Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter
People might chant Konshens' 'dis year mi haffi be a winner' at parties, but they will not be lucky enough to hear it on the radio because the Broadcasting Commission has reportedly advised stations not to play the song because it incites violence.
ViolenceZJ Ice of ZIP FM said he was told not to play the song called Winner two weeks ago before he started the 'Red Stripe Positive Vibrations Hour', which is part of his four-hour evening programme.
"Dem seh something bout seh the second verse a incite violence. Mi still like di tune but mi ago lef it out when mi deh pon di radio. Mi still ago play it when mi deh a dance cause da tune deh shot," he told THE STAR.
He added, "Broadcasting Commission a do dem job so dem mus know weh dem a look fa but mi nuh tink it a violence. A bad artiste (Konshens) so him will find more song and di song done big already."
The second verse of the song says, "Coulda be the pounds, the keys or the straps/ groom some sexy girls and put dem to work on the blocks/ I don't care if it's legal or illegal/ If I don't get this paper now it's gonna be lethal/ To get this money a coulda some ...mi a smuggle or a some clothes and some shoes mi a juggle/ mi have mi .... and mi just might use it and I don't really wanna but/ If you keep flossing all yuh jewellery you just might lose it."
Broadcasting CommissionBut, when contacted yesterday, Cordel Green, executive director of the Broadcasting Commission, said he could not comment on the matter as he was unable to access files that would possibly speak to the situation. He promised to provide an update later today.
While Ice has been aware of this for weeks, Konshens, whose real name is Garfield Spence, said he only found out about the move last Thursday when someone from a radio station told him.
Negative light"I was surprised. Mi neva tink anybody would get the message in a negative light. Mi neva tink nobody would comb through the song dem way deh and find it negative. A whole heap a people tink it is a positive song and dem have it as dem theme song weh dem play every morning," said Konshens, who several industry players have touted to create waves this summer
He added, "Mi upset bout it but at the end of the day Broadcasting Commission a do dem job. If dem seh it nuh fit fi airplay, who am I to dispute that?"
Meanwhile, Green added that the commission was not a censorship body, but any material reported as contravening the Children's Code for Programming would be investigated by the commission. He said if the investigation proves that the material, music or otherwise, does represent a breach (promoting criminality or disregard for laws) and the media entity that aired the material would be advised it is unfit for airplay.
MicroscopeKonshens has been receiving high praises in the dancehall industry for his breakout single Winner. He said this might be negative for him as he does not like to be under the microscope but the move may also be positive as more people will talk about the song.
"Most people disagree wid with it and think it's foolishness and nuff people a voice dem opinion bout it. Mi jus' a continue mi path cause a nuh one song mek up mi career," said Konshens who has other popular singles like Rasta Imposter and Don't Waste The Talents.
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