wow. i am encouraged to see people standing up and saying that isn't cool.
i mean, come on.
tired of it being so hip to hate gay folk.

this measure will surely weaken anti-gay sentiments in the reggae/dancehall community

this measure will surely weaken anti-gay sentiments in the reggae/dancehall community

Well, I can see why a radio station would want to distance themselves from artists that actively encourage and celebrate the killing of gay people.

I went to this once without really knowing what it was with a friend who dragged me there and was stranded for 12 hours (she had the car) listening to insanely loud yelling and fake machine gun sounds in the audience in the august heat all day. It was a living hell. I'm white and gay. Not the best environment for me.

Well, this is pretty awesome of the station. It's about time these homophobic reggae artists get called out on their shit.

people who like reggae should be drowned

people who like reggae should be drowned

more like ray gay

I hate that this keeps happening.

It sucks that dancehall has a history of anti-gay sentiment that seems very evident in a lot of the lyrical content (although BUJU BANTON has repeatedly said that "Boom Bye Bye" referenced "buggering," or the sexual abuse of children, and not consensual homosexuality among adults). 4:43 is right, it's smart money for the radio station to pull sponsorship, although Power 105 has never seemed like a bastion of queer-friendly artistry whenever I've listened to it.

But pulling sponsorship is one thing. State Senators forcing Banton and Bounty Killer to sign "The Reggae Compassion Act" (see 8/16 Daily News article) before they play in New York is another entirely. The whole "gay people protest when reggae artists play NYC" thing has happened before, and will happen again, no doubt, but at a certain point this begins to look like cultural co-option of an art form connected (to some degree, conceded) to a religious belief.

Mea culpa, first time posting and all, but at a certain point this becomes a freedom of speech issue, no matter how revolting I personally find the speech to be.

I just want to bring some background info to the table here:
Buju Banton wrote Boom Bye Bye 15+ years ago in response to a boy who was raped by a middle aged man. The story was huge when it happened, and the song is not about harming gay people, it's about harming gay rapists. (Buju was 15 when he wrote the song, Jamaican boys were horrified by the prospect of being raped by an old man) Banton has not performed the song in at least 6 years, but that hasn't stopped it from being an incredibly popular song due to its catchy music. (There are plenty of jungle remixes of the tune, and no one ever condemns the junglists who perform it still)
Also, I can't say whether it is true or not, but numerous sources have reported that Buju Banton did sign the Reggae Compassion Act (this act is the only reason this shit is so newsworthy this year) which is an agreement between reggae artists and the gay community that states the artist will desist recording new songs about violence towards others and will stop performing the ones recorded previously.
The people behind the Act have said that they will stop their attempts to ruin the artist's career if they sign the Act, but for some reason, people just won't give Buju a break. He hasn't written or performed music that advocates violence towards individuals or the gay community in at least 5 years. It seems that people aren't willing to give Jamaican musicians the room to change their ways.
I just felt this background was needed here because you don't report this kind of info on your site. I am a writer and journalist that is deeply involved in the Jamaican music scene, so I have done a lot of research on the subject. I don't advocate violence, but I also feel that Buju gets an unfair deal, especially from people with no experience with the culture and history of Jamaican music. I hope this helps everyone to understand the situation a little better.

"ray gay"

hahahah

No Molli Fire, although the song was apparently written in response to a gay rape, rather than calling for action against rapists, Buju's remedy calls for the murder and burning of all "batty boys" which is Carribean slang for homosexual men. He has since cited his Rastifarian religion and the Bible as the basis for his beliefs.

It's as stupid as saying to kill and burn all muslims because of Osama Bin Laden's actions.

True enough anonymous. Would you be proud today of what you wrote when you were 15? I wrote some pretty confused stuff when I was a teen. Banton doesn't defend the song nor perform it anymore. I thought it would help if people knew that it was a scared and angry response from 15 year old boy to what was in the headlines that year.
If anyone wants more info, you can check out the idolator article on this topic:
Idolator on Censorship

Wow. I'm so glad somebody finally is taking a stand against some of those redneck bigots out there.

Molli Fire- that's interesting and all, but I'm not moved by the fact that Buju hasn't actively promoted deadly violence against gays since 2001. Strange that you can't even be sure if he signed the Reggae Compassion Act. He must not be making a big show of his "change of heart".

If these artists were encouraging murder based on race, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. But when it comes to homophobia, people seem to respond differently. Because of people like Buju Banton and Bounty Killer and the climate they help create, I can't kiss a date goodnight in Brooklyn without fearing that I've endangered his safety and mine. Sorry if I don't shed a tear for their "right" to have a concert in my backyard.

thankyou "gay" for saying that...

it's entirely true if this were a story of someone singing "hang that nigger" back in 84, and regardless of whether said "nigger" hurt ANYONE or not, nobody would condone this act today, no matter HOW many years go by. Yet, kill the fags, even if a man did rape a boy somewhere long ago, it's OK to forget all in the name of "art" and reggae

I call big time bullshit ms. molli journalist

"scared and angry response from 15 year old boy to what was in the headlines that year. "

yeah I'm sure Buju was REALLY SCARED OF THE BATTY BOYS

give it a break

ps. didn't mean "condone this act" but I meant condone those lyrics....

sorry

I mean, its an interesting line.

