Ce'Cile told it like it s, but Mr Lexx told it like we'd like to hear it

He is among that class of dancehall artistes that emerged in the late 90s - never quite as strident as Bounty Killer, but not clinically stuck on the "girls' train" like Beenie Man,

Mr Lexx made his name (initially as Lexxus) with tracks like "Cook" and "Cellie" and managed to weather the vagaries of the business and the changing winds of audience trends to join that small but expanding cadre of artistes that does not depend solely on the "the latest hit" for his currency.

Still, his road to success has not been with ptifalls and it was an animated Lexx who showed up at the Knutsford Court hotel last week and vented on the frustrations of  being an "ignorant, dunce-head" artiste just coming up.

Succeeding dancehall diva Ce'Cile, Lexx spoke unanbashedly about signign away his rights in his initial (and still pending till next, week, according to him ) contract with reggae imprint VP Records, which included the famous "Automatic renewal" clause that regards the contract as auotmatically renewed in the event the artiste fails to give notice to that effect within six months of initial expiration date.

As expected, both artistes paid homage to hosts Jamaic Association of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JACAP), which is itself on a drive to raise its profile within both the business and talent sectors of the industry - another seminar is to follow next month. Lexx made the call for more such interventions to prevent the present crop of uninitiated artistes from falling prey to exploitative agents and to better establish their presence and enforce their rights in what is an increasingly global scenario.

Looking svelte in a black dress pant, her trademark heels and a demure blouse, it was obvious that petite dancehall diva, Ce'cile had  traded in her 'bad gyal' persona for a minute , as

she took on the important role of ambassador for the Jamaica Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers (JACAP) at that society's Open House Forum held at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston last Wednesday afternoon.

Clearly passionate about her role, Ce'cile was generous in her praise of the copyright body of which she has been a long-standing member and  disclosed that she had benefited tremendously since signing on to the collections agency . The JACAP ambassador left no stones un-turned as she urged her fellow artistes to get their act together and become members of JACAP.

"We always complain about the fact that 'things not going right'... well, here is an organisation that is doing a wonderful job of trying to turn this hustle mentality into a serious business," Ce'cile stated emphatically.

Getting a bit more personal, the 'bad gyal', who recently returned from Europe, where she had performed on major festivals, explained that there are "two Ce'ciles, the local and the foreign". With a hint of sadness, she stated that "the real Ce'cile is not wanted in Jamaica", and as a result she performs her more serious, but equally entertaining songs at festivals such as Rottotom, where she is embraced and respected for her complete repertoire, rather than a sample of salaciousness, slackness and gyrations.

"When I was on my way from Europe, I thought to myself -  'Okay, mi haffi go mek some fool-fool song for Jamaica now' -," Ce'cile admitted, to much laughter from the capacity audience at JACAP's Open House Forum.

The JACAP ambassador ended with a call for her Jamaican audience to really listen to her songs and learn to appreciate the real Ce'cile. "I need to feel that I can perform the same songs at Rottotom and in Jamaica," she said.

Guest speaker at JACAP's Open House Forum was Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Anthony Hylton, who commended JACAP for hosting such a timely forum under the theme, Understanding Copyright and Valuing the Rights of the Creators of Music'. Also present were several members of the music, media and entertainment fraternities including Mikie Bennett, Gussie Clarke, Herbie Miller, Frankie Campbell,  Clyde McKenzie, Evon Mullings, Teddy Laidley, Mr. Lexx, Tanice 'Soulchild' Morrison, Derrick '10 Percent' Brown, Brigitte Anderson, George Golding, Francois St. Juste, Joan Hutchinson, Judith Alberga and Adrian St. Louis. 

Emcee was Desmond Young, a Board member of JACAP and also the president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians.