THE news pages were kept busy in 2009 as one artiste after another opted to step away from the stage and the recording studios and enter through the not-so-pearly gates of police stations and the halls of justice. And then, there were those whose one-off announcements or whose actions on a different stage proved quite a mouthful.

Buju Banton

There was nothing inauspicious about Buju Banton in ’09. Remember the ‘Bob is not the greatest’ saga? This was followed by his run-ins with the gay community while touring the US in support of his now Grammy-nominated album, Rasta Got Soul. After a series of cancelled shows, as a result of lobby from gay rights groups, the Gargamel had a sit-down and what a Kodak moment that proved to be! Then he got the Grammy nomination nod, but before Buju could celebrate he was catapulted onto the world stage with news that the Feds had picked him up in Florida where he was held on cocaine conspiracy charges.

We are sure Jah is listening keenly to the cries of those who say: “Free Buju Banton.”

Luciano

How could this other prominent and respected son of Jah — and don’t forget the adjectives holy and self-righteous — have allowed himself to be caught up in such an intense drama? The plot was straight out of Pulp Fiction — notorious wanted man on the loose, shoot-out with the police at Luciano’s place of business, wanted man killed and the Messenjah seen in handcuffs sitting meekly in the back a police vehicle. All this sounds like such hogwash. But it did happen and even Freckles, the Rasta brethren who administered an iron-pipe beating to Luciano, offered his sympathy. Luciano’s court case continues.

Ninjaman

Come on now, how long has Ninjaman been languishing behind bars? And, for a crime that he says he knows nothing about? Ninja had declared that “is long time me stop walk and kill people”, but obviously he’s having a hard time convincing anyone of that.

Lisa Hyper

The cocksure Lisa Hyper (then known as Lisa Hype) made a statement that was quite a mouthful. But it was a case on “no retreat, no surrender” and the firebrand deejay rather than retreat when all the odds seemed stacked against her and took it in her stride. She blazed the Sting stage, shrugging off a round of boos, survived being kicked out of the Portmore Empire and has not looked back since.

Etana

When this well-loved Rasta Empress, heiress to the throne, tossed aside her imperial colours and got baptised in a Christian church, there were more questions than answers. But, the truth is, the more things change, the more they remain the same and Etana hasn’t missed a beat.

Bounty Killer

Miss Ivy last son really found himself in quite a pickle with the law in ’09 and secured quite a few front-page mentions. Assault charges, running stop lights, run-in with a cop, and the list goes on. We can only hope that this Alliance head honcho wipes the slate clean and starts anew in 2010. And we promise that we won’t say a word about the incident at the Shaggy show.

Mr Lexx

Just as Mr Lexx seemed all set to make a comeback, he captured the front page… for all the wrong reasons. (Deja vu?) A female with whom he was friends cried rape while the two of there were staying at a hotel in Florida. With his manager loudly protesting his innocence, Lexx remains on bail in the US.

Goofy

When Goofy made the mistake of pulling his licensed firearm at dancehall jester, LA Lewis, the drama that played out was just the goofiest ever in local entertainment. LA Lewis made a report to the police, Goofy spent two nights behind bars and after a series of mishaps, the stage was set for these two to have top billing on Sting. It was a much-publicised clash that fortunately never happened. And, after all that circus, the gun case is still in court and plans are still afoot for the irresponsible clash.