RIP Squingy from Bass Odyssey

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Squingy' remembered as a legend

Krista Henry, Staff Reporter


With yesterday's passing of selector, Kevin 'Squingy' Bennett, in Florida, many persons in the industry are calling for him to be remembered as a legend.

'Squingy', died yesterday at the Tampa General Hospital in Florida at approximately 4:30 a.m. due to heart failure. He had suffered from a terminal illness for several years.

The disc jock was a member of the Bass Odyssey sound for 18 years and has been with them through countless sound clashes, in which he built his name across the world. Squingy along with fellow selector DJ Mark, lead Bass Odyssey to wins in countless clashes including 2005's UK Cup Clash, 2005's New York Cup Clash, 2005's Death Before Dishonour and 2008's U.K Cup Clash.

terminal illness

Last week when The STAR spoke to his long time friend, Richard 'DJ Kirky C' Salmon, of Poison Dart Sound, he said that the disc jock had been admitted to the hospital in Florida on Sunday November 15. According to Kirky C, 'Squingy' had been in Florida seeking treatment after battling with a terminal illness for years.

In a release sent to THE STAR then, Squingy sought assistance through the 'Squingy Fund Raiser', and he stated that; "for years I've been travelling and entertaining the world. I've given everything to my fans and neglected my own body. I have a terminal illness and it's time for me to focus on maintaining my health as best I can. Moving to the US is going to allow me to receive adequate health care."

As the news of his death spread yesterday, persons expressed their condolences and spoke fondly of the disc jock. According to a release sent from Bass Odyssey, "Kevin was a proud, strong, loyal and dedicated member of our family who bravely fought this obstacle to the final second and lived his life to the fullest in light of the surrounding circumstances."

important legacy

The release further stated that; "We appeal to the true Squingy friends and family, the loyal Bass Odyssey fans and supporters of the music that efforts be made to preserve his important legacy and contribution. Let us bury the man as a legend. Thanks to those who have expressed their support and condolences, they are our strength in this time of grief."

Bass Odyssey's Yaniq Walford, explained to The STAR that even when Squingy began feeling ill and left front-line duties, he was behind the scenes providing a nurturing hand to the younger selectors.

In his tribute to the fallen selector, Kirky C said, "Squingy was a fun guy, enjoyed giving jokes, loved sports and music. I think he should be remembered as just the greatest selector."

When THE STAR spoke to Coppershot's Matthew Gray he also added, "the world has lost a icon in the music business, Squingy rest in peace. He and Bass Odyssey were the biggest influence to Coppershot, they were all we listened to before we started our sound, and his memory will live on forever. Condolences to his family and the entire Bass Odyssey crew."

A memorial service for Squingy will be held on Saturday in Florida. His body will be flown to Jamaica for the burial.

For years I've been travelling and entertaining the world. I've given

everything to my fans and neglected my own body.

I have a terminal illness and it's time for me to focus on maintaining my health as best I can. Moving to the US is going to allow me to receive adequate health care.

[Roscoe]

Big loss to the soundsystem fraternity... Fallen soldier, Squingy really gave alot to the fans. Bass Odyssey, along with Stone Love and Killamanjaro were the 1st sounds i grew up on... thru my father's cassets. Sad to hear of Squingy's passing, he will definetly be missed...

LEGEND

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Definitely...

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Not even the inclement Port Antonio weather could deter the efforts of sound systems Sound Trooper and Bass Odyssey, who pounded their opponents with dub plates at Folly Oval on Saturday night, in the Guinness sponsored Sound of Greatness competition.

It was a memorable last quarter-final which featured Sound Trooper up against Jam Rock, and Bass Odyssey against Flava Unit, to decide the last two semi-finalists.

In the night's first quarter-final, it was the Jam Rock sound system that won the toss and asked Sound Trooper - headed by veteran selector Ricky Trooper; formerly of Kilimanjaro sound system to begin the clash.

The clash entailed three segments, a 20-minute juggling, 15-tune-for-tune, and a seven-tune dub plate clash.

And from the outset, Sound Trooper managed to find favour with the near capacity crowd, who applauded them for the barrage of songs from Vybz Kartel. And Trooper continued to dominate over Jam Rock who simply had no answer, and as a result received a heavy battering in the dub-for-dub segment.

