Former Jamaican top cop Isaiah Laing who spent 20 years as a law-enforcer talked about his passion for policing and music from a young age in an interview with Kshema Francis on IRIE FM. In the almost 50-minute-long chat, Laing detailed his experience with Joe Bogdanovich and several famous clashes at Sting.
The man who was involved in several fatal gun battles explained that he turned to event promotion because he wanted to buy a car. He recalls seeing someone who he had a shootout with while on his way home on a bus and from that day he promised himself he would never take a bus again because of the risks.
After 82 and 83 successful events at “Prison Oval”, he stated that he held the first staging of Sting, a 4-sound clash in 1984(It was Boxing Night, December 26) and it was the “biggest dance ever held in Jamaica… was the first of its kind,” Laing said, he also highlighted that 16000 people paid to attend the event at Cinema 2.
“Sting is coming from the dance, what I did was move the dance from around the turn table on the ground and put it on a stage,” said Laing.
However, following several successful shows, he was forced to choose between hosting Sting or continuing in the police force, after several court battles he was told that he must choose one.
Laing also talked about the most tense clash ever in the history of Sting between Mavado and Vybz Kartel in 2008 and the 2003 clash between Vybz Kartel and Ninjaman which turned violent. Laing details that most Sting clashes have been without violence, however, in some cases, the crowd and some artistes get out of control despite the many law enforcement measures.
With regards to his 2013 partnership with owner and CEO of DownSound Records Ltd Joseph J. Bogdanovich, Laing said it was a bad move that has sent the show downward since that time, citing that the Reggae Sumfest and Freedom Street promoter have done some “evil things” since they worked together.
RELATED: Vybz Kartel’s ‘Freedom Street’ Concert Tickets and Location Details
“He has an agenda… listen to me, the man carry me out inna deep waters, him know seh mi cah swim enuh… second year the man don’t do the show and do some evil things,” said Laing who went on to detail that Joe turned up to Sting in 2014 despite not being on speaking turns with Laing. The former cop stated that while at the show, “Joe right hand man” pulled his gun and fired several shots in the air causing a stampede after a commotion that could have been quelled otherwise.
Francis next asked Laing about, moving forward regardless of several dismal recent shows, Laing’s response was, “I’ll tell the world, look for it December 26, if we don’t have a war.” Notably, in a recent interview with the Jamaica Star, Laing outlined that he supports Vybz Kartel being released from prison, however, not happy with Kartel choosing a December date for his first show after release.
Laing stated, “Mek him come get him glory. But don’t come pon my pathway in December. Him shouldn’t choose December because when him duh dat now, is like him a look war.”
With regards to clashes at Sting, Laing said artistes request to clash, given the historical past of the show. After the host suggested that someone’s career might “die”, Laing refuted that claim, stating that Supercat got bottled and got signed, Shabba Ranks, Bunny Wailer and others have had successful careers after unsuccessful Sting performances.
The interview which was uploaded to YouTube on Monday, August 26 by Kshema Francis was seemingly done over a year ago.
Sting 2024 is set for December 26 to 28 while Vybz Kartel’s Freedom Street Concert is set for December 31, a few days after Sting.
Check out the interview below:
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- Vybz Kartel’s ‘Freedom Street’ Concert Tickets and Location Details
- Laing Responds to MC Nuffy’s Suggestion to Not Keep Sting This Year
- MC Nuffy Tells Laing to Not Keep Sting: “Give Kartel this December and let it be a Gaza Christmas”
