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May 02, 2006
Ding Dong - Ravers Clavers, Chicken & Beer 'Badman Forward'
Editors At Large
By: Claude Mills
Photos By: Carlington Wilmot
Dancer-turned-deejay Ding Dong is revolutionizing the dancehall game with his edgy creativity and dancing savvy, creating a host of new moves to match the slamming dancehall rhythms coming out of the island's studios.
YardFlex.Com caught up with him at Ravers Park in Nannyville, St. Andrew last week, the same week he scored his first number one hit, 'Bad Man Forward Bad Man Pull Up' on the CHOICE FM chart in London, England.
You've probably seen him in a recent Digicel commercial on TV, or in the 'Wacky Dip' video with Voice Mail. Now, Ding Dong's got his own thing - Bad Man Forward, Bad Man Pull Up, a self-explanatory dance geared towards the 'shotters' who once believed they were too macho to dance.
"The dance did build already long time from last year Summer when mi de ah England. Mi build the talk ah England, when me and Keiva, Mad Michelle, Sadiki, Craigy Dread and Sadiki were on tour there, and mi wait till the people dem were ready for it because the love the people have for Bogle the icon, so 'Willie Bounce' run the place for the while because there could be no other hit dance, so the people dem ready fi a new dance now," he said.
Ding Dong, whose real name is Kemar Ottey (no relation to Jamaican-born sprinter Merlene Ottey), has contributed his voice to a number of songs such as 'Wacky Dip' with Voice Mail and 'Weddy Time 2', along with Bogle and Voise Mail. His solo recording 'Chakka Chakka', also did well a few months ago. But 'Bad Man Forward, Bad Man Pull Up' is the first to bring him mainstream attention.
"Ah the greatest feeling in the world right now, yu know how much deejay neva go #1 yet, and mi get a number one, so mi just feel great," he said.
At the time of the interview, the single was also #15 on the South Florida Top 20 Reggae Singles chart.
 In Jamaica, dance is widely considered to be an outlet for anger and is a nonviolent alternative to the street violence that is widespread in many of Kingston's tough neighbourhoods. Ding Dong has established his own clique of dancers, 'Ravers Clavers' which includes Overmars, Chicken and Beer, Johnny Bravo, Sir Yummy ("the youngest oldest looking"), Mundo, Pree Dem and Strength. The crew will be on tour in England in April, and just recently returned from Antigua and Barbados.
"We name Ravers Clavers because we rave seven days a week, we enjoy weself everyday, and I wanted to find something that rhyme with rave, so mi say 'ravers clavers' and set it," the 25 year-old Nannyville resident explained.
Ding Dong also explained the origins behind the 'Bad Man Forward, Bad Man Pull Up' dance, which is the current favourite among dancehall goers.
"The bad man forward is fi the bad man dem who no waan Jiggy, dem waan something inna dem own routine, so it must be a stepping dance, and if dem love it, everybody love it, and it work, cause ah de first me eva see so much bad man ah dance and ah enjoy demself," Ding Dong said, laughing.
"Dem nah pree man like dem used, dem a wait fi the song play so dem can dance too, ah de so the ting de right now."
Decked out in a colourful shirt, and rose-gold jewellery, Ding Dong, a thin 6'1, is a joy to be around. During the YardFlex photo shoot and interview, he cracked jokes, and made fun of his fellow dancers. Here are some of his comments during the shoot.
"Hey, oonu fi always smile when you a tek picture, ah the hottest picture when yu smile." Laughter greeted this remark.
"Yea, yu fi work pon one pose and master it."
More laughter.
"Hey, pictureman, tek one wid me phone 'cause mi phone hot," he told Warlington.
After seeing the photographs on the screen, he declared: "Mad, mi like da one de, mi shirt hot, mi shirt flop yu, Chicken and Beer, mi shirt flop yu."
He took a break during the interview to share a joke with his 'Ravers Clavers' clique about an incident at a street dance a few nights before.
