Four More Dancehall Artists Ready To Roll Up Sleeves For COVID Jab
Jamaica began rolling out its COVID-19 vaccination program on Wednesday (March 10) and there has been an indisputable increase in the number of people who say they are ready to get the jab.
Dancehall artists Shaggy, Bounty Killer, GAPS 7G, Macka Diamond and Ce’cile have all previously declared their support for the vaccine, while anti-vaxxers like Spragga Benz and Buju Banton, continue to blast the State’s plans to inoculate at least 60 percent of Jamaica’s population.
Spragga, in particular, threw shade on his fellow artists who are in support of the plans. “Mi see some BIG BAD Jamaican artist promoting di vaxi agenda already… either dem get a promise or dem really dunce to the program,” he wrote in an Instagram post on Monday.
DancehallMag spoke with four more Dancehall acts who say they are not opposed to the vaccine. They are ready to get back to work and if the vaccine is the way to get the entertainment sector back up and functioning, then they’re ready to roll up their sleeves.
Charly Black
Party Animal hitmaker Charly Black, who is currently promoting his EP So Many Reasons , has said that he’s been having discussions with his manager about the vaccine and it is more likely that he would take it than not.
Black explained that he’s not a person that likes staying in one place- something that the pandemic has forced him to do – and while he’s used the time to connect with relatives and spend time with his kids, he’s eager to get going again.
“I mean if I have to travel enuh, cause literally we have places to go so, if it is a situation where we have to do what we have to do, ” Black told DancehallMag.
“Actually this morning my manager, Julian Griffiths, and I were talking about the same thing the entire vaccination and stuff. We are not finalizing on it as yet but it’s something that is more of a yes than a no,” he added.
Dotta Coppa
Dancehall artist Dotta Coppa, who has been stuck in Germany since the start of the pandemic, has said that while he isn’t necessarily eager to take the jab, it was something he was prepared to do.
Dotta Coppa explained that throughout the course of the year-long pandemic it has been difficult for many artists, particularly those in the Dancehall genre, who make more money from live performances, as opposed to streams and with the economic factors in mind, the vaccine will enable convenience.
“The way I see this, I think that it’s gonna be something mandatory, you know, and the only way to escape this vaccine is if you plan to stay in one place, and don’t go anywhere,” said Dotta Coppa.
“They’re gonna set this place that if you want to leave the country, for example, if I want to leave Germany, go to Jamaica or America anywhere, they’re gonna say, ‘Oh, you can leave the country until you take this vaccine,” Dotta Coppa added.
Dotta Coppa said he couldn’t allow the fear of the unknown from getting in the way of his career ambitions. “If that’s the case, then I’m going to have to do it because I can’t let that(not having the vaccine) get in the way of my career and my dreams that I want to fulfil,” he said
D’Angel
Dancehall’s lady, D’Angel, has said that while she is not quite certain the jab will be made mandatory she believes she will have to end up taking it for some reason or another.
Despite having some initial reservations, D’Angel told DancehallMag that she believes for the interest of her career, inoculation will become necessary. “One way or another, I’ll have to take the vaccine at some point,” said D’Angel.
“I did have some reservations, so I’m watching the process but taking the vaccine will be necessary for my personal career moves due to my need for traveling and performing internationally,” she added.
Delomar
One half of the RDX clan, Delomar said that he is not opposed to taking the vaccine. In fact, he said once the ministers of government take the jab he would be willing to do the same. “Really and truly, I don’t have a problem with vaccines perse,” said Delomar.
Delomar, however, explained that at this time he was not considering taking the vaccine as it was “hard to trust the system”, citing that the Prime Minister and Minister of Health are yet to be inoculated.
“If the system takes it first, then I will consider taking it,” he said, stressing that he had no problem with vaccines as he was immunized as a child.
Fantan Mojah
Reggae-Dancehall artist Fantan Mojah told the Jamaica Star yesterday, that “mandatory vaccination is something entertainers, especially those of Rastafarian faith like himself, are used to, and would have to come to terms with, if not now, then later.”
Mojah added that he may not have a choice in the matter if he wished to travel and perform. “From ever since, as children, we have been getting vaccinated and when travelling to certain places like Africa to perform, you have to take the vaccines,” he said.
Reggae legend Lee ‘Scatch’ Perry has already declared that he would stop doing live shows, if the COVID-19 vaccine becomes mandatory for international travel.