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Benz's son's death a hard pill to swallow  

 

A parent should never outlive his child, but this is the situation in which deejay Spragga Benz has found himself. The death of his 17-year-old son, Carlton 'Carlisle' Grant Jr., has been a hard pill to swallow. Grant was killed on Saturday, August 23, by police under what is believed to be questionable circumstances.

 

 

The incident occurred on Church Street during an alleged patrol by the police. It was reported that Grant and a friend were riding a bicycle when ordered by the police to stop, which they did. It is also alleged that one of them pulled a gun and fired at the police. The fire was returned and the men ran. The area was searched and Grant was found suffering from several gunshot wounds.
Now Grant's family is left to mourn a talented youth's early death. Spragga was off the island when he heard of his oldest child's death and he returned immediately to take care of his family. When THE STAR spoke to a tired and sad-sounding Spragga, he said that upon hearing the news of Grant's death, he said a silent prayer for his son.
 


'Close knit'

Describing his family as a close-knit one, Spragga was very close to his son.

"A mi eldest son, a mi eldest child. There was a point where is just me and him. Him modda have him cause him exam just finish. Him live wid me all him life and did just deh wid him modda a hold a vibes," Spragga said.

Grant had just finished fifth form at Camperdown High School and had completed seven subjects at the CXC level.

Before his death, Grant was an aspiring actor, who had been in the movie Shottas, and was set to look at other scripts. According to Spragga, he encouraged his son's desire to be an actor but made sure that he finished school so that he would have something to "lean on" in hard times.

"Mi have too much memories. Every day was a joy. He was basically a yute whe him just deh bout wid di younger ones. His best friends are between 12-13, so yuh know seh him playful ... Mi nuh waan paint di picha and act like him is a saint. Him is nuh saint. He is a yute weh when mi was his age, mi do di same things ... Him have it harder cause him have a fadda weh everyone know, so him face being my son - the good, di bad and di indifferent. People who don't like me, don't like him; who like mi, like him," Spragga said.

Memories of his son

After Grant's death, Spragga received calls from friends who shared memories of his son, describing him as a "calm yute" who treated everyone as an equal. That included his younger brothers and sisters who are still grappling with what happened to their carefree brother.

Spragga explained: "We try to be as strong as possible. Di eldest sister still shook up, still cry every day. Di younger ones, are like five, six, still a ask bout it. Dem just a get a understanding and dem waan write a song bout him."

While most would cling to their remaining children, Spragga still believes in making his children tread their own path, giving them space to grow up. While he may be angry about the nature of Grant's death, for Spragga, there are no feelings of revenge or retribution in his heart. Yet, he still has to deal day to day with disparaging comments made by the police.

"More time police a seh some stupid things and den a go laugh ... Yuh haffi wonda where di professionalism in di force deh ... What is police? A police force, or just a force ...?

Nuh condolences and sympathy

"Don't come offer mi nuh condolences and sympathy because when dem a come to me and tell mi bout me shoulda look afta mi son, yuh don't know ... Mi grow my son personally, and him was more educated than most on di force. Mi talk to him teachers and principals personally to see if he was on top of his performance and progress, behavior, his involvement, everything, mi nuh mek my children go a school an do wha dem feel like. Probably if I was a parent like dat it would be a different ting," Spragga said.

According to Spragga, his fans and the entertainment community are upset about what happened and has shown him their support.

"Him is a yute weh know people. People from a wide cross section, dem a wonda wha a go on but a offa mi strength. Dem waan change di system not for Carlisle but for everyone to raise di awareness of wha di yute dem a face, try mek awareness for all di police dem so dem don't just judge di yute dem just like dat," he said.

Singer Marcia Griffiths, who has recently experienced something similar, has been one of the entertainers who have stepped forward in support of Spragga. The two plan to form a lobby group to speak against the brutish behaviour of the police force.

Spragga is currently taking the legal route, hiring lawyers and investigators. According to Spragga he is doing his best in believing in the system as he accepts that nothing can bring back his son but he wants the truth to come out.

