Ruddy Irie and Major Mackerel at odds

A voice note, pocket change, and allegations of "bad mind" are at the root of a feud between veteran dancehall artistes Ruddy Irie and Major Mackerel.

According to Ruddy Irie, Major Mackerel was bad-mouthing him on a voice note he received through a co-worker, which sparked the virtual war.

"Him a seh mi deh pon the Internet too much and a mi songs mi a promote," Ruddy Irie told THE STAR. "Him deh pon mi name every day like is a bad-mind thing."

But Major Mackerel says the contention is merely Ruddy Irie seeking attention to revitalise his career.

"Ruddy Irie a look a buss. Mi understand it," Major Mackerel told THE STAR in a brief response. "Nothing is wrong with looking a buss, but him just look the wrong way. Most of all, mi send Ruddy Irie go a shop from 1988, and him still have some change fi me."

Ruddy Irie told a different story, saying the only money exchange they had was when they met through deejay Ninjaman.

"A beg Mackerel beg Ninja a money, and Ninja seh, 'Ruddy, give him a 'gran', and mi never give him the gran. A J$500 mi give him cause mi have Ninja money. So how Mackerel fi send me out? Mi a hot boy from me a ride one-wheel wheelie. Mackerel cya send me out."

The situation has inspired a diss track aimed at Major Mackerel called Stop Follow Mi Nuh, but Major Mackerel does not intend to respond.

"When him give me back mi change, probably mi think about clashing," he said. "Fi right now, he's not relevant to me." The dust-up has gained criticism from some people who say the veterans should set a better example for younger artistes.

However, Ruddy Irie argued, "If Mackerel never call mi name and seh weh him seh, all now yuh wouldn't hear this ... . Him a bawl fi cree right now, and mi not stopping cause yuh disrespect mi. From yuh disrespect mi, yuh a go drown ... ."