Rygin King Breaks Silence After Arrest In New York
Matthew Smith, the Dancehall artist known as Rygin King, has broken his silence after being charged with criminal gun possession in Queens, New York.
The Tuff artist, who is disabled following a shooting incident four years ago, pleaded not guilty to the six charges when he was arraigned earlier this week. He was subsequently released on bail.
On Saturday, King took to his Instagram Story to express his frustration at the media coverage of his arrest and the lack thereof for his recently released sophomore album, Recovery.
“Mi wah know how can i get my album to be promoted the way how i see you guys is promoting something that yuh know, unuh nuh really know 100% about…” he said. “TVJ, Smile Jamaica, Jamaica, The Jamaican diaspora… ‘mi a beg unuh like stop promote f-ckery bro.”
On Monday, Rygin King, along with his wife Ileene Parker-Smith, 41, and Kemor Palmer, 30, Derol Tate, 30, Rashaun Linton, 27, and Jovaughn Brown, 23, were stopped by police in Queens while traveling in a Ford Explorer. A loaded firearm was allegedly found in King’s possession, the police said.
All six individuals were hit with similar gun possession charges, including criminal possession of a loaded firearm in the second, third, and fourth degree. Brown, the driver, was also charged with a vehicle and license violation, false impersonation, and an illegal signal.
King’s first court appearance occurred on Friday, July 12. The case was adjourned to August 1.
In a separate post on Saturday, King thanked his fans for their “unwavering” support and promised not to disappoint them.
“I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support. Your belief in me has always been a driving force behind everything I do. I want to assure you all that I will never disappoint you. Every step I take is with your encouragement in mind, and I am committed to proving that your trust in me is well-placed,” he wrote.
“The journey has its ups and downs, but I promise that the verdict will tell. Together, we will continue to achieve great things, and your faith in me will be rewarded. Thank you for standing by my side. Let’s keep moving forward, stronger than ever.”
He then followed up by sharing the cover art for his latest album, Recovery, with the caption: “This is what y’all should be promoting Recovery album isn’t this f-cking news to unu or what?”
Recovery, a follow-up to his 2022 debut Therapy, was released independently on June 14.
The albums were inspired by his rehabilitation following an attack on his entourage in Westmoreland, Jamaica, in 2020.
His manager’s wife, Sashalee Blackwood, was tragically killed, while King was chased into a ditch and shot three times. He spent several weeks in medical facilities, undergoing critical surgeries. Now bound to a wheelchair, he left Jamaica in 2021 for orthopedic consultations and therapy in the US.