 Was
the dancer's gimmicks at the heart of his demise?
Police reports are that Gerald Levy, 40, popularly known as the dancer
"Bogle" of a Lincoln Crescent address, along with four other
persons were travelling in his F150 van on Constant Spring Road, Kingston
10 on Thursday, January 20 at about 2:35 a.m., when they stopped at a
service station on Constant Spring Road.
While there, two men armed with handguns rode up on a grey Honda F4 motor
bike and opened fire, hitting all five who were in the vehicle. They were
taken to the hospital where Levy was pronounced dead and three others
admitted in serious condition. A fourth person was treated and released.
XtraNews received news on Monday that another of the men shot during the
incident who was admitted in serious condition, died on Sunday night.
He has been identified as Tony Reid aka "Matterhorn" (not the
sound system selector).
"All dem deh, whey all
dem did deh? Cause mi a straight weddy weddy, mi not a lean weddy weddy"--
excerpts from late dancehall icon Bogle's controversial lyrics said to
be at the heart of recent heated arguments between himself and rival dancer
John Hype, who responded with "Yuh ready? How dem sey dem ready,
dem nuh ready 'cause dem a par wid Freddy. A wha duh yuh? A wha duh yuh
cookie monster an yuh crew?"
It's a new twist to the dancehall
culture dancers turning DJs. The ongoing feud between dancers/DJs
Bogle and John Hype dating back to last year is no secret, even though
persons from both camps are trying to downplay it.
Reports garnered by XtraNews from several fans here in Jamaica and abroad
are that physical showdowns and word dropping had taken place between
the two dance crews at several dancehall events as they grumbled about
"who better than who, who bring who, who done and who a mek more
money and dress better than who."
"Dem wet up dem one anodda, drop wud, even bax dung, kick dung and
spit pon gwaan between the followers," one female fan close to the
wrangling reported.
Some persons are also blaming a popular sound system operator for causing
the fiery rift between the two dancers, by breeding it and encouraging
it at his weekly events.
There are reports of a conflict that took place at Standpipe last year
in which female fans of Beenie Man had verbal arguments with a member
of Bogle's entourage who threw Guinness at them, which caught Beenie Man
on the hand. It is alleged that another member of Bogle's camp talked
it over with the DJ. However, reports are that by the time they returned
to Black Roses, two men, one armed with a rifle and the other a shotgun,
opened fire on them. Recognising the men, Beenie Man was called and he
was reportedly upset that the men from a section of the community had
taken it up on themselves to retaliate. A meeting was called and the matter
quelled.
In another instance, it is reported that at a popular Monday night session,
there was a confrontation between Bogle and John Hype's dancers. Men from
Bogle's corner went around to John Hype's corner. Things got physical
and punches were thrown. Allegations are that one man from Hype's corner
went to a nearby street for a gun and was on his way back when he was
held by the police. Bogle and Hype were not involved in that brawl.
The night of Wednesday, January 19, 2005, turned out to be a fatal one.
One eyewitness, a member of Bogle's crew, reports that there was no
confrontation between Bogle, John Hype or any member of the crew at the
popular Weddy Weddy night in Kingston that night.
"The only argument whey tek place a between Beenie Man footballer
bredda and Kid Kurrupt. Mi know sey di man dem inna Beenie Man camp did
vex when wi let out the two fowls from inside a suitcase. The black fowl
whey have on the bead on the top of him head fly go over whey Beenie Man
stand up and everybody start laugh. Beenie Man wasn't amused as him face
did ben' up. Mi jus' step out a di crowd and observe whey a gwaan,"
he said.
It is understood that followers of Beenie Man took offence at the fact
that Bogle had brought the fowls to the dance, and the implication was
made as to who the fowls represented. Some considered it disrespect and
even vented anger at Bogle.
The eyewitness said that for a while he did not know where Bogle had turned
until a man brought two six-packs of Guinness and Bogle instructed to
distribute them.
"Mi nuh know if a dat time him an anybody get inna nuh argument and
him woulda sey supp'n to a man, yuh see mi," the eyewitness said.
