Legendary reggae gospel singer Papa San is disheartened after being blocked from visiting his brother in Christ, Lt. Stitchie, who recently suffered a severe brain hemorrhage and is currently unresponsive.
“He is unresponsive, so I went down to Jamaica to see him and tried my best to get in contact, but I was restricted from seeing him,” Papa San told World Music Views.
Born Tyrone Thompson, Papa San expressed his disappointment after traveling from his Florida home to visit his former on-stage rival turned spiritual brother. “I can’t believe it. I am still in shock. We made arrangements to meet up, but they told me I can’t go. It’s only one person allowed, and they’re not going to let anybody else see him. I don’t know how that decision came about, but I just hope I get the opportunity to at least pray with him. Others, including prayer partners, also want to pray for him, but access is being blocked.”
The gospel artist explained that the restrictions came as a surprise. “It’s crazy because I was set to leave Jamaica on Sunday, and I was prepared to visit him on Saturday. Everything was arranged, but I was told it wasn’t possible.”
When asked if it was Lt. Stitchie’s family who was preventing visitors, the I Will Survive singer clarified, “I wouldn’t say it’s his entire family. I’ll let it slide, but one individual let me know it’s not possible. That individual has the power to decide who can visit and who can’t.”
“So I’ll just leave it there,” he concluded.
Papa San and Lt. Stitchie’s history in Jamaican music is inextricably linked as the two were known to spar lyrically in stage at the annual December clash show Sting with their last being in 1995. Both men who have since devout their lives Christianity are pioneers in the sped up flow that was adopted by Busta Rhymes and Jay-Z for their rap careers.
Busta Rhymes paid homage to Papa San in an interview on the 85 South Comedy Show podcast saying, “the two artist I first ever seen do a million words in one sentence in 2 seconds is one artist named Papa San and one artist named Lt. Stitchie.”
