Artists With Unnecessarily Large Entourages The Single “Recurring, Nightmare” At Reggae Sumfest

Reggae Sumfest’s Marketing Strategist Skatta Burrell says one of the most challenging aspects of managing the music festival, has been the tendency for some artists to show up at the Catherine Hall venue in Montego Bay, with unnecessarily large entourages in tow.

The Coolie Dance producer acknowledged that the problem has plagued the event for years, during an interview with Television Jamaica’s Anthony Miller, after the veteran entertainment journalist asked him to outline what he considers the “recurring, nightmare, headache problem” over his “many years of being involved in the production of Reggae Sumfest.”

“The artistes, dem and di hundred man dem at di gate,” Skatta replied.

“A my task dat. I go out the gate and I meet the buses. And we plan fi one artiste, five guests, and them show up with 500 man. An some a dem siddung inna the middle of the bus, naw come out a di di bus until we get in dem whole entourage,” he added.

Oversized entourages have consistently created issues at not only Reggae Sumfest, but at other shows in Jamaica, causing issues ranging from overcrowded backstage and frontstage areas to delays in performances.

Skatta, while pointing out that the over-inflated entourages resulted in significant logistical headaches, and were unnecessary and disruptive, noted that when these very same artists travel outside of Jamaica, for gigs, they abide by the rules and behave themselves.

“It’s very unfair, because them don’t go Europe and do that stuff. When they go to Europe, five of them go. Five of them go into the venue, [when asked] ‘you’re performing at this time?’, [they reply] ‘Yes, sir, I’m going to perform at this time’. They’re well-behaved,” he explained.

“But you see, Jamaica now is kind of a open land thing. So we are trying to get the people, them to be more disciplined. That’s the only way we get better,” Skatta added.

In May 2022, Bounty Killer had denounced huge entourages, affirming that he has had no need to be strutting around with a bunch of frowning men. The Warlord had said that not was the practice unprofessional, but it could be considered, a pathetic display of paranoia.

Bounty had made his comments after being asked, also by Miller, during an Entertainment Report interview, whether or not he was scared to be going about his daily business with “no protection team, or entourage, or hangers on”.

In response, the Smoke The Herb artist had said that having no sworn enemies, he had no fear, as he only shows love and respect to the people he encounters within Jamaica.

In addressing the contentious issue of artists being constantly accompanied by up to two dozen scowling men in tow, Bounty had said he does not recommend this practice.

“Suh mi nuh know weh some artiste thinkin or what they bringing or presenting, why they think they have to have these security and all a these things. When you are the peoples champ, you don’t need all a dat. Dat’s a mind thing. Its good fi have security, a one or two licensed firearm or police. Yuh nuh need no 15, 20 man – nope! Dats unprofessional,” he had said.
“And most of these artiste can’t control dem entourage. If me a par wid a hundred person, everybaddy haffi work under my regard! Anybaddy naw do dat, yuh have to leave my surrounding. Caw yuh can bring mi dung, yuh haffi bring mi up,” Bounty had added.

The entourage issue has been a recurring topic of discussion, with numerous reports over the years highlighting how the members, often seen as yes-men who inflate entertainers’ egos, have been involved in altercations that tarnish the reputations of many top artists.

In August 2020, allegations surfaced that Trap artist Daddy1 was slapped in the face by a member of Beenie Man’s entourage at a music studio. Spice also accused a member of Beenie Man’s entourage of boxing her back in 2006.

Additionally, Beenie Man claimed that he was attacked by members of Capleton’s entourage during their feud, which began in 1998.

In May 2017, music selector Rolexx was allegedly assaulted by a member of Aidonia’s entourage, while Sizzla was blamed for the 2007 beating of fellow reggae artiste Norris Man at Capleton’s St. Mary Mi Come From stage show, and Vybz Kartel was blamed for the beating of DJ Jigsy by entourage members that same year.

Mavado also lost a member of his entourage in 2011 at the Quad Nightclub in New Kingston during an alleged altercation with a police officer at a party, while Black Ryno was accused of ordering the beating of selector Boom Boom in 2010 after a CD sent by the Bike Back artist was not played.