"Mi de ah de dance, and Elephant Man see a old van park up at mi foot. Him say (lisping), 'wha kinda van that Ding Dong and yu thay yu hot?’. (Speaking normally now) Mi jus look pon him and say, 'wha kinda go inna mi song dat, Ele, and yu hot? And mi just lef him'," he said. He was referring to the 'Bad Man Forward, Bad Man Pull Up' phrase in one of Elephant Man's current songs that mimics Ding Dong's number one hit.
"We ah do we ting this year, Ravers Clavers fi life," he said.
You can see Ding Dong strut his stuff at Gabba Sundays between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. at Nannyville featuring Caution, the CD sound with DJ Whiteman.
Posted by yardFlex at May 2, 2006 08:05 AM
Comments
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Posted by: empo
on May 2, 2006 08:53 AM
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DING -DONG,CHICKEN N BEER,RAVERS CLAVERS UNNO LARGE FI LIFE NUH WATCH NUTTIN JUS DO UNNO TING SAME WAY IT WORK..........OUT N BAD MI DOPES..N WHO NUH LIKE THAT A JUS STR8 BULLET BULLET BULLET BULLETTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!
YUH BETTA LEARN IT...CHU..CHU..CHU..
LUV EMPO.
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Posted by: step on dem
on May 2, 2006 09:32 AM
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Posted by: pressure point aka troy
on May 2, 2006 09:27 PM
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wowieeeeeee the ting set offf zimi uno do u ting it nah nuttttten str8 sashi cool and stop zimi ah so it go raver claver fi life str8 dun know till uno ole and gray zimi str888 big up
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Posted by: ANDJAY
on May 4, 2006 09:29 AM
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cho cho cho cho ch@bomb@clat ya. mi sa a ding dong every ting a work nouno plug out. yo andjay ovamars,chiken & beer jonno, diyse DING DONG SQUAD EVERY TING A WORK.
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Posted by: Bad girl
on May 4, 2006 12:54 PM
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Posted by: CAR
on May 5, 2006 03:55 PM
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GO DEH DING YU SONG A GWAAN IT WICKED FI A DANCER YU A RIDE RIDIM SO DO YUH TING MY YOUTH A CRAZY MONEY MAKIN THIS YEAR
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Posted by: Dennesha/O'Brena
on May 17, 2006 01:56 PM
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HEY CUTI COMMING TO PASSA PASSA FOR YOU. YOU AND YOUR SONG IS HOT
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Posted by: juneplum
on May 23, 2006 09:22 PM
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I would like to meet Ding dong because I think he's very handsome. Ding dong a di best, im wicked innah dancing, Yeh!!! im good to go!....lol
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Posted by: Krystal aka ding dong gal
on May 26, 2006 03:28 PM
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Ding Dong me a go dance de dutty wine wid you
one day me jus luv u up ravers clavers chicken and beer.
Vip..... Pay wha?
vip we get de free beer and champane
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Posted by: shancia
on May 28, 2006 10:25 PM
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I love ding-dong so much please i want to meet u so bad, and i want u to dance at my 21st B-Day Party, it will be in Jamica, and i want u there. u ting sell right off!!! chabomboclaat!!!
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Posted by: Bambam
on May 29, 2006 09:38 PM
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HI DING DONG (RAVERS CLAVERS), ALL A UNNU CAAN DANCE BUT MI LOVE DING DONG& OVERMARS DI WAY HOW DEM DANCE NO HARD FEELINGS TO THE REST OF YOU, A BAMBAM THIS FROM OTTAWA, ONTARIO.
