Mathhew Gray from Coppershot Disco.

BY Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

The recent trend of violent incidences associated with the playing of certain songs at events, have made disc jockeys more cautious in making their selections. Choosing to walk a thin line, many try not to anger fans who take musical feuds personally.

In the latter part of February selecting duo Razz and Biggy were reportedly playing at a party at Prendy's in Portmore, when fans of Vybz Kartel attacked Biggy for playing too many Mavado tunes.

At the time, the feud between both entertainers reached a new low and their fans eagerly took it to another level.

"We are selectors, we play for fans, so an artiste can't tell us what to play...Now look at what is happening, where people send threats because of what I play. It's like the artistes take selectors for puppets," Biggy told The Star recently.

Booed and missiles

At University of the West Indies' (UWI's) Spectrum in January, DJ Sunshine was booed and missiles hurled in her direction after several patrons felt that she had played too many Beenie Man songs. She exited the stage and refused to return.

"I plan to continue to play good music. I cannot be biased in the business. Mi still have love for whoever, mi understand what was going on, but let us just put the politics aside and deal wid di music," DJ Sunshine had told the STAR. Sunshine says she will not be deterred in how she goes about selecting her songs in the future.

With all this going on, are selectors playing in fear?

Stephen Hales of Bass Odyssey stated that selectors should always take into consideration what they are going to play.

"Some people can't handle certain comments about an artiste, you have to know what a possible outcome if you say on mic might cause,' she said.

"You can't have two feuding artistes and go into the backyard of one and play the other artiste he's feuding with songs. It's his fans, its common sense to know better. Its happened many times to artiste and selectors."

According to Matthew Gray of Coppershot Disco, the nine selectors on the sound have always tried to stay out of the controversy.

"We play music we think the people will like and what will make people have fun. We have always had a policy of working wid who work wid us, but we don't limit ourselves musically," Gray said.

However, Gray commented that sometimes at a dance the vibe from the crowd may communicate that they do not want to hear tunes from an artiste.

Hales also agrees that the purpose of a selector is to be 'selective', to know to play the right type of music, majority rules and the aim is to please the crowd.

Yet Coppershot has never experienced any intimidation from the artistes, as they have never told them what to play and what not to play.

Gray elaborated: "We and no artistes nuh have no beef and we always play music that caters to the fans. I think the whole intimidation thing come wen certain selectors align themselves wid a particular artistes and they feel the need to work on an agenda to push dem artiste. For a sound like we that neutral wid the business we nuh feel no pressure or intimidation."

Alliances among selectors and artistes have become widespread and may have resulted in some of the troubles.

Said Gray: "You will always have alliance and certain people looking out for particular artistes that never going to change, but selectors and artistes need to be careful that they don't tek the allegiance overboard or dis people while showing them preference. Nothing not wrong wid showing your support, but try balance it. The feud thing in dancehall is part of the culture, nothing nuh wrong wid it as long as it stay within the music."

DJ Sunshine and Razz (right) and Biggy - Contributed