BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – “A told dem say stop play!” exclaimed Sandy Pointer Clevorn Maynard affectionately known as ‘Kashman’. His famous saying is vastly becoming one of the locals’ favourite slangs.
In an interview with Maynard, he stated that his love for music was discovered when he was a 5th Grader.
Kashman and a then fellow classmate, Collin ‘C-Money’ Wyatt wrote their 1st song dubbed, ‘Running Wolf Passe’ which mainly spoke about the group members who were C-Money, Kashman and two other members.
Shortly, one year after, the group performed their 1st single for the school’s Prince and Princess show. It was then that Maynard’s career started.
Subsequently, Kashman’s ‘Stop play’ slang became a popular local saying.
But how did this phrase come about?
According to Kashman, “the slang came from my mom. Whenever I did anything wrong she would say, “Boy stop play.” So growing up hearing that, I grew accustomed to it and started saying it to the point where everyone was saying it as well.”
However he mentioned that he promotes this saying to encourage citizens to wise up, be serious and ‘Stop Play!’
As the saying became popular it encouraged the young Sandy Pointer to make a Soca-styled song entitled, “She want him stop play!’
It was about a woman who was in a relationship with a sportsman and her desire was for her companion to take the relationship serious and “stop play”!
Though the song is of a Soca genre, Kashman, however, stated that he would not enter the Soca Monarch competition, for he sees this as a labelling opportunity that can negatively affect his singing skills so he would rather remain on his current ‘cool’ level.
Kashman especially mentioned that his music is totally different from other local artistes’ music.
“I do not consider myself as a local artiste. I see myself as a global artiste.” said a proud and ambitious Kashman. Further explaining that when people label him as raw, he interprets it as being willing and ready to give the listening ears the truth about what is going on around us.
Maynard also made mention that he is currently seeking the opportunity to perform at some of the Carnival shows as a contribution towards this year’s 40:40 Mas celebration.
However he will be performing at the upcoming Charles E Mills Secondary School Queen Pageant that is scheduled to take place sometime this year.
So what is next for this local musical icon?
According to Kashman, “Well right now things are just in the planning stage, but I am working on making the ‘Kashman’ name into a brand such as clothing for children because children are the ones who really inspire me to do what I do. Other items such as markers and pencils will be made with the ‘Stop Play’ logo. Sometime after, I would concentrate on the adults making t-shirts and so on for them, of course with the ‘Stop Play’ logo.”
Maynard extends heart-felt thanks to those who have supported him and still continue to do so in his musical endeavours and request that everyone have a ‘Stop Play’ carnival.
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