THE operator of the country’s only calypso radio station has entered the fray with a hard-hitting song about crime.
But Kenny Phillips sang in his calypso of being told he is “on the wrong road” and should leave singing to others.
Phillips, who owns WACK 90.1 FM, sang about “crime exploding through the country.”
Commenting on youth crime, he rendered:
“Since yuh pee start to froth yuh feel yuh is a big man,
Gold chain on yuh neck and a gun in yuh right hand,
But you used to beat drum and you could play real pan,
Now yuh is a shotta only killing yuh African.”
Phillips referred to calypsonians with melodious voices, but added:
“Dem sweet voice eh give black boy sense.
“Killing yuh own race with no consequence,
“Voices like honey with real sugar-coat,
“Eh stop ah boy bussing yuh throat.
“My voice is not the sweetest you’ve heard,
“But dem rude boys listening every word.”
In another verse, Phillips sang:
“Yuh know in yuh heart the boi is a real pest,
“Yuh on d TV ‘my good boy was the best’.”
He commented:
“Ah watching good in yuh bad boi trip,
“And take people life just to get yuh pips,
“Boi, to leave yuh alive yuh know we can’t afford,
“With no fear of dying and yuh have no fear of God.”
Throughout the calypso, Phillips told of being advised to leave singing to “singers with dem golden voice.”
But he retorted:
“Sweet voice does caress the ear,
“But sometimes is gravel they need to hear,
“My voice reflects the struggles we face,
“Cutting so deep it does leave a trade.”
Phillips performed at the South Calypso Monarch competition, where he did not make it beyond the preliminaries.
Several calypso aficionados felt that he was slighted by the judges for singing about “uncomfortable truths.”
Phillips’ radio station is a major promoter of the national culture.
