Left: T.O.K.'s Flexx is now XX. - File   Right: Vybz Kartel has changed his name to 'Addi Di Teacha'. - Fabian Ledgister By Teino Evans and Krista Henry, Staff Reporters

It is nothing new for dancehall artistes to move from one stage name to the next and T.O.K member Flexx, (real name Xavier Davidson) is the latest to join the train.

According to Flexx, he will now go by the stage name 'Double X' which is written as 'XX'.

He explains that, "Over the years of being in T.O.K. people always were confused about the two names Alex and Flexx. They would always call me Alex even if I had a T-shirt with 'Flexx' written on it. It didn't matter to me because then I just took it as a mistake, but now it seems that a lot of people are making the same mistake, so I feel it's time to make it clear," he said.

Flexx, aka XX says, "It's not really a name change, it's just the name that I will use on personal projects. I directed the video Gal Dem Want We by Monster Twinz and that was the first time I used the name XX. I also have a couple of songs to be released like, Nuh Hypocrite by Monster Twinz and XX, Baby Father by Alozade and XX, Dem Badmind by XX and Area Badman by XX."

When questioned about concerns as to whether this new persona would affect TOK, Flexx aka XX says acting as individual artistes is nothing new to the group and members all agree that there is nothing to be concerned about.

"TOK is comprised of four talented artistes that exist in a group, so at any time we will feel the need to express that, but at the end of the day there will always be T.O.K., Solid As A Rock," he said.

Another artiste, Vybz Kartel also changed his stage name recently to 'Addi The Teacha'.

Enough support

Vybz Kartel aka 'Addi Di Teacha' says he changed his name because of business reasons with his old record company Greensleeves. He claims that Greensleeves was not giving him enough support to promote himself as an artiste. The only solution seemed to be to change his name, which he claims is the only part owned by Greensleeves, the name 'Vybz Kartel'.

He says, "Greensleeves is determined not to let me go. Every music video yuh see wid Vybz Kartel is me do it. Mi neva have a video on MTV, BET, cause Greensleeves don't spend on promotion of the artiste. For the video for Picture Me and You, dem seh the budget is too much".

The name change, Kartel says, is not strange to fans, as they have heard the reference to 'Addi Di Teacha' from 2004 with songs such as Schoolbus, War Teacha and more. Addi comes from his actual name Adijah, while the 'teacher' refers to his job as an artiste.

"Mi teach di people wid intellect, inna di slackness there is intelligence. Mi deejay a lot of words that neva use in dancehall, mi change the style of dancehall, mi really bring the hardcore back into it," he said.

Addi di Teacha is planning a new launch into the dancehall. He will be going on tour in England, Japan, and other places to promote his new identity. He says: "I'm going for the best new artiste in Jamaica next year January. All my songs gonna stop seh Kartel, it's just 'Di Teacha'".

Kartel is passing the baton to his new identity by naming his upcoming album Vybz Kartel presents Addi di Teacha: Time to Teach, which will be produced by Stephen McGregor.