BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – REGGAE singer Capleton a.k.a. The Prophet was recently removed from the Ragga Muffins Festival that will be held in Oakland tomorrow (Feb. 20).
The Jamaican singer, who was born Clifton George Bailey III, was removed from the lineup because organisers felt that his anti-gay lyrics would be inappropriate for the event, according to Caribworld.com.
The website reported that the festival’s co-producer Moss Jacobs also nixed Capleton`s appearances at the upcoming Long Beach and San Diego events.
“This as the Stop Murder Music campaign said some of Capleton`s lyrics include lines like `All Queers And Sodomites Should Be Killed` and `All Queers Who Come Around Here/This Mama Earth Says None Can Survive`,” the site stated.
However, Capleton`s Manager Claudette Kemp has denied that her client supports the murder of homosexuals and said that many of the singer`s lyrics are in fact based on the Bible.
Capleton has also been referred to as King Shango, King David and The Fireman and has songs including ‘Bumbo Red’, ‘Number One on the Look Good Chart,’ ‘Alms House,’ ‘Music is a Mission,’ ‘Tour’ and ‘Woman We Lotion’.
He is among a number of Reggae singers who have had their careers affected because of their anti-gay lyrics in songs.
One in particular is Buju Banton, whose 1992 ‘Boom Bye Bye’ tune which he recorded at age 18 caused him many criticisms.
According to a news article on antigay attitudes, New York Times reporter Kelefa Sanneh said the song is “a blood-curdling song with a low, lurching beat and a murderous chorus”.
Prior to his arrest on a drug charge, Banton had faced the wrath of gay rights activists throughout his U.S. tour last year and following his 2010 Grammy nomination.