If they haven't preformed the songs in years, keep their songs/rants free from homophobia currently, I wonder what the use of protesting them are. "Your songs used to suck?".

I mean, unless you want them NEVER to preform again because of past sins.

Imho, its probably better to put time towards other gay issues that matter, im sure Guiliani's front yard is free from protesters while he slowly distances himself from his pro-gay marriage stance when he was big cheeze here.

fucking double standards...
stop trying to co-op a culture...
he does not perform the song anymore-
or any sons like that..Jamaica's is not America
there are completely different standards..yes gays are bash and seen as an abomination courtesy of the bible. that sucks and need to change but trying to ruin these performers careers for past sins is supposed to help the crusade how..as someone who is from Jamaican descent, they are just making it worse for all gays in Jamaican...cos this is what there thinking "god dem batty boy shut down buju..fuck batty boy"...something around those lines....freedom of speech, protest something that is actually relevant.
this issue reeks of double standard....

i bet they are selling ackee!!

I'm not seeing the double standard. A double standard is making excuses for artists who has written songs about shooting, drowning, and burning gay people when similar incitements against black people would never be tolerated or forgiven (at least in this part of the country).

Buju has not made a big show of distancing himself from this song. According to the Guardian, he hasn't even signed this Reggae Compassion Act, which is admittedly silly but at least would be a gesture. Bounty Killer has made no effort to disown multiple songs that openly call for the brutal murder of gay people, but people want to act like this is all about poor Buju.

In the UK, performing these songs constitutes a criminal offense. Here, a radio station has pulled sponsorship from an event where these hatemongers are performing. It's not government censorship. Nobody's even preventing these guys from performing. But they are not entitled to perform on Randall's Island with the implicit endorsement and support of Power 105.

Of course, this just gives homophobes an opportunity to feel like THEY'RE the ones being oppressed. It would be funny if it weren't so damn depressing.

so why is there this huge uproar now, but when there are songs degrading or threatening women people shut up?

I mean, I'm not a feminist but still...

I AM a feminist (and a gay man), but I can't think of any popular artists that promote brutal violence against women simply for being women. If such an artist were performing at a huge concert in New York, I'm sure NOW would lean on their sponsors.

let's just hate anyone you want.
gays?
sure.
blacks?
why not.
jews?
uh huh
women?
right on
we live in a culture of hate. why deny it.

art is just a reflection

Gotta agree with Anon 11:58 there. It's hard to compare this issue to songs promoting violence on women, if there even are any. Women are degraded in hip-hop, and that's a major problem in hip-hop culture because not enough women are ready to take a stand against the music they support.

Kudos to 105.1 for pulling out of this one. If Buju is not homophobic, he needs to make it easy for people to know that; as in, it shouldn't take a reggae journalist coming on the message boards here to break it down for us. His song calls for brutal violence against all gay men, and that's fucked up. I could not care less about the origin of his homophobia...it does not make it acceptable to promote hate and violence.

No, 11:21, please understand. If this was just about Power 105 pulling their sponsorship, I wouldn't care. Hell, if Clear Channel never had a damn thing to do with any show in New York City ever again, so be it.

But this IS an attempt at government-mandated censorship at this point. I mentioned it yesterday (as 6:30) but here is the link:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2007/08/16/2007-08-16_scourge_of_the_rogues-2.html

A Senator is trying to make the argument that, because Randall's Island is a public space, the promoter should be shut down. The City doesn't buy the argument - for now - but the threat is enough cause for concern, as in "[i]n the U.K. performing these songs constitutes a criminal offense." And you believe this to be a GOOD thing?

Again, I hate to advocate the right to spread a message I deplore, but jerking a promoter's permit because music "advocates" anti-gay violence or anything else sets a dangerous precedent. In the extreme hypothetical, if this somehow withstood constitutional challenge on a District or Circuit Court level, or God forbid a Bush-appointed Supreme Court level, then what happens when we shut down George Michael for advocating "loose morality" in that video with the cops? And we'll shut down Dr. Dre for "To Kill a Hooker" off of "Efil4zaggin," because time heals no wounds. And Slayer et al advocate the destruction of Christianity, right? So that has to go. And...

I'm not going to lie and pretend to be in any minority group just to bolster my point. But this is indefensible.

*Buju Banton and Sizzla and Bounty Killer play NYC all the time, by the way. Except it's usually at the Amazura in Queens. Yet no protests until the shows get too close to Manhattan? Why ever would that be?

**Any regular BV readers ever catch The Nihilistics at CBGB? Or were you at that Anal Cunt show earlier this year at Supreme Trading in Williamsburg? If so, you know first hand that white artists play NYC and use VERY questionable language regarding blacks all the time.

***Gay, your personalization of the issue makes me more empathetic to the issue, to be sure. But the sad truth, brother, is that your safety is endangered by ignorant people, regardless of the freedom to perform music with crass and/or tasteless lyrics.

