What a difference a couple weeks makes. Two weeks after social media users beckoned for her to retire from dancehall, 51-year-old veteran artiste Macka Diamond brought her A-game to Alkaline’s ‘New Rules’ and turned in what attendees have dubbed a show-stealing performance at the event.

Macka commanded the stage and had the audience salivating at her every word as she delivered a captivating set, proving that although she may be perceived as ‘old’ she is definitely ‘not out’,

The ‘Dye Dye’ singer told OBSERVER ONLINE afterwards that she believes she has a lot more to offer in dancehall. She said although she has nothing to prove to naysayers, she wanted to use the New Rules stage to show that without confidence in self, ‘one is twice defeated in the race of life’.

“Because of the struggles I went through in this industry, is like people forgot who Macka Diamond is. A just one a dem thing deh but mi did just wah people see say wah nuh dead, no dash it weh,” she said. “I knew going on that stage, it was a chance to show people what I am made of. I was ready for that show. I said to myself, this is it. This is exactly what I need to show the new generation say mi still have it.”

“This is what I love so whether unu think me old or young, me ago do this until me decide fi give it up,” she continued. “There has to be someone in dancehall who can show people say if reggae females can sing until dem feel like, dancehall artistes can do the same once dem still feel good, look good and carry themselves a certain way. People ago thank me for this one day because mi a show di woman dem say unu can do weh unu love until unu say when.”

Dubbing herself the “underdog of dancehall”, Macka Diamond says she feels vindicated following her New Rules showcase.

“It is such an overwhelming feeling when an underdog come and dominate a show like this and turn it over. People who were talking bad about me, now talking good and I love that,” she said. “Things can make you or break you but I never try to make thing break me. A better people lowe me and make me just leave the business when me ready but di more dem fight me, a di stronger mi get.”

Macka Diamond shared that while the time is now for new female talent in dancehall, critics should also admit that experience counts for a lot in the music business.

“New, fresh talent is a must. That is how we replenish the entertainment industry. But there should always be space for seasoned, experienced artistes like myself. We may not have the ‘hottest songs’ out now but we have a catalogue of tracks and stage experience that can give you a top-notch performance any day,” she said. “That has to mean something. We affi keep the thing balanced in music.”