May Pen has finally gotten its chance to premier on Jamaica’s first dancehall talent show. Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall Presents the May Pen finalists.
Tiki
Tiki was motivated to enter the music business by her deceased cousin, who believed a lot in her and her music abilities including her song writing skills. The young deejay started singing and writing songs while still a youngster at 12 years old. Tiki captured the sights of Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall when she auditioned in May Pen with the song Hard Core. The Hard Core deejay notes that as a single mother with a three-year-old, this competition is an investment for her as she’s looking to crack the music market by showing her undisputed talent; which she believes will definitely bring success for her and her family.
Tattoo
“People say I was good in school and I got a lot of encouragement from friends, but I used to dismiss it because I really wasn’t convinced and was doubtful of my abilities,” commented Tattoo. Tattoo says that it was after Hurricane Ivan that she decided to enter the music business. “After Ivan I was at home with some of my friends and one of my friends wrote a song and said that they needed a female to do a part. I deejayed that part and everyone looked on in amazement because I did it so well.” Tattoo notes that Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall is the second talent competition that she has entered but the first that she has been successful in.
Bingy Linkz
Hailing from the Connors District outside of Old Harbour, ‘Bingy Linkz’ got the name Bingy while still in school; later Linkz was added after he developed a strong liking for the entertainment of Firelinks. His friends blended the school name ‘Bingy’ and the ‘Links’ from ‘Firelinks’ and created the name ‘Bingy Linkz’. But this wasn’t where the young selector and Deejay developed the desire to start a music career. He reveals: “I had this artiste friend in my community and he heard me deejaying and said that I should try to move into the dancehall sector.” Linkz continued: “I was also told that my father used to be a deejay in the community too, so that motivated me to take it further.”
Warrior
Warrior changed his name from Faith Warrior; a name with a mostly spiritual suggestion to something more profound. Warrior prides himself as a double talent who sings and deejays, however deejaying was what got him a spot in the second round of Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall. While in school the young Deejay recalls knocking the bench, singing and deejaying with his friends. He believes his vocal skills have developed with uniqueness like Laden, but with a deejay style similar to Tony Matterhorn. The Tastee Talent Search was the first talent show he tried at a few years ago but never made it pass the prejudging stage. He notes: “I deejayed but I believe that they were catering more to singers, after not being successful I tried my luck at Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall,” commented the native of Peckham District in Clarendon.