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Posted by: Ranay
on June 1, 2006 12:06 AM
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DING DONG IS #1 HE'S SEXY HE MAKES MY HEART BEATS FASTER AND SLOWER AT THE SAME TIME.HE GOT A SEXY SMILE TO DIE FOR.I MEET HIM ONCE AND I WOULD LOVE LOVE LOVE TO MEET HIM AGAIN THIS TIME GETTING TO SPEAK TO THE SEXY MAN..I JUST WANNA GRAB DING DONG AND MAKE LOVE TO HIM THATS HOW SEXY HE IS.I LOVE HIM AND ALL HIS DANCES - HE'S THE BEST AND NO OTHER DANCER GROUP AIN'T SHIT COMPAIR TO MY MAN DING DONG.
PS:I SAVING MY MONEY JUST TO COME TO JAMAICA TO MEET YOU..YOUR #1 FAN RANAY ALSO KNOWN AS CHUCKY
DING DONG I LOVE U CAN I BE YOUR GIRLFRIEND?
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Posted by: Burnz
on June 6, 2006 05:29 PM
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Here in cayman we got the clubs bangin with the "BADMAN FORWARD, BADMAN PULL UP", i just wanna say do your thing, bless....
ding dong you are sexy and i would like you. I wouldn't like you for your money or your looks, i would like you for who you are. Hell yeah! i would love to be in your video(s). your dance moves are great and some of your dancers are fine as hell. please send me an e-mail of your occupation and i wanna know your resume'. if by any chance you come to barbados please call 825-6342, tell me your name and please give 2 free tickets for your show. by the way im so f*****g sexy. love ya bad maan
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Posted by: tenesha
on June 16, 2006 10:43 PM
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ur so ding dong sexy and i want to meat you soo bad ur a good dancer and i am too i yhink we would make a good cupal lol
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Posted by: Serial
on June 21, 2006 09:50 AM
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Ding Dong...A Bronx ting! A di real ting! Yuh ting sell off dupes! Ravers Clavers! Choh!
Big up Doe Fite it Crew! Dat mi seh!
Serial seh dat!
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Posted by: $makada$
on June 26, 2006 02:02 PM
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ding dong wats up this is one of your fans and baby u can dance and my favorite song is you know want BAD MAN FORWARD BADMAN PULL UP. and every where i go and i here that song i go crazy just because of your voicei wish that i can chat with u on the net . i hope u can hale me anytimebaby love ya bad man
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Posted by: patricia
on June 26, 2006 02:10 PM
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u are one of my best artist i hope i can met u some day baby love ya always
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Posted by: Crystal Brown
on June 26, 2006 11:29 PM
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I wanted to know if you can email me the site with, Ding Dong at the street party in Jamaica outside it was at night and last til the morning. Where the young ladies were jumping on the buses, cars, and the work trucks humping the male workers. That DVD was amusing, and the dances were off the chain. And, also there was a part of the DVD where this little boy was humpimg a lady of the tunes of Ding Dong's song.
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Posted by: FAT BATTY BROWNIN
on June 28, 2006 06:26 PM
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does anyone know if ding dong has a girlfriend> i am sure he has many ladies but does he have a main squeeze?
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Posted by: SEXY NATTY
on July 3, 2006 08:28 AM
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I JUST WANMT TO SAY DAT I'M SO IN LOVE WITH DING DONG. I THINK HE'S A REAL DOWN TO EARTH PERSON AND LOVE TO LAUGH AND HAVE FUN JUS LIKE I DO. EVERYTIME I SEE HIM ON TV MY HEART JUST BEATS FASTER AND FASTER EACH TIME. I WOULD LOVE TO MEET HIM ONE DAY DAT'S MY ONE AND ONLY WISH. IF IT WOULD COME TRU I WOULD BE DA HAPPIEST PERSON IN THE WORLD. I AM HIS NUMBER 1 FAN AND WHOEVER DONt WANT TO BELIEVE DAT COME TO MY HOUSE AND SEE ALL THE PICTURES OF HIM ON THE WALLS. I ALMOST MET HIM ONCE BUT WAS SO DEVISTATED THAT I COULDN'T TALK TO HIM. I WAS MAD FOR THAT WHOLE MONTH. I JUS WANT TO BIG UP DING DONG AND SAY GWAAN DO YU TING CAUZ' UR DA BEST AT WAT U DO. MUCH LOVE AND MAY JAH JAH BLESS YOU.