"Mi have faith in di system still for all of wi sake, every Jamaican, because nuff people dis happen to but not everyone can really go through to find out wha really happen and target out to di law. 'Cause a lot of tings get box up and painted and yuh neva find out di real reason. Now wi waan see the transparency of di system towards di Jamaican people, towards yutes, ghetto people who probably don't have a voice," he explained.

"Mi a tink bout being an independent citizen weh mi nuh haffi talk to government cause dem a move like dem nuh business wid people.... Mi a explore it caw dat mi waan be, cause nobaddy accountable to me, or nobody nah deh pon mi side inna di system a just me and mi frens who care, or people who feel di same sentiment.a wi haffi go an investigate to find out di truth a weh happen.

Spragga says he has also been tormented by the knowledge that police brag about killing his son. "Dem nah show nuh interest but mi nah go gainst dem cause mi kno yuh have good people inna di force but mi just nuh like di attitude, where man a come beat di chest like him a Bolt, that's a disrespect to di families who are distraught dem need to apologise fi dat too." Spragga said

As for his career he is trying to not let his personal affairs interfere with his artistic side, acknowledging that his lyrics will be under a microscope for any references made to Carlilse's death.

A memorial service for Carlisle was held last night on Harbour Street. However the funeral service will be delayed until after an autopsy is done on the body. The autopsy on Grant's body is currently scheduled for October, 2.

Source:jamaica-star.com
By:Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

 

Who Am I? The Untold Story of Beenie  

 

This is the second excerpt from the recently launched book on dancehall superstar Beenie Man, entitled Who Am I?: The Untold Story of Beenie Man (Great House, Kingston, Jamaica). Over the following weeks, Sunday Entertainment will give our readers excerpts from this biography written by journalist Milton Wray.)

Carlene's 25th birthday was on May 1, 1996. The interior of the Cactus Nightclub in Portmore, St Catherine had been decorated and heavily spruced up for the celebrations. The special invitations had been delivered by messengers to friends and relatives, fans, journalists and the top music industry movers and shakers. Almost every recipient of the coveted invitation was in attendance.

The Cactus Nightclub was now packed to capacity with excited invitees, many of whom were formally attired. Bottles of expensive champagne and the most delectable finger-foods were making the rounds, being passed about by sprightly-looking waitresses who were at their courteous best as they saw to the comforts of the VIP crowd.

A celebration like none other had been planned and was now in full swing. Lively chatter was being induced by potent blends of Smirnoff Vodka with tonic, Appleton Gold with Coke and an array of powerful concoctions and mixes. The nightclub's colourful state-of-the-art beams showered the well-dressed crowd with a dazzling medley of colours.

The discotheque was purring steadily, pumping out soca, then dancehall, then house music, before the club's deejay increased the volume. R&B gushed from the speakers. A few couples braved the shiny, chromed dance floor.

Looking on, the guest of honour was delighted at the large turnout. She was dressed in a sheer blue dress that left little to the imagination. Carlene was about to respond to the offer of a drink from one of the waitresses when Beenie Man approached.

"Why yu wear this dress?" Beenie Man asked her pointedly.

"It's fine. nothing nuh wrong with it," she answered.
"Baby, yu couldn't find something else fi wear?" he persisted.

"Yu know that this is the way I like to dress. You don't like me to look sexy?" Carlene teased.

"Mi not saying yu don't look sexy, but tonight don't call fi that."

"All right. all right. okay. I will go home and change. I'll be right back," she said, giving in.

"Yeah, man. That is the right thing fi do. Don't stay too long . hurry up and come back," he said.

Carlene wheeled into the dense crowd and disappeared down the flight of steps leading from the nightclub.

About half an hour later, when he next saw her, she had changed into a shimmering body-hugging purple evening gown with feathery glints of silver and a neckline that was low-cut, revealing and accentuating her most prized feature. A thick silver necklace and silver earrings ideally complemented the evening gown. On her feet were silver platforms.

"Yu look much better," Beenie said, as she sauntered towards him.

Beenie Man was wearing shiny black trousers and a rich burgundy sarong with black buttons and trimmings. His permed hair extensions were gathered in a neatly cropped ponytail.

The King and Queen of Dancehall - the centre of all the attention - were positioned next to two dining tables with white-lace tablecloths brimming with frosty, multi-tiered birthday cakes and silver candleholders.

