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Jon Baker OD
02/07/2022

Hotel Mogul Jon Baker Fires Back At Guyana’s Home Affairs Minister

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Following the announced signing of a Publishing deal, between Skeng and Geejam Music, Jon Baker is hitting back at “Guyana’s Home Secretary” in a post on Instagram.

The 30 year music veteran and principal of Geejam Music explains the details surrounding Skeng and his producers singing to his company, “I probably listen to my kids more than anything when it comes to what’s hot and what’s interesting in music today. I am delighted to say that we made our first signing with Jamaican artists Skeng and his producers John Coop and Shakoo of DiTruth Records. I have to credit my 15 yr old son Che Baker who brought this project to my attention, between Skeng’s vocal delivery and his honest representation of life in Jamaica, it was important that we became involved in this project with a group of young artists and producers.”
Geejam x Skeng Signing – from left to right:
Jon Baker, Founder Geejam Music
Cara Wilson-Wheatle – Skeng’s Co-Manager
Skeng
Rodney Borde-Kuofie, Attorney Geejam Music
Jon’s career in the music industry began as a promoter for hip hop shows with Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh in the U.K.. He launched his Hip Hop label Geestreet Records at a time when rap music was not yet widely accepted. Jon draws comparisons to the 80s and 90s rap scene and the present day “Trap Dancehall.”
“It reminds me of when I signed early hip-hop artists in the late 80s early 90s and the raw and honest approach to their life experiences and self expression. It feels like history is repeating itself with politicians and opportunists pointing fingers and criticising these young creators work when ultimately, they are just a product of their environment.”
– Jon Baker, Geejam Music
Recently, Skeng performed in Guyana and shots rang out during his performance.

Subsequently, the Home Affairs Minister of Guyana, Robeson Benn, announced a ban on Skeng and other Dancehall artists from performing publicly in the Eastern Caribbean country.

“If they want, they can go into a private club and behave as badly as they want.  But we will not sign off on any such artist or any artist who has a record of promoting vulgar and lawless behaviour including the firing of gunshots in public places. We reject it completely,” Benn said.

Speaking at the opening of the Community Relations Department of the Guyana Police Force, he said both his Ministry and the Guyana Police Force will not approve of any future public performances featuring Skeng or any artist, whose lyrical content promotes the type of behavior seen at the ‘Baderation’ show held in May.

He went further to chastise business persons in the entertainment industry and said he is doing everything in his power to censor songs from the airwaves that are deemed inappropriate for the public consumption.

“We are ambushed by situations where people take advantage of opportunities provided for them, for the entertainment business, where they bring in artists into this country and put on a public stage, disgraceful music, words, and behavior.And it engenders perhaps the only type of behavior, one would expect from what was seen on the stage from one called Skeng, recently,” the Minister said.

Speaking for the first time on the matter Jon Baker says, “Shame on the home secretary in Guyana and all the people who are so self righteous when it comes to the truth being told through pop culture.”

 

Previously World Music Views reported that model Tyson Beckford, whose parents are Jamaican, also spoke out against the measures announced by Guyana’s Home Affairs Minister. He commented on Instagram that Skeng, “don’t need Guyanese market $$ to survive! Dem can kiss off. Skeng will be successful regardless of dem people.”

Meanwhile, President of the Caribbean Employers’ Confederation, Wayne Chen upon hearing news of the Skeng ban recalls a “Dominican Minister” telling him, “she was protecting her young people from negative influences and wasn’t too concerned about right of free movement of musicians under CSME treaty agreement,” as that country banned Vybz Kartel in 2010.

 

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