In a response to recent pronouncements by DJ Moses 'Beenie Man' Davis that he is severing ties with his long-time management outfit, Shocking Vibes Productions, Patrick Roberts of Shocking Vibes has issued a statement standing behind his company's handling of the DJ's career.

In the statement, issued on Friday, Roberts said: "While we are no doubt proud of our association with the artiste, and his immeasurable talents, we think it important to state that our relationship was not without its challenges, many of which were in the public domain. As can be clearly discerned, Shocking Vibes has guided the artiste through these tempestuous arrangements and believes that its efforts were often unnecessarily diverted from its primary task of managing the career of this artiste."

Patrick Roberts of Shocking Vibes productions.

Speaking by telephone to the Observer, Mr Roberts said that among the challenges referred to was the still unresolved conflict between Beenie Man and main rival Bounty Killer, a conflict which has seen many heated exchanges over the years and which again came to a head at the annual Sting stage show. He identified the controversy, also still ongoing, over homophobic lyrics by dancehall DJs (Beenie Man included) as another challenge.

Mr Roberts further stated: "In some instances, an artiste must make the choice between being a local sensation and being an international phenomenon. Those artistes who have done well internationally understand this implicitly."

When asked to elaborate on this, Mr Roberts said that an artiste cannot continually have his image being continually sullied and still remain viable as an international artiste.

Roberts said the company "viewed with some concern" statements attributable to the dancehall star, which suggested a failure on the management's part in dealing with his career, both in relation to the local and international aspects. Such a claim, he said, could not be substantiated.
Continuing, Roberts said that while no official word had come from the artiste with respect to the change in relationship with the company, the company felt a statement was necessary.
"We wish Mr Davis well and hope he will live up to the expectations of his remarkable talent," Roberts said.

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