Thanks for the link and the thoughtful post, Cortez. But I have to disagree. Randall's Island is owned by the City. I think the City is perfectly within its rights if it refuses to allow its property to be used as a platform for hate speech (Bounty Killer, who is scheduled to perform, still proudly encourages brutal violence against gays). I feel like it's almost letting them off too easy to just require that they sign this stupid piece of paper.

If Randall's Island was privately owned and the City tried to interfere, that would be different.

I visited Jamaica a couple of weeks ago with the idea of embracing the culture and was hit with a rude awakening when I found out what Jamaican culture truly is. Jamaicans are VERY homophobic and it is talked about very freely. I am not gay and when I was walking down the beach with a friend(guy) of mine we were confronted by local Jamaicans that said,"Jamaicans hate gay people, we kill them". There should be no surprise that these type of lyrics are in their music.

what about lesbians? do they think that is hip or cool

Here's why Molli Fire is unsure if Buju Banton signed the RCA:

Peter Tatchell claims Banton signed the RCA, and provides this signature:
http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/reggaecompassionatescan.htm

(Those are the artists' real names not their stage names).

More info here:
http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/bujubantonbyebyehomophobia.htm

However, the Blade reports that Banton has more recently claimed the signature was forged:
http://nyblade.com/2007/8-24/news/localnews/reggay.cfm

I don't know the truth in the situation, but I could understand how Banton might sign the RCA and then claim it was a forgery - when he signed, his hard core jerk fans probably called him a sellout and the activist community made statements like those I see above, that it's not enough, or that it's "making excuses". There's no upside to him signing the RCA or distancing himself from his old songs, so why bother?

If we want to see hate lyrics change, it seems important to not only fight wrongs but also recognize efforts that people make to change their ways. Stick and carrot. I don't see that happening here. When Molli Fire wrote that she thought Banton had signed the RCA, everyone jumped down her throat but no one said "yeah, that would be a great first step towards changing the situation." I don't see how anyone realistically thinks artists will voluntarily change their ways if they're always judged by their past misdeeds.

and to think one well-placed hurricane would solve this problem for good

If this offends GAY people, stay away from shows with these artists. What has happen to freedom of speech, is it only for GAYS, I am sure its not. Listen if you dont want to hear it, dont go to the shows. Why do GAY people always think its about them? hello its not.

Ironically, if Jamiacans actually accepted homosexuality there would be less children getting raped as it would be much easier for homosexual men to openly find willing partners.

Forcibly repressing one's sexuality can lead to criminal behavior, just look at the Catholic Priest scandal.

Come on already get over it. I am soooo tired of hearing gay people rant and rage about whats right and whats not right. They are always comparing their struggles to minorities struggles. It is in no ways the same and will never be! Jamaicans have the freedom of speech as does everyone else. If you like reggae music listen to but not the songs that "offend" you and if you don't like reggae music go listen to country or rock or whatever it is that floats your boat. The fact is all the protests won't change anyones mind because it is their beliefs just like you have your beliefs that no one change your mind about.

freedom of speech, if faggots dont like it go live on a next planet because if u stop us at 1 show we have a next 1 to the next day and still get our nice cheque............... ADAM to EVE not ADAM to STEVE u faggots

re: indian, phil, and others

i'd be pissed off about the pulled funding if i were an idiot, too.

affectionately,

wow we really got the homophobe crazies up in this piece. what you "indian" a repressed new to city faggot at nyu?

sounds like it to me! you'll be sucking cock in no time you self loathing faggot

Look at all the homophobes popping out of the woodwork. I knew it was only a matter of time before they sniffed this out.

GimmeABreak and Phil: The music that "offends" me celebrates burning off the skin of gay men (like me) with acid. If similar statements were made about a racial minority, it's basically be considered a Klan rally.

Queer people ARE a minority, it's just that some of us can "pass" for straight if we choose. But we are continually repressed by douchebags like you and the politicians you put into office (assuming you vote).

Alas, I realize that there is no point in trying to reason with you.

"and to think one well-placed hurricane would solve this problem for good"

how the fuck dare you say something like that. You are a disgusting excuse of a human being. Fuck off asshole. I'm jamaican and i am very offended by what you said. Because one person said something offensive you think that justifies an entire culture being wiped out.

thankyou phil, if you don't like it, then guess what.....don't go. It's that simple. I mean i don't like rap lyrics especially eminem's brutal lyrics about women, and guess wat i do.....i don't go to his concerts, see simple. And please stop trying to draw a parallel between gay struggles and that of minorities, i mean being taken from your home, being treated as a piece of property, let's be real here. That shit is annoying.

Jamaica embraces white Artist from the U.K check it out at Avaleigh.co.uk
And download free music.

god said man sould not ley with mankind

rappers can rap bout killing police, gangsters an pretty much anyone they like, no one seems to care. Whats so special bout gays that reggae artists cant sing about killing them? Especially when you consider that homosexuality is still pretty much illegal in parts of the Caribbean