Suddenly, Beenie Man's demeanor changed. He was visibly surprised when Carlene's friend, Kenny Benjamin entered, strolling into the nightclub through the glass swing-door.

"What him doing here?" Beenie asked Carlene caustically.

"I invited him," she answered.

"Without telling me!?" Beenie snapped.

"I forgot to tell you."

She could tell that Beenie Man was clearly disturbed by the presence of Benjamin. And she could understand why. The rumourmongers had been at work again. This time, the tale on their lips was that secretly, she'd been seeing Kenny Benjamin romantically. She had told everyone that Kenny was simply a good friend, but the rumour had persisted.

Kenny Benjamin was head of the Guardsman conglomerate of security companies and was the principal of several Jamaican businesses. He was a handsome and highly successful business mogul of Indian extract. Carlene had met him in 1995, through Benjamin's co-ownership of Reggae Sunsplash, during the first staging of the festival at the Dover grounds. Carlene had performed on the main stage as well as at the booth for Slam Condoms, and it was then that they'd become friends.

But nosy elements with idle tongues could not see their friendship for what it was. The rumour of their supposed involvement had first been generated by a photograph published in the Gleaner that had captured them dancing together at some party.

When Beenie Man had heard the whisperings and had enquired of her, she had assured him that her friendship with the businessman was purely platonic. But the rumour had been kept alive, and she couldn't truly blame Beenie Man for his concerns now. He was still pouting, but he soon took off into the crowd of invitees.

He began to mingle, going up and down the floor shaking hands, touching fists, embracing lovingly and conversing with invited fans and friends.

Shortly after, the proceedings were called to order and the boy group, ARP, began to belt out Happy Birthday, serenading a blushing Carlene. The group sang lustily and with heartfelt emotion.

They were a quintet who at times recorded and performed with Beenie Man. They were uniformly clad in bright costumes, and their well-blended harmonies soared through the birthday classic.

The birthday girl was smiling broadly as a group of her friends excitedly poured bottles of champagne over her head, dousing her evening gown with the golden liquid. Her dress was drenched and clung to her skin, evoking wet T-shirt contests.

After the playfulness, Beenie Man took the floor. With the music halted and the microphone in his hand, he invited everyone's attention.

Beenie thanked the invited guests for coming out, and gave a short, flattering speech before inviting Carlene to join him. As she emerged from the crowd, he looked at her and smiled. She blushed, the club's hi-tech laser lights bathing her round, bronze face with darting, sparkling rays. Her usually golden complexion was now green and purple and yellow and red and blue.

Beenie Man now had the rapt attention of the crowd of invitees. Carlene joined him in the centre of the floor. For dramatic effect, Beenie allowed a few moments to slip by. Then he reached into a pocket and fished out a tiny jewellery box, which he handed to her. Carlene, a smile streaking across her face, gingerly opened the jewelry box as everyone looked on.

"It's empty," she said.

Beenie Man was grinning, pleased at himself for the prank. He reached into another pocket, with the countenance of a magician, and an unbelievably large diamond ring appeared.

The crowd gasped.

As the invited guests watched, he took her left hand and spoke into the microphone. "Will you marry me?"

The crowd began to cheer.

Carlene said nothing.

He was staring at her, waiting for a response. She looked away. An uneasy ripple ran through the crowd as tense moments elapsed. A glint of emotion in her eyes, she finally nodded unenthusiastically and whispered,
"Yes."

He slid the large diamond ring onto her finger. The crowd cheered again with much fervor.

Beenie Man's expression grew noticeably somber after that. He was confused. Why had she been so reluctant? Why was there any doubt whatsoever in her mind as to whether she wanted to be his bride?

As soon as the interlude was over and the discotheque resumed blaring dance music, he knew he had to confront her regarding her hesitation. And when the guests turned their attention to the music, hors d'oeuvres and alcoholic treats, he couldn't wait to broach the topic. "Wha'happen baby? Yu don't wan' married to me?" he asked.

"Yes," she said, smiling.

"So why yu take so long to answer?"

"I was just shocked. I never expected it," she said.

He could tell that she was less than ecstatic.

Source:jamaicaobserver.com