Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

Matterhorn at Fully Loaded at James Bond Beach on Sunday, July 30. - nathaniel stewart photo

A battle is brewing over the man from Mars, Tony 'Mentally Ill' Matterhorn and the rights to his Dutty Wine song.

According to Matterhorn, the sale of his mega hit song, Dutty Wine to VP Records by producer Supa Hype of Hyperactive Entertainment is now causing problems with him getting a deal with Atlantic Records.

"Some producer sell out di ting too fast and dem fi stop exploit wi music cause wi music big," Matterhorn told THE STAR.

"Now, Atlantic waan sign mi. We had a meeting Monday a England, everything inna di final stage an VP a gwaan like dem waan fight mi," he said.

According to the selector/deejay, the sale of his song came at a time when the song had already become a hit.

Dem a buy out mi song dem

"Dem nuh do nutt'n fi mi song, when dem (VP) get mi song it did done big already. Suh is like now, dem a guh roun behind mi back a retrieve all a mi song dem, like dem waan put out a album independently. Dem a buy out mi song dem an dat's why mi nah too voice fi no producer because dem too licky licky, dem wi sell yuh out fi all five gran," Matterhorn said.

"Suh if VP buy up bout twelve a my song, dem can put out a compilation album. Dem a fight mi out neatly, cause di new label would a waan put out a album wid me, but mi jus a smile an tek every ting in good faith, a God mi a work wid," Matterhorn said.

When contacted, Supa Hype was not willing to comment on the matter, saying, "all of the business is not settled as yet, we're in arrangements."

However, Randy Chin, head of marketing, VP Records, said that despite having interest in working with Matterhorn, if he signs to another label then some agreement would have to be reached where the Dutty Wine song is concerned.

"We did a deal with Supa earlier this year and we have the exclusive rights to the song. Over the last few months we've been talking to Matterhorn about doing something with him, but he has been in discussions with other labels and it will be up to him who he decides to sign with. Whoever he signs to we can negotiate, but we've been promoting the song now for the last few months in New York and that is a big reason why so many of the major labels right now are paying so much attention to it," Chin said.

VP however denied that they were planning to put out a Matterhorn compilation album.

Matterhorn also disagreed that VP had much to do with his song's popularity.

"Mi song did done big already when dem (VP) get it and with the polls just in, the song is in the top five most played songs on radio around the world and mi nuh even sign to nobody yet," he said.

"Like how dem sell out Marcus Garvey a suh dem a try come sell mi out but dem caan sell mi out. A dat mek di business look watery. Suh right now mi jus a defy di whole ting an show up who fi get show up. Yuh caan fight di man from Mars, I'm outside of yuh realm. I am the defiant one, when dem seh it can't be done, I say, eeeen, it can be done."

When contacted, Atlantic Records did not want to disclose any information regarding Matterhorn. Andrew, the person who answered the telephone in Craig Kallkman's office said, "we can't really disclose information about artistes that we're interested in."

Matterhorn says from now on he will make sure that all rights to his music will belong to him. "Right now, whenever mi voice fi no producer, dem haffi guh sign my own likkle contract weh dem can't even do nutt'n wid it without my permission," he said.