He went on to say that, "Beenie Man and his followers were the first
to leave the venue and Bogle said him not going anywhere until him ready
to go
to Passa Passa where he was planning to do the same fowl thing."
Bogle and a van load of followers later left Weddy Weddy heading for Passa
Passa when Bogle realised that he was low on gas and stopped at the Esso
gas station on Constant Spring Road. Bogle was sitting in the passenger
side of his F150 vehicle driven by one of his colleagues.
THE DRIVER SPEAKS
Speaking to XtraNews, the driver of the vehicle said, "Bogle go inna
him pocket and come up wid a $500 and sey "a ongle this mi have inna
mi pocket." Him hand mi the $500 and push him hand inna him pocket
again and come up wid $100 whey him push back in him pocket and say a
it alone him have. "Him did give me $2,000 to hold on to at Weddy
Weddy. A it him teck and buy the Guinness. A entertainer did deh pon the
pump so Bogle come out a di van and guh stand up unda di shed inna di
gas station. Meanwhile mi a wait pon di entertainer fi come off when mi
see a bike ride up and a man in a helmet reach fi him waist and start
opening fire on Bogle.
"As mi back up fi use the vehicle and drive dung pon him, mi only
hear a shot and feel supp'n lick mi inna mi head back and tun roun fi
see a man a
aim a gun at mi head. All mi coulda do is drive the vehicle up in a corner
and jump through the window and run go ova through Pavilion and run fi
mi
life. When mi a run, mi see a nex' yute a run and the gunman shot him
inna him back and him drop."
As news of Bogle's death spread far and wide, persons who knew of the
ongoing feud, and who were at Weddy Weddy, immediately linked the death
to Beenie Man and John Hype because of previous friction.
The torching of premises at 12 Dillon Road belonging to John Hype's parents
is considered retaliation for Bogle's death.
As rumours circulated linking Beenie Man and John Hype with Bogle's death
and death threats were issued against the two and their camp, Shocking
Vibes, issued statements dissociating the two from the murder and even
offered an initial $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest
of the
murderers.
A GRIEVING MOTHER
In an interview with XtraNews, Bogle's mother Dorothy Smith, affectionately
called Mama May, said, "A Bogle buy [everything], up to mi panty
fi mi. Mi leave everything to God and mi doan want nobody sorry fi mi.
God is my revenge and no amount a money whey dem a put up naw bring back
mi pickney. Same way people know di names a the two man, and since a dem
friend and dem doan know nutten 'bout mi pickney death, dem fi just come
clean and give up the man dem.
"When mi hear Beenie Man pon TV a talk 'bout a nuff people waan kill
Bogle, him need fi talk who is dem nuff people deh. Bogle nuh nyammy nyammy.
A mi cook him food still. A Tuesday (day before he was killed) mi cook
beef and food fi him."
Mama May sat back and lamented on the good relationship she had with her
son.
According to Mama May, "A waiting on some family members abroad to
come in for the funeral and February 6 is the most likely time. I've already
gotten the go ahead from the MP to lay the body in state at the Tony Spaulding
Complex."
On Sunday at a candlelight church vigil being held at Black Roses corner,
another of Bogle's colleagues told XtraNews that, "Bogle did a prepare
fi
see dem do a counteraction, dress up two black Doberman dogs inna chain
and sey a him. Him sey all him woulda do a jus deejay sey, 'Mi a di ongle
dawg wid di bark roun' here, walk and dance roun here.' Jah know sey a
so Bogle stay. Him just love them things deh."
Dancehall is now in limbo as nobody knows for sure why Bogle was gunned
down, nobody is saying who really killed him, or if, when and where
reprisals will take place, as several persons here and abroad are bent
on avenging his death.
As a result of what happened on that fateful night, and the uncertainty
of what will happen next, the police have encouraged promoters of street
dances and weekly sessions in certain areas to desist from hosting these
events until further notice.
Whether these events were still being kept or not would have been redundant,
as following the incident many dancehall patrons stayed home, very few
brave enough to venture out.
Reprinted with the permission
of XNews Jamaica.
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