Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Did police in Sweden go overboard in the arrest of reggae superstar Sean Paul and hundreds of fans?
Some reggae promoters think so, including the man who organized the Uppsala Reggae Festival, where Paul, nine other performers, and up to 300 fans were arrested on Friday for marijuana possession.
`The way they treated Sean Paul and other artists was totally unacceptable,` Uppsala organizer Yared Tekeste told a Swedish publication. `They searched his hotel room when he was not present and went through wallets and other personal belongings.`
Tekeste said he believed law enforcement officials targeted Paul to make an example of him. Out of the festival's three days they chose the day he was to perform to make the mass arrests.
`Both artists and staff feel humiliated,` said Tekeste. `People were crying backstage. Some of the artists were so angry they planned a demonstration outside the police station. But I managed to prevent that.`
Caribbean nationals involved in the New York reggae scene agreed that Paul may have been set up to prove a point.
`He`s the one that sang, `Just gimme the light and pass the draw.` What did they expect?` asked television producer Shaun Walsh.
But concert promoter Sharon Gordon believes there`s a double standard for reggae concerts, and Paul may have been a victim of it. She said venues charge her more than the usual fee because they want to hire extra security. `There`s always that stigma that I have to fight - the idea that reggae means ganja and lewd behavior,` said Gordon.
Both Walsh and Gordon agree though that Paul should have been more careful.
`If he`s going to another country, he should respect their laws,` said Walsh.
`Reggae is always going to be targeted, but we also have to take some responsibility,` Gordon added.
Born Sean Paul Henriques, Sean Paul achieved international success in 2000 when the single "Hot Gal Today" reached the top 10 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart. This helped his album Stage One to reach the top 100 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums chart and reach #2 on the Reggae Album chart in the U.S. The awareness of Sean Paul as a rising star around the world helped set the stage for his second album Dutty Rock.
Dutty Rock was released in 2002. It proved to be Sean Paul's breakthrough to pop audiences. It was also a breakthrough for the dancehall reggae sound. The single "Get Busy" went all the way to #1 on the pop singles chart and 3 other singles landed in the top 20. Dutty Rock received the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album of the year in early 2003.
Three years later, he released The Trinity, which refers to 3 elements - dancehall, reggae, and hip hop - that make up the sound of Paul's music. The album opened at #7 on the U.S. album chart and in a few short weeks, the album's first single "We Be Burnin'" was in the top 10.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: CaribbeanWorldNews
Copyright: 2008 CaribbeanWorldNewsNetwork
Contact: CaribWorldNews.com ? Fast Breaking Caribbean News Daily
Website: CaribWorldNews.com - Global Caribbean Daily Newswire
Some reggae promoters think so, including the man who organized the Uppsala Reggae Festival, where Paul, nine other performers, and up to 300 fans were arrested on Friday for marijuana possession.
`The way they treated Sean Paul and other artists was totally unacceptable,` Uppsala organizer Yared Tekeste told a Swedish publication. `They searched his hotel room when he was not present and went through wallets and other personal belongings.`
Tekeste said he believed law enforcement officials targeted Paul to make an example of him. Out of the festival's three days they chose the day he was to perform to make the mass arrests.
`Both artists and staff feel humiliated,` said Tekeste. `People were crying backstage. Some of the artists were so angry they planned a demonstration outside the police station. But I managed to prevent that.`
Caribbean nationals involved in the New York reggae scene agreed that Paul may have been set up to prove a point.
`He`s the one that sang, `Just gimme the light and pass the draw.` What did they expect?` asked television producer Shaun Walsh.
But concert promoter Sharon Gordon believes there`s a double standard for reggae concerts, and Paul may have been a victim of it. She said venues charge her more than the usual fee because they want to hire extra security. `There`s always that stigma that I have to fight - the idea that reggae means ganja and lewd behavior,` said Gordon.
Both Walsh and Gordon agree though that Paul should have been more careful.
`If he`s going to another country, he should respect their laws,` said Walsh.
`Reggae is always going to be targeted, but we also have to take some responsibility,` Gordon added.
Born Sean Paul Henriques, Sean Paul achieved international success in 2000 when the single "Hot Gal Today" reached the top 10 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart. This helped his album Stage One to reach the top 100 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums chart and reach #2 on the Reggae Album chart in the U.S. The awareness of Sean Paul as a rising star around the world helped set the stage for his second album Dutty Rock.
Dutty Rock was released in 2002. It proved to be Sean Paul's breakthrough to pop audiences. It was also a breakthrough for the dancehall reggae sound. The single "Get Busy" went all the way to #1 on the pop singles chart and 3 other singles landed in the top 20. Dutty Rock received the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album of the year in early 2003.
Three years later, he released The Trinity, which refers to 3 elements - dancehall, reggae, and hip hop - that make up the sound of Paul's music. The album opened at #7 on the U.S. album chart and in a few short weeks, the album's first single "We Be Burnin'" was in the top 10.
News Hawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: CaribbeanWorldNews
Copyright: 2008 CaribbeanWorldNewsNetwork
Contact: CaribWorldNews.com ? Fast Breaking Caribbean News Daily
Website: CaribWorldNews.com - Global Caribbean Daily Newswire
