Ebuzz News
Archived: Lyrikal Responds, Sets Things Straight as His Name Is Implicated in Online Scandal.
There’s so much happening in Caribbean entertainment these days. Nailah Blackman’s launched her new band, SOAKAH, Konshens tied the knot, Bunji Garlin’s been teasing us about some vintage Garlin and Rihanna’s in Barbados bubbling to Sizzla Kalonji’s music. We can’t forget though that Trinidad and Tobago’s Shradah, a relatively young and less known female soca artiste, has been making some pretty strong and long- winded accusations, much of which surround an alleged sexual situation of which she was an alleged victim. Her Facebook LIVE outbursts have left some bewildered, but there are others who are concerned that her accusations could hurt their image and reputation, especially since, they don’t know what she’s speaking about.
Shradah has been silent on the music scene for a few years. Her sudden emergence is shrouded by sexual assault undertones.
Lyrikal’s name was subliminally called in one of Shradah’s videos and Lyro’s not happy about it at all. A great season likely ahead, the Brooklyn based carnival mainstay has been churning out the hits. He recently collaborated with Patrice Roberts on a single called, “Criminal Wine” – a Millbeatz Entertainment production. That tune’s been a favorite across the urban airwaves and as Lyro told us, the collaboration came quite unexpectedly with David Millien approaching him with news that he’d created something he thought would be perfect for him and Patsy. “What was crazy was that a few weeks prior, I had met Patrice in the Virgin Islands and she said to me, ‘aye Lyro we should collaborate on something some time’ and I agreed. We never planned anything,” he said. Lyrikal’s one of the most down to earth entertainers and with a humble persona that’s very approachable, the New Yorker’s name certainly isn’t one to be called in any kind of media scandal. At least up until now. “I don’t like my name being affiliated with anything like this, ” he said to us, referring to the videos posted by Shradah, and while he admits that the young mother and artiste did not directly say he assaulted her in any way, her remark that she had reached out to ‘Lyrikal’ for comfort after being allegedly assaulted by a local producer whose name she directly mentions in one of the videos, has Lyrikal stumped. “I know of her- I know her as an artiste. That’s it. We have never had a personal relationship of any kind for her say she would call me!,” said Martin. He said he recalls meeting Shradah once, years ago at Synergy TV, prior to an interview and was introduced to her by producer, Wendell Naipaul. “Wendell said he wanted us to do a song together but that never happened. That was 3 or 4 years ago,” said Lyrikal. We could hear the concern in his voice- the questions as to why Shradah would call his name of all people.
Lyrikal, the artiste who has given fans of soca songs like Loner, Freedom and Dip and Roll, is bothered by recent statements that implicate his name.
Lyrikal told EBUZZTT that if he could speak with Shradah now, he would ask her just that, “why would you say that you called me for comfort and that’s not true? That’s what I would ask her because everyone in my circle, whether artistes or DJs or whatever, know each other and the people who I deal with aren’t familiar with her like that,” said Lyrikal. He said despite everything, he is concerned about the young woman, lamenting that if she was in fact assaulted, he would hope that the authorities intervene and she gets the help she needs to deal with the situation. “I just did a show in New York with Nicki Minaj’s mother. It was all about empowering women and fighting against domestic violence and the abuse of women. I was actually the only soca artiste on that cast. I have a lot of female fans and I have seven sisters. I could never condone any kind of ill treatment against women,” said the entertainer.
Lyrikal’s looking forward to Carnival 2018 but admits that the numerous recent phone calls and enquiries about this particular situation, has bothered him. “I mean, I have feelings too. This definitely bothered me,” he said.
Martin’s already released four tracks ahead of C2K18 and says he has a couple more to come. Shradah meanwhile, has unleashed yet another social media video. In this one, she attempts to clear the air on what she says are her statements being misconstrued. “I never made sexual assault claims against Anson or Lyrikal,” she expresses.
Ebuzz News
Denise Belfon’s OVO Package from Drake, Included a Dominos Game.
She may be a Trinbagonian soca artiste but she’s also a proud Caribbean woman, so it was only right that rapper, Drake’s team at October’s Very Own – OVO, deliver to the entertainer, an OVO branded dominos set. It was quite possibly the package inclusion that brought out Belfon’s excitement earlier this week, when she received and opened it up.
Denise has been basking in the joy of being a part of Drake’s recently released, Maid of Honor’ album – her single ‘Work’ sampled on a track called, ‘BBW’. Fans, pretty much elated by the news, have been expressing their congratulations to the New York based singer, many saying it was only a matter of time before this type of breakthrough came for her.
Denise’s journey in music began decades ago, and even though her presence on the Soca circuit in the Caribbean has been limited for some time, her past hits have proven to be legacy-leavers, with DJs, artistes and social media users quite often returning to her sound.
The OVO gift package included merchandise and the special Dominos game set, something Denise automatically hailed out her Jamaican friends on, noting that they’d me meeting up for a game soon. When news of the sample emerged in May, many questioned whether Belfon had agreed to the use of her work. She has since allayed all concerns, saying all is above board on the project.
Music News
Belmont, Trinidad Delivers On ‘Hill and Gully’ Riddim. Anisha Pleas for Peace.