In the end, Sound Trooper amassed 487 points to Jam Rock's 317 points, and walked away with a cheque for $125,000 dollars, in what was clearly a one-sided affair.

But when it was time for the original killing machine Bass Odyssey, respect was observed for the passing of its premiere selector, Squingy, who died in the United States, recently from a long illness.

Bass Odyssey for 20 minutes played a barrage of dub plates, as its selector reiterated that war was on the agenda, and it was no play-play thing.

sound to reckon with

In response, new sound on the block Flava Unit attempted to stay afloat, but it was obvious that despite the loss of Squingy, Bass Odyssey was determined to send a message that it intends to be a sound to reckon with.

And by the time the dub-for-dub segment started, it was clear that Flava needed a miracle to recover, as Bass Odyssey peppered them with a series of dubs from the likes of Beres Hammond, Garnet Silk, Freddy McGregor and Bounty Killer.

As a result, Bass Odyssey amassed a total of 445 points to Flava Unit's 344 points, and walked away with $125,000 for their quarter-final effort.

Meantime branch manager of Guinness, Gareth Geddes, said that following the conclusion of Saturday night's quarter-finals at Folly Oval, Bass Odyssey will now play against Black Widow on December 12 in Ewarton,

St Catherine, while Sound Trooper will go against Bredda Hype in Alexandria, St Ann on December 19.

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ibes made for Sounds of Greatness semis

Mel Cooke, Star Writer


Ricky Trooper in an exultant mood as he leads Sound Trooper to victory over Blacc Widdo.

The scores in Saturday's back-to-back semi-finals of the Guinness Sounds of Greatness competition reflected the overall outcome of the sound-system battles.

Judges Squeeze and DJ Al turned in a scorecard of 350 points for Sound Trooper and 261 for Blacc Widdo for semi-final one, Bass Odyssey scoring 338 and Bredda Hype 314 points in the second.

The judges' assessment counts for 30 per cent of the overall score, with the crowd determining the remainder.

However, there is probably no way of summarising on a scorecard the immediate effect of some of the dub plates made especially for the occasion in Marlie Mount, St Catherine, as well as the jibes that the selectors threw at each other. Significantly, it was those who had musical weapons tailor-made for the occasion who came out on top.

So despite overwhelming crowd support for Blacc Widdo, Ricky Trooper of Sound Trooper (and the judges would later congratulate him for it) dealt with the heckling and scored with tracks made for the night. An early dub plate spoke to close-by communities, announcing "Marlie Mount sey dem fi dead/Capture Land sey dem fi dead". Significantly, he refused to take on the Blacc Widdo female supporters who harassed him from the very front of the audience, saying that he does not disrespect women but he would make them into Sound Trooper ladies.

Widdo had a dub plate referring to Trooper's small physical stature, the crowd cheering for "de girl dem sy yu too small/dats why yu go par wid Rupaul".

In the tune-for-tune segment, Trooper was first, funnier and fiercer. "A widow is a woman who har maan dead lef har. So tree gal ova desso," he said, to laughter, before Bounty Killer announced "bway ago dead". When Widdo played 'Fire Deh a Mus Mus Tail' Trooper laughed and said he is a man, but a mus mus is the small rat that is caught with a trap.

In the dub-for-dub round, Trooper had tunes for the night and tunes of the night, including a couple Country Pickney specials. One teased "Blacc Widdo nah live fe see co Christmas" and "dem arm green like roun' a market back an de onion dem whe no sell".

In the tune for tune section of the Bass Odyssey/Bredda Hype clash, when Hype played 'Ice Cream Sound' and was booed soundly, Damian of Bass Odyssey demanded "yu eva see Bass Odyssey truck pass yu a sell ice cream?"

And in the dub for dub section Bass Odyssey landed a crippling blow with a dub plate that said "some bway sey dem a Bredda Hype, a more like Lisa Hype". They also had Konshens chanting "Bredda Hype yu dubs dem run out" and there was yet another track which said "Bredda Hype dead easy, easy, easy".

To cap it off Merital chortled "Bredda Hype yu dead hah ha/Kill dem an sen dem back a Santa".

"De bway dis me general. A true me deh a Guinness clash," Damian said.

