Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Bembe promoter and selector, Richie Feelings, is adamant he will keep on playing at the popular weekly dance despite alleged threats from members of Mavado's entourage that he must not return.

Bembe Thursdays ended prematurely two nights ago at Weekenz on Constant Spring Road when Alliance selectors, Foota Hype and Boom Boom, came onstage and disconnected Richie Feelings' microphone because the selector was playing too many songs by Vybz Kartel, Mavado's lyrical nemesis.

When contacted by THE STAR yesterday, Richie Feelings explained what occurred saying, "last night mi deh at Bembe a play and a bag of man come in, but at di time mi neva see a who. A man come to me and seh Mavado in di building, mi mus big him up so mi big up Cassava Piece."

According to Feelings, minutes after 1:30 a.m., Foota Hype, Boom Boom and six other men came onstage and demanded that he stop playing. Feelings said: "Him (Foota Hype) stop di song and di whole crowd a look now, him grab di mic and mi hear one bag a - (expletives). When Foota go pon di mic him seh him, Flex, Boom Boom and Mavado run Kingston 8, who nuh like dat s-."

'caan play'

Richie Feelings then proceeded to pack up his CDs and left the building. As he was driving out, Feelings said he received a call from a man who told him: "Dem seh mi (Richie Feelings) caan play up a Bembe." At the time of the fracas, Feelings said he was playing a girls' segment and was playing Kartel's 'girl song', along with other artistes' songs.

However, Boom Boom spins a different tale. According to Boom Boom, he, Mavado and others went to Bembe when he felt a vibe to play for the patrons. He proceeded to get his pouch containing his songs while Foota Hype went to speak with Richie Feelings about letting Boom Boom play. As the three selectors were on the stage, Boom Boom said the microphone and the sound system went dead, after which he and his entourage left the venue.

Boom Boom told THE STAR that they did not disconnect the microphone because he was playing Kartel's songs, nor did anyone from Mavado's camp call Richie Feelings and tell him he could not play at Bembe.

According to Boom Boom,Richie Feelings is biased in his musical selections.

"When we really look pon it a bare Kartel song, no Alliance song no play," he said. "Feelings too bad mind and corrupt; him need to clean up his heart. Mi play Vybz Kartel and Mavado songs. Mi play fi please di people and mi friends and dats what happen a Bembe. Feelings a play Kartel and frighten when him see wi."

Richie Feelings said he wants no part in the lyrical war between the two and does not play 'diss' songs from the artistes.

"Me tell dem dis, mi nah stop play. Mek dem come stop me," he said.