FOR THE most part, local artistes and producers in the Corporate Area did not seem to suffer as badly as the rest of the country did from Hurricane Ivan.
A trek through a few of Kingston's studios revealed that apart from the now common leakage caused by the fierce winds and pelting rain, there was not evident infrastructural damage. The only problem, as many studio operators explained, was the lack of water at their facilities up to nearly a week after the hurricane's onslaught.
Macka Diamond said that with her now hectic schedule, the hurricane was actually therapeutic.
"I needed some rest and it gave me the time to do it," she stated. "I just used the time to spend with my son and rest and write a few more tunes. I even wrote one for Ivan," she continued.
Her Portmore home was fine after the assault by the winds, but the rest of her community was wet, she noted.
Vybz Kartel was in high spirits on Wednesday. He noted that he was fine, suffered no damage and was feeling elated about his recent Source award nomination.
Selector Tony Matterhorn was also fine. He noted that the inconvenience he suffered was minimal. "A one preparation mi never mek or two. Mi coal stove, cause me have a electric stove; mi could a go out go chop up two wood, and mi generator. Right now mi run out a D-battery but mi phone dem did charge up and we improvise. But mi did prepare fi it, right now mi still have food a mi yard," he stated.
DYCR said he suffered the same inconveniences as the rest of his colleagues, including the usual water coming in under the door and at the windows due to the winds. Aside from that, he noted, everything else was fine with him.
Elephant Man's manager said that he was fine as well, as did Anthony Cruz and Lloyd Lovindeer, the timeless hitmaker.
The wheels of the music industry may creak, but they certainly will not stop, and by this weekend, a few artistes will fly to New Jersey, USA, to perform at a renamed concert, from which proceeds will go to Jamaica and Grenada to assist hurricane victims. Among them are Capleton, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel, Assassin and Spragga Benz.