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Mel Cooke, Star Writer


Ricky Trooper (left) is accompanied by the Guinness Girls as he does 'battle' at the Guinness Sound of Greatness 2009 Grand Final, between Bass Odyssey and Sound Trooper, held at Mas Camp, Oxford Road,New Kingston on Saturday night January 9, 2010. - Winston Sill

Saturday night's Guinness Sounds of Greatness finals turned out to be a very one-sided affair, Bass Odyssey scoring 520 points to Sound Trooper's 264.

In the early going, though, after Bass Odyssey with Damion up front went first in the half-hour juggling, or party, round and did a competent but far less than outstanding job, the opening was clearly there for Sound Trooper to stamp their dominance.

Initially, it seemed they would, selector Ricky Trooper in a camouflage suit and bouncing on his toes to cheers from the capacity audience. Trooper started in superb form, playing a Lukie D take on You Raise Me Up which slammed Bass Odyssey and a dub of Ghetto People Song by Everton Blender which connected. But Trooper lost momentum with the Uton Green follow-up. Then he paid respects to Squingy but added "yu neva badda dan me," there were boos. They got even more when he played a dub plate that said "Bass Odyssey soun' gonna die/Dem lie down wid Squingy tonight."

Trooper did go on to get some applause in the round, but never really recovered from the grave misstep. When DJ Squeeze and Smurf gave the scores, one in the opening round, Bass Odyssey 77 to Sound Trooper 64, clearly showed that it could have gone the other way.

Bass Odyssey won the toss again and sent Trooper first in the following tune for tune round. Now down to his black mesh merino, he played Junior Murvin advising, "so don't put your hat, where you can't reach it," which went over well enough though far from spectacularly. But Bass Odyssey went for their preferred deejay Bounty Killer in his early 1990s Warlord mode, and socked it to Trooper with "not another word me nah go no further." Trooper played Robert French informing "them no rough like we" for his second song but was met with Bounty's intent to "sen dem go hell."

Trooper eventually went for Bounty on his third song ("bway ago dead, no badda gimme no argument"), saying when me play Killer me play Killer whe kill people. But Bass Odyssey topped it with Killer intoning "action speak louder than words," Damian saying "Ricky Trooper, when yu a play Bounty Killer yu play Bounty Killer like dem one ya!"

Odyssey never lost momentum in the round and by the sixth tune, when he went for Rudie Don't Fear, there were boos and claps for Trooper. They would go for another Bounty Killer tune, chortling "yu dead dis time", Ricky Trooper saying defiantly - and incorrectly - that "Bounty Killer cyaa kill Sound Trooper."

Then, in the final dub for dub round when Trooper won the toss and sent Bass Odyssey first, Damian said that Trooper had not been to Squingy's nine night or funeral. Trooper rested his hopes on Kartel dub plates, but from their second song, a Tarrus Riley dub of Good Girl Gone Bad, Odyssey had the momentum. Trooper played a Kartel dub saying "Bass Odyssey yu shoulden bore tongue," but Odyssey hit back with Assassin saying "shut yu mout!", one line saying "de cyar whey yu drive no Squingy buy dat?" and the landslide was on.

final round

Trooper played a dub saying "Mark (Bass Odyssey selector) a fight fe de ting inna Lisa Hype mout" and was booed for his troubles. There was a Bushman exchange, but the dis dub of the night was when Queen Ifrica said "a bway draw Trooper roun' de corner." Mas Camp exploded.

On the ninth exchange of dub plates in the final round, when Damian asked "a waapen to Likkle Trooper" and played 'Trooper dead easy, easy' to howls of delight, Trooper had capitulated. "Bass Odyssey everything good," he said, playing a song and cutting it very short to absolutely no response.

"Kingston don't bias. All who sey Trooper fe guh home gi me dis," Damian said, raising a hand in the air. The crowd followed en masse. One judge scored Bass Odyssey at 97 and Trooper 32 for the round.

I-Octane performed before the clash and Assassin and Busy Signal after. Before he performed his take on One More Night Busy Signal said "some people have funny ears" and emphatically pronounced 'baby' in the line "baby give me one more night."

See round by round coverage of the Guinness Sounds of Greatness finals in THE STAR later this week.