the battles. Many fans and supporters of the genre have been throwing around names that they believe would be an epic battle.
Capleton, was one of those names, however, in an interview with THE STAR, Capleton said that his faith would not allow him to partake in a clash. “Rasta not in the clash business, and Verzuz is a clash thing.”
Conscious Dancehall fans had hoped that he would clash with another titan in the genre, Sizzla.
“We know music is a competitive industry, but we have set a standard. Not saying I am against working on stage with a fellow artiste performing tune for tune, but the whole element and message being represented is about clashing,” he said.
The No Competition singer also opened up about losing his mother, Mabel Downer-Forbes, earlier this year in May, who he shared a very close relationship with.
“It has affected me deeply; losing a mother is like losing everything, but at the end of the day we just have to grow and live with it. I live like she is still around and find comfort from the memories because she leaves a great legacy,” he said to THE STAR.
He added that her love has inspired him to share a message of love with the world.
“One of the biggest lessons I learned from ‘Mama Shango’, ‘Mama Live’ as I and people close to her call her, is to always look out for mankind, believe in the acts of God, and to love. She was always giving and sharing.”
He has also tried to use her death to continue spreading positivity to those around him as he said he continues her message of hope.
“Six days before my mom pass, I was on the highway and one of my tyres blow. It was a brand new tyre at that. I have had life-threatening experiences throughout my life so many times. But I was always encouraged by Mama Shango to move forward,” he added.
Capleton also shared that he has been busy promoting his Vevo page. He also took some time to speak about his latest single Talk Dem A Talk , in which he pays tribute to dancehall and reggae legends like Shabba Ranks and Garnett Silk.
“It is promoting original dancehall. As Shabba (Ranks) said, ‘deejay ears lift up when them hear boom riddim’. I hear it and love the beat and improvised on the track. It is all about longevity and that’s why I am bigging up the legends, from artistes to those who fight for human rights on the track,” Capleton said.