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Posted by: Mell
on July 10, 2006 08:58 PM
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Ding Dong is my favorite favorite favorite person,every day i pray to god that i would get the chance to even say hi. Ding Dong i want you to continue do what ur doing and i pray the lord will bless u and go with u through what eva decision u make. I love u very very very very much. I luv ur style and d way u act. Keep it real! Oh so badly! Mad again!!!!!!!!!!!!! NUFF LUV. PEACE OUT. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
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Posted by: N-ergy
on July 15, 2006 05:57 PM
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All DEM DEH, SASHI COOL SASHI COOL AN STOP?!... SEE D KET DEH?!...everythin ah work nuhtin nuh plug out, all bills paid they cah turn off nuttin, BADMAN FOWARD!!!!!!!! and BADMAN PULL UP...RAVERS CLAVERS.. ACTIVE.....NUH SAY NUTTIN!
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Posted by: Shatalia casanova
on July 20, 2006 08:45 PM
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me a no badman me a badgal yer me luv ur tune dem
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Posted by: monica
on July 25, 2006 09:37 PM
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Ding Dong mi love yuh so much...can't wait to see you when yuh come to new york...will be looking for yuh
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Posted by: do'mar aka blingas
on August 4, 2006 08:08 AM
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DING DONG YOU A COME AUGUST 23ED DAT GOING 2 BE SELL OFFFFFFFF BAD MAN FORWORDDDDD BAD MAN FORWORDDDDD
SASHI COOL SASHI SASHI SASHI SASHI SASHI SASHI COOL PIMP_24JJ@HOTMAIL.COM
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Posted by: samantha
on August 4, 2006 04:32 PM
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i love 2 meet DINGDONG because he is so sexy.Dingdong and crew is the #1 dancer in jamacia.Hope u be at the at tropical reflertion on August 18.
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Posted by: GLENDA
on August 29, 2006 01:59 AM
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wussup ding dong my names glenda im from CANADA TORONTO,ONTARIO I SEEN U WEN U CAME 2 CANADA AUG 23-27?06 U WERE HOTTTTTTT I LOVE U N DA WAY U DANCE KEEP DOIN YOUR TING
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Posted by: Stacia James
on August 31, 2006 02:11 PM
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hi u sexy azz n$$$a u, this is a BBW, one of ur biggest fans, ill never forget the time me n u danced, if we danced any longer mmmm!!! let me not go there, anyways much luv n i hope u stay on top, "mmuuhhh"
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Posted by: kristianna
on September 5, 2006 07:37 AM
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ding dong ur sexy and i would love 2 meet u i am a english gal and i am going crazy over u
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Posted by: sammo
on September 8, 2006 03:59 PM
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Yow dawg mi teck in Gabba Sundays an di ting
sell-off.Ravers a guh hard an big up to di young dancers dem like L-Stitch.
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Posted by: shannay
on September 8, 2006 08:35 PM
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Posted by: Nikki
on September 18, 2006 03:40 PM
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All i can reaaly say is I really like Ding dong as as a friend, dancer and artist.
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Posted by: teyonce
on October 9, 2006 06:49 AM
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hi ding dong wot up just want to say your hot fine sexy good looking i think you got a great personly for a dancer. went is your tour back to the uk hope to see soon on tour that hot
Ding Dong keep seting trends.
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Posted by: He should know - Shan....
on November 3, 2006 03:47 PM
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REMEMBER: The most important thing in the game is not to win but to take part.
Similiarly, the most important things in life is not to triumph but to struggle.
The essential thing is not to conquer but to have fought well.
