Shebada Names His Favorite Dancehall Artists

Jamaican actor Keith ‘Shebada’ Ramsay came on the scene in 2006, after he entered the first season of Comedy Buss, a comedy talent show in Jamaica where he placed third. He then started doing ‘roots’ plays which then led to him becoming a household name in Bashment Granny.

The Jamaica Gleaner in reviewing his performance in that play said, “Multi-talented Keith Ramsay is the pulsing heart of the show. He is the ever present next door neighbour who appears male yet seems to personify the stereotype that is ghetto female. The question of his sexuality is perhaps answered best by ‘Shebada’ himself when he says ‘mi deh pon di border line'” — a line that became a pop culture statement and was even used in political circles.

Since then his plays have been smash hits, pulling crowds of over 15,000 per show. His online program Happy Corner on Instagram also pulls thousands of fans each week. With excellent comedic timing he has made an indelible mark on the world of Caribbean theatre which is closely linked to the Dancehall.

In a recent interview on The Actor’s Masterclass podcast he shared his pick for favorite Dancehall artists. “Kartel is the king, however put him aside one minute please. Because you know Kartel is Kartel and the reason why I respect Kartel is because when Kartel came out Kartel just be himself.”

He added that, “Kartel is a leader; but my artist is Dexta Daps. Decky have sumn. Decky can put a relationship together and Decky can make you have unwanted kids. I think the government needs to do sumn because he is like a Jamaican Marvin Gaye. We would not understand that because we just look at what is hot now but when you listen to Dexta Daps his songs are thumbs up.”

His list of favorites continued.

“The other artist is Alkaline. In him Humble stage now, not when him just came out and a tell lie bout him tattoo him eye. Him nearly make me go tattoo my eye too”

As for the female artists he said he’d like to see more from them. “You cannot be a female artist and you are talented and fighting to be Queen and princess. It’s just Lady Saw and Tanya Stephens (who stand out).”

In giving advice to young people who want to enter the entertainment industry Shebada said, “(Entertainment) is a people business, so you have to respect them (the people). When they come watch we, treat them good.”

Although Shebada came into the industry as a crowd favorite and pulls massive crowds across the world, he said he was underpaid earlier in his career.

“When me just a come in a 5 grand (JMD) I used to get a show and that is robbery, make we talk about minimum wage. When my company a get millions of dollars me a get 15 thousand dollars a weekend.”

“When me a work Monday to Saturday me a get 30 grand a week…Me say Father God do not make me suffer with these people and me walk away from the company and started my own company. I am humble in my steps. I am not in any hurry, I am humble in my steps. I am not broke cause I am the money”.

The usually flamboyant pop culture figure and roots actor professed soberly that he is a God-fearing human. “The beauty about me as a character and as an individual is that God is teaching me everyday who I am,”  he said.

When asked how he has managed during the present lockdowns in Jamaica that as affected the theaters he said, “’Even in famine the children of God will have more than enough’. It is not a troubled time for me ,my hope is rested in Jesus so me Cyah hungry and me Cyah naked because God have me back. This pandemic is a blessing because we are still here hearty and all. Is it really a problem or it just come to shake us up because we got complacent?”

Shebada has ambitions for the international stage but his personal fears are yet to be overcome. In speaking about the possibility of doing a Netflix stand-up comedy special he said he is scared due to what has happened in the past at his shows.

“When I am lost in my character (audiences) just have to go to the doctor. I’ve seen people die from my show. A man laugh til him dead. My vehicle carried him to the hospital and before him reach the hospital him dead. So when you know the blessings you have in your life you have to treat it good”.

He concluded that the world is not ready for the real person behind the character (Shebada).

“They would love it but they are not ready for it. You have persons who are very judgmental because whatever you are saying is the truth and before they accept they criticize. I understand they feel inferior.”

The feisty personality further said, “I go to church every Sunday me love the Lord and me nuh go dance because me used to do dance and decide that the work that I do, it is dancehall, so me nah miss nuttn at all. My favorite place to go is church. When all is said and done the breath weh you have in your body it is not yours, else you woulda keep it. So the world is not ready for Keith”

For the full conversation listen to The Actor’s MasterClass on Spotify.