Anthony B pleads Not Guilty
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Throb writer
Saturday, September 15, 2001
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| Anthony B greeting Lady Saw outside the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's court last Friday. (Photos: Joseph Wellington) |
A great deal of excitement is being generated around Not Guilty, a recording by deejay Anthony B, who has vented his anger in song after he was cleared of profanity charges last Friday in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's court.
Not Guilty snubs authorities who slapped charges on the entertainer, citing him for "calumnious conduct" at the August 19 Champions in Action concert.
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| Anthony B |
The composition's message denounces the imposition of legal measures on entertainers in the face of rampant crime.
"It is a response to his (Anthony B's) experience. It speaks to the fact that as a Rastaman, he is trying to make a bread, but there are those who want to jump all over him," said Andrea Cole of Energy Music Group, producers of the song.
Anthony B, who is currentluy on tour, could not be reached for comment, but it is understood that he went into the studio to record the number on the day following the trial.
A large crowd of supporters turned up at the Spanish Town RM Court last Friday to show solidarity with the three entertainers charged for uttering profanities on stage during their performances at Champions in Action.
Deejays Bounty Killer and Lady Saw, who pled guilty to the charge, were both sentenced to serve 240 hours of community service.
There was celebration outside the court following the acquittal of Anthony B, and the fervour of one woman, a revivalist waving pocomania flags, landed her in jail; she was charged with disorderly conduct and assaulting the police.
Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Anthony B pointed out that that the "fire burn" reference should not be taken literally, as it is a metaphoric criticism.
Anthony B, who was indicted for suggesting that the prime minister and governor general be damned to fire, was set free on the grounds that his utterrances did not breach legal precepts.
In Not Guilty, he cites the double standards re the enforcement of the law, saying there is different treatment for the poor and rich.
"Law fi the rich, law fi the poor ... teach wi the law so wi can practice, it seems like them have a new law fi artiste," goes a portion of the song.
Cole, while saying that the authorities should spend more time focusing on curbing criminal misdeeds, agrees that the degree of profanity in dancehall has gone too far.
"It is okay to curtail the level of the profanity. Some artistes get on stage and brandish nothing but lewd lyrics, and that is wrong. Anthony B does not fall in that category, so he cannot understand their issue with him," she told Throb.
It is not the first time Anthony B has come under the microscope. In 1996, his Fire Pon Rome was banned by some radio stations for criticising several public and private sector officials.
Not Guilty is accompanied by the "Minstrel" rhythm, a rework of Cornell Campbell's Queen of the Minstrel. Other acts on the rhythm, which is being revived by the Shortwood Road-based Energy Music Group, include the Mighty Diamonds, George Nooks, Glen Washington, Anthony Cruz, Sizzla, Lymie and Paul Elliott.
A number of entertainers are to stand trial in the Montego Bay RM Court on September 27, as a consequence of their conduct at Reggae Sumfest's beleagured Dancehall Night last month. They include Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Merciless, Hawkeye, Alozade and Kip Rich.
Summonses have also been prepared for American rappers Snoop Dogg and Ja Rule. Singer Ghost and singjay Sizzla are also to be served with summonses for vulgar conduct at Champions in Action.
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