So dont try to be in the game to be number 1 just enjoy it and eventually u will be if you remember these three important things!!!!
luv ya babes chicken n beer do da bad gal pull up ya don kno cause da bith of we sell of unna can touch it da real ting who can take it drop asleep cause we a give dem heart attack --- straight -- talisha
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Posted by: tianna
on December 4, 2006 10:41 AM
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Posted by: sweet k
on December 13, 2006 02:53 PM
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big up mi baby troy chicken 'n' beer yea mi man fi lyphe and soon to be wife.them caan hold wi we'll be a wonderful couple like Angel an Beenie.keep doing what you do best.(Dance and f**k).big up the rest a ravers clavers.Yummy Bread.pencil man ova mars yuh large.
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Posted by: kelly
on December 14, 2006 09:14 PM
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Posted by: meme
on December 29, 2006 02:22 PM
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i luv u ur dances r so exciting and when u get this hola at me iigt 1 bye sexy
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Posted by: Deme
on January 8, 2007 02:57 PM
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You make me proud to say that I am black.
And even prouder to say I am Jamaican. Don't stop. You have so much more to accomplish. Don't let the liquor take you over. You already know you to sexy.
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Posted by: sasha lee
on January 14, 2007 09:46 AM
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hey dingdong my girlfriend said that she needs a man,would you like to be her king.
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Posted by: domiiniique
on February 27, 2007 06:39 PM
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whaa gwann dingdong...i love you song bad man foward...you make me proud to call myself a jamaiican....your one of my favoriite jamaiican artist's
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Posted by: Talia
on March 27, 2007 11:40 AM
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whaa gwann dingdong....mi luv ya new song killa swing thats mi favorite song now so keep doin ya ting mon
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Posted by: sweetk
on April 10, 2007 03:44 PM
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will i am really proud of ravers clavers johno bravo i really admire u i use to come to gabba sundays just to c u and pencilman u guys r just different love u
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Posted by: barbiedoll
on April 12, 2007 01:26 PM
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whats up hottiest group in the whole while world i love u guys so especial chicken n beer i want to meet u and ask were u shop u always look like your the freshprince of your community oh my god i just hope i will get to c u even next for my birthday feb1 so i need your number so we can talk and wonder if i could drive and come c u my freshprince
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Posted by: buff bay
on April 12, 2007 01:31 PM
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hi overmars were r u from heaven me and my freind r going crazy for u my number is 1718442896 please call me collect if u got my machince pleaseeeee leave a message thank you for reading ha ha ha ha ha i just love u guys
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Posted by: love
on April 23, 2007 01:09 PM
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hi ravers how r u guys doing i wish ya'll the best in life i love u guys so much this is love from newyork
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Posted by: BAMBAM
on April 29, 2007 11:14 PM
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HI RAVERS CLAVERS IT'S BAMBAM AGAIN NUH LOVE SPECIALS LOVE GOES OUT TO JONIEL CHICKEN&BEER HAVE NO FEAR NUH SEH NUTTIN' OVERMAR STARS AMONG STARS ALL A UNNUH SELL OFF. RAVERSCLAVERS MEK SURE UNNUH NUH SWITCH ONE LOVE.
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Posted by: bambam
on April 29, 2007 11:20 PM
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BIG UP RAVERS CLAVERS FI LIFE SPECIAL BIG UP TO JONIEL, CHICKEN&BEER,DING DONG,OVERMARS ALL A UNNUH BIG UP BAMBAM FROM OTTAWA CANADA A.K.A RENEE
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Posted by: aka fine
on June 9, 2007 08:22 PM
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tell ding dong I want to be his wife give him many children an stay by him side ...him fuly blessed....passa passa
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Posted by: Olebaddest
on July 9, 2007 12:54 PM
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ding dong i can't stop love how you dance but u make it look 2 easy man i wuld like u 2 teach me hhow 2 do all de dance i can't sto lovin u, marvin sample6 an black blingers.
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