Top Prosecutor Hails Ding Dong As A Favorite

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn is widely known for her serious demeanor, but she has revealed that Ding Dong causes her to loosen up with his catchy Dancehall tunes and dances.

The King’s Counsel made the interesting revelation during IRIE FM’s Easy Skankin show on Thursday (January 27). Though she is not quite the dancer, Llewellyn claimed that she is a pro at one of his many dances.

“My daughter has given up with trying to teach me a couple of them. I think there was a song Ding Dong had. I love that one and I think I mastered it. Yes, I did, I did. But I love to dance to soft music—I love romantic music. I love 80s, 90, 70s, 60s music. I love Sarah Vaughan, Billy Epstein, Teddy Prendergrass…I’m a romantic at heart,” she told host K’Shema Francis-Pitt.

In naming her other interests, the DPP said, “I love cricket, as well. I’m not watching much of the cricket because the West Indies are causing me too much pain.”

Back in July 2022, Llewellyn had raised concerns about Jamaican artists who were glorifying scamming in their “choppa” songs.

During her keynote address at an anti-fraud seminar in Kingston, Llewellyn said that these songs were influencing young people to engage in a life of transnational conmanship, from which the proceeds help to finance the purchasing of illegal guns and ammunition, as scammers are known to turn on their cronies over lead sheets, “clients”, and accusations of “unfair sharing” of money.

“And then you have the culture, the music, in some respects, and I am going to say it and confront it. The music that is being played and sung by our young people glorifies chopping, which is to become a scammer. Can you imagine?” she asked.

On Friday, Ding Dong, who was beaming with pride about the DPP’s endorsement, said he creates music for a wide audience. 

“What a blessing!” he said during an IRIE FM interview.

“You know wi do music from our heart an’ to di love of di street an’ di people but sometime it reach people certain way where yuh might neva encounter in a day to day appearance. Yuh might si dem or talk to dem an’ people have so much love fi you. From it can reach certain heart, ‘cause dats weh mi guh fah—people hearts in music. I don’t just go for a now feeling. I go fi di heart.”

The Bad Man Forward deejay said that there are several projects in the pipeline for this year, including a debut EP.

“I feel blessed. I feel just honoured…some giant hits a come up now ah get ready fi release. Mi have soca song ah release weh dem haffi guh dance to now. Wi have Dancehall song ah fawud. Mi might drop a EP project fi da year yah, di first eva. So, is just a blessing to have people a support the music truly. Yuh know yuh have frens weh support yuh but people weh outside of close relations weh come from a distance and develop an’ love yuh vibe an’ energy so it’s a blessing,” Ding Dong said.

Born Kemar Christopher Dwaine Ottey, Ding Dong is an equal legend for Dancehall anthems and dance moves.   

In fact, a TikTok trend sprung up during the pandemic that challenged fans to nail his most popular Dancehall dance moves, including Syvah, Lowe Mi Nuh, Gas, Genna Bounce, Fling Yuh Shoulda, Flairy, Snappin’, and Ravers Rock.

He’s also known for songs like Holiday, Fling, Watch Dem, and his first hit Bad Man Forward.

As the boss of the Ravers Clavers dance collective, created in 2003, Ding has said that “I think I have brought it (dancing) to the forefront again, not just in Jamaica, but across the entire Caribbean. People are dancing to dancehall again in schools, at weddings. Even the Prime Minister is dancing, and that is something I’ve always wanted to do as a dancer, get the Prime Minister dancing.”

A veteran in his own right, Ding Dong is also no stranger to corporate circles.

Last October, the 42-year-old was named ‘Chief Dancing Officer’ for the Magnum Tonic Wine brand.

Ding Dong has been a part of the Magnum family since October 2017, when he first signed as the brand’s ambassador. Magnum is recognized locally and regionally as the ‘Drink of dancehall’ and has honed its place in the industry by uplifting dancehall music and culture.

In the first half of 2022, his hit Bounce was popularised among different social circles and was seemingly the celebratory song of choice in many instances. 

The song took up steam at the Commonwealth Games where the Sunshine Girlz Jamaica’s netball team danced like crazy, as the song blared from the speakers.

Scotia Bank Jamaica had also posted a video on its Instagram page of their employees dancing up a storm to Bounce, to celebrate sprint queen Shericka Jackson, the financial institution’s newest brand ambassador, following her imperious victory in the 200m race at the World Track and Field Championships on July 22. The video had also featured snippets of Shericka doing the “Bounce”, at a track training session.

Karl Samuda, Minister of Labour and Social security was also spotted doing the Bounce at a Diamond Jubilee ceremony, while at the offices of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Carolyn McDonald-Riley and her team used the song to promote their celebration of Jamaica’s Diamond Jubilee.  

Staff at Montego Bay Airports also had a field day dancing to the song for their own version of a Diamond Jubilee tribute.