Usain Bolt Complains About Non-Acceptance In Dancehall; Fans Say It Is Karma For Dissing Young Alkaline
Belittling comments made by Usain Bolt about Dancehall star Alkaline in December 2015, quality control issues, as well as the widely-accepted view that Dancehall music is not for the well-to-do, but reserved the elevation of poor ghetto youths, are among the reasons some of the genre’s fans are giving for the retired sprinter’s inability to gain general acceptance in the music space.
In an Instagram post this morning, the track icon turned artist and record producer complained that his “contributions” to Dancehall and Reggae were being shunned, while he played Cham’s Lock Down song which was released last Friday on the Olympian’s new Clockwork riddim.
Bolt’s lamentations come almost four months after Popcaan rubbished his Living the Dream single, which was a collab with his manager and friend NJ. The Unruly Boss had implied that NJ, who did most of the vocals, lacked musical acumen and also admonished Bolt to help ‘some youth wid real musical talent’ because “them dey ya nuff”.
The song was also jeered by retired West Indies cricketer Marlon Samuels, who reposted a video of a local comedian mocking the song and dismissing it as “f-ckery”.
Meanwhile, batting superstar Chris Gayle, who has also ventured into music, has said that well-established Dancehall entertainers should be looking to join forces with himself and Usain Bolt for collabs, instead of jeering them or “passing bad remarks”.
On Bolt’s Monday morning post, he wrote to his 10 million followers about his contributions to national development and lamented how he was apparently being eschewed by the Dancehall world.
“Usain Bolt contributes to Sports-No Problem
Usain Bolt contributes to Food/Cuisine- No Problem
Usain Bolt contributes to Education- No Problem
Usain Bolt contributes to Health- No Problem
Usain Bolt contributes to Finance- No Problem
Usain Bolt Contributes to Dancehall/Reggae Music- PROBLEM!
Why?
Usain Bolt Contributes to Tourism- No Problem
Usain Bolt contributes to Agriculture- No Problem
Usain Bolt Contributes to Commerce/Technology- No Problem.
Usain Bolt Contributes to Employment- No Problem
Usain Bolt Contributes to Secuirty- No Problem
Usain Bolt Contributes to Dancehall/Reggae Music- PROBLEM!
Why?”
While fans on his page cheered him on, over on The Star’s IG page where Bolt’s comments were posted, many jeered the track icon for being a ‘wanna-be’ artist singing ‘silly songs’.
“He is not contributing to dancehall or reggae he’s trying to be artists (sic) contribution is built a studio and help some youth with real talents not u and your best friend trying to sing song and sound like idiots. Help the real young artist that’s contributing,” a1boss_heartoflove said.
“Nothing is wrong with bolt venturing to music production, but find the youth’s with raw talents. You can’t run down people weh a sing everyday problem because its trending, because most of what I’ve heard from his production is garbage, Bolt have the resources to make it work, just find the real talents…,” sim_monique1 said.
One commenter, package_king, said Bolt was simply getting a taste of his own medicine and was experiencing retribution for tearing down Alkaline in 2015 and referring to the then 22-year-old deejay as a “little youth that is trying to imitate the Gaza boss. I am not calling any names, three blind mice”.
“Karma! The same ppl that applauded you trying to diss Alkaline in the beginning of his career a the same ones a slaughter him now! Don’t feel sorry for him! Yeah yeah we know him rich and alright.. but fi make a post like that obviously the doubters are getting to him!!”
The incident he referred to occurred at the Uptown Monday weekly party in Kingston in December 2015, when Bolt took the microphone from selector Boom Boom and stated that he was only going to pay to hear music from the dismantled Gaza Camp once led by incarcerated dancehall deejay, Vybz Kartel, as reported by Irie FM back then.
During the middle of the Fire Starter juggling, Bolt stepped in and interrupted the process preventing Alkaline’s hit song Champion Boy from being played.
There were other followers, like annagoodlife, who admonished Bolt stating that while he was well-loved, music was not his forte.
“Yes Bolt u did alot!!!!! and when mi say alot ,MI MEAN NUFF but singing anno fi u papa, we love u tho,” she said.
One commenter, sofieb_a_z, said there is indeed a problem as Bolt was imposing himself into “poor people territory”.
“Cause you rich already……music is fi poor ghetto youths get rich 😂😂😂,” she said.
Bolt’s foray into Dancehall music started with the Olympe Rose riddim in the summer of 2019, followed by Immortal riddim later that year.
In addition to Cham, the recently released Clockwork riddim, features Vybz Kartel, Charly Black, Shaniel Muir, TeeJay, Christopher Martin and ZJ Liquid.