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October 12, 2009
Iley Dread counters statements made by Scatta to the Star
“If you have to go public, then do so with the truth,” says Collin ‘Iley Dread’ Levy regarding statements made by well known producer Cordell ‘Scatta’ Burrell in the Saturday Star.
In a story carried in the Chat! the artiste/promoter/producer, said although he has no beef with Scatta, he is honour bound to defend his reputation. “I know Scatta is not short on memory therefore he should remember that I was there for him from the very beginning, If he wished to speak the truth he will remember that because of my belief in him, I invested in the growth and development of his career,” said the Kings of Kings CEO.
According to Iley Dread, he once did his projects out of a studio, Celestial Sound on Molynes Road, where he produced his first hit for the KOK Label with Norris Man entitled Persistence, with Scatta working on the project as the engineer.
Shortly after Iley said he took the whole crew on a North American tour.
“On my return to the island, Scatta brought it to my attention that there was a recording studio for sale at Princeville Plaza on Constant Spring Road in Kingston,” Iley Dread recalled.
The desire to produce not only artistes from his camp, but more established acts; plus the fact that he wanted to give Scatta an outlet to explore his talent, saw him making the investment.
“The studio didn’t have any mortgage or major overheads…I left Scatta to manage it and I must say I was very disappointed when it went bankrupt,” said Iley.
Disappointed and disgruntled, Iley says he left the island to fulfill his touring obligations. After some time had passed and he had “cooled down” somewhat. He said Scatta again approached him expressing his regret and disappointment at how things turned out…begging him for the opportunity to redeem himself.
Iley told that paper that upon reflecting on their history and how far they were coming from, he was more inclined to give their business relationship another try.
That resulted in Scatta producing out of the Kings of Kings headquarters located at Upper Sandringham Avenue.
“I don’t know which two other partners he is talking about, I was the sole owner. During the two years he managed the business, I have never received a cent. The only thing Scatta was asked to do was pay the utility bills. Don’t get it twisted,” a disappointed Iley commented.
Iley says inspite of everything he still wishes Scatta all the best, he even offered some brotherly advise, “Now that you are building your state-of-the-art studio, if you don’t change your business ethics, it will go under just as Princeville and 5 Upper Sandringham did…after all is said and done…I wish you all the best in your endeavour.”
Scatta is quoted in sections of the media as saying that mortgage and othe expenses associated with running the business had forced him to give up the venture, in addition he noted that his two other business partners had pulled out leaving the brunt of the burden on him.