Vybz Kartel from Anti Bleaching advocate to The King of "The Rub"

Vybz Kartel - Weh Di Bleaching Fah {Shampoo Riddim}

So the former song writer for other top DJs in the dancehall music arena turned top DJ himself is still in the news with his open declaration as a "bleacher/bleacha" (see the video below how he tries to navigate around it) there has not been any serious analysis of this by the experts in Anthropology or Culture on this issue or am I just being too alarmist? I hope someone does so soon to make the link to the impact on MSM culture in Jamaica.

Mr. Palmer aka Vybz Kartel certainly in my estimation has turned dancehall on it's head or at least made a once taboo issue an overnight fad with open acceptance from many of his male fans in particular, the ladies simply go gaga for it. Of course there are those who have labelled him as a hypocrit or a battyman saying he has gone back on his original word as expressed in the tune highlighted above. As is practice many upcoming dancehall DJs when making their way up the ladder and or charts tend to stick to anti-gay, anti-bleaching and anti-oral sex(or bowing) songs to grab the public's attention however once at the top it's a different matter and the public in turn tends to let established artists off the hook when they go against the grade.

An example of this rise and freedom type of reign could be a Bounty Killa who was one of those artists that hit out at tight pants or jeans wearing males now there is no public appearance that the "Killa" or the poor people's governor doesn't dawn the latest GUCCI or other brand straight jeans complete with dick print and all to drive onlookers crazy, at least for those who like that kind of thing. Here too Vybz Kartel has also gone against taboo as tight pants in any form were considered a no no in the dancehall and still has opposition in some circles. He has penned and performed a track called "Straight Jeans and Fitted"

instantly smashing the taboo in a sense while making it fashionable in the dancehall, the combination of straight jeans and white tees is a uniform now for events while others add scarfs, rags and durags tied around the neck imitating a European couture pattern mostly done by females. The attention to detail by men now has sent Jamaica in a tailspin of sorts in terms of masculine identity rewriting all the rules that existed before with full on metrosexualism in effect. Of course the battyman or gay connection and the stigmas attached before are still present but may have been drowned out by the popularity of the voice breaking the taboo which maybe a good thing towards less discrimination and homo negativity regarding aesthetics.

the photo above has been shared all over of course it is a parody of the Vybz promoting bleaching or rubbing as we call it here in Jamaica. His marrying of the bleaching concept to the earlier fad of using Blue laundry "Cake Soap" is a smart public relations move by the star in my estimation, that of course may have helped to soften the notion that he was using strictly bleaching creams, that could have avoided any major backlash from the public as hinted before men bleaching was a major no no save and except for certain types of hypermasculine ot thug types who have older bleaching and sometimes wealthy women as "suga mamas' they are easily identifiable they do not work, often are dressed in the latest brand clothing and simply "floss" or show off themselves among the group or crew rivalry. Of note many of them are indeed bisexual and have the suga mamas for financial support. All this intertwined to make the bleaching culture a fascinating study that ought to be taken up by the experts.

As for Mr Kartel he may be a hypocrite indeed publicly as he has totally gone against the early 2000 song he recorded professing his opposition to bleaching, a part of the track says

"How yuh black and white and yuh anno zebra" (you're black n white and you're not a zebra)

"How yuh fi fraid a de sun .... yuh a vampire like weh mi see pon cable?" (how are you to avoid the sun ... are you a vampire like those on cable TV?)

However in the "Cake Soap" track he takes a completely opposite stance and fires lyrics to the effect bearing in mind he kills the homosexual hint in the first line by saying,

"mi nuh love man so tek yuh eye offa mi" (I don't go for men so don't look my way)

He has gone on to say he doesn't go into the sun and stays in the air conditioned comfort of his car or house to keep his skin cool. Many disbelieve however that it's only the cake soap he's uses to "bleach" however as diplomatic as he is he says he doesn't recommend as he is not a medical practitioner and he is not using any internal remedies such as pills, this was just before he signed the Reggae Compassionate Act for the France date.

here is the man in his own word on the television Jamaica weekend Entertainment show ER where his controversies are questioned. Again he smashed the "gay" link to bleaching in the interview when asked if he thinks men should bleach. He responds that he is not into "men" the word men in Jamaica is interpreted to have some gay references hence it is not used by some dancehall and Rastafarian artists.

The backlash however seems to be mounting with even references to his own possible bisexuality by some. Some critics dismiss the opposition as mindless as most of it comes from the Movado "Gully" camp bearing in mind the public feud that existed before. So the fans may still be at "war" on the ground. Everyone was expecting a battle at the recent Sting show which almost fizzled with the absence of the two kingpins.

In the meantime see previous entries on Gay Jamaica Watch on the controversy and the "Fag Tshirt" problem he encountered in mid 2010. 

Peace and tolerance

H