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February 15, 2006
Gyptian Robbed by Armed Men
Sweet-voiced singer Gyptian, who smashed onto the music scene last year with the anthemic 'Serious Time' hit, got an all-too-close-for-comfort insight into just how 'serious a time' it is in Jamaica when he was robbed by two armed men a few weeks ago at his Garveymeade residence.
"Somebody had told me that two men wanted to pay me $100,000 for a dub, so they came upstairs, and we were there reasoning, a good reasoning too, and I was even saying to myself that I would only charge them $90,000, and all of a sudden one a dem say "hey bwoy, go down pon the ground', and mi say, 'alright boss', and dem ask 'weh the money de', and 'where mi chain de?' And mi tell dem, and dem tek mi jewellery, including a ring I have had for years, and splurt go downstairs. Mi not even raise an alarm, mi just easy, 'cause mi grateful dem neva tek me life. That's why you have to enjoy the blessings of each day to the fullest 'cause yu neva know when it might be your last," he told YardFlex.Com.
The singer, who has recorded a number of other hits, said the experience reminded him of the lines in his song that go: "when yu think is peace and safety, it could be your first sudden destruction'.
"Mi just grateful for my life, and furthermore, dem neva get any money 'cause dem coulden find the wallet, but mi not even a look fi dem…I am just taking it easy."
The single, 'Serious Time' was a chart-topper last year, and graduated to cult status, becoming a ghetto anthem on the lips of the poverty-stricken masses. The song is all at once a call to action, a sad commentary on the country's spiraling murder count, and an earnest advice column to young males on how to survive these most 'serious of times'.
Gyptian has not been signed to any label, but has been doing some freelance work with a number of different producers, working on follow-up songs such as 'What a Policy' on the Season rhythm, 'You Never Know', 'Mama Don't Cry' and 'Going on Life's Journey'.
Claude Mills has his own blog at www.claudemills.com