Frankie Sly Addresses Buju Banton Rift In New Dancehall Single Dutty Heart

Dancehall veteran Frankie Sly has entered the public dispute involving Buju Banton and Wayne Wonder, using his new song, Dutty Heart, to revisit hurt feelings and a friendship he says broke down over time.

The friction between Buju Banton and Wayne Wonder has resurfaced as fresh debate surrounds who helped create Murderer, the 1993 hit. Frankie Sly says the song did not come from one person alone, arguing that he, Buju and Wayne Wonder all played a part in its creative development.

"Him talk it outta his mouth, so him caa tek it back now," Frankie Sly said. He was referring to an earlier Onstage interview with Winford Williams, where Buju Banton appeared to credit both Wayne Wonder and Frankie Sly with contributing to the well-known track.

"We wrote songs together collectively because two or three heads are better than one. That is just reality. We were friends, so why would you sit there and write a song by yourself, especially since Pan Head, who died, was all a we friend?" Frankie Sly asked.

Frankie Sly also said parts of the record reflected his own input, including lines inspired by scripture. He said the facts of what happened cannot simply be pushed aside.

"Me all go inna my hotel room for the Bible and added Psalms 121 [which] is my favourite Psalms, and me incorporate that line deh in particular. People nuh stupid. You can't hide from the truth, but at the end of the day, I'm not bitter, I'm better."

Speaking with THE STAR, Frankie Sly said he had avoided the dispute for a while "as I didn't want to get involved in the drama". Instead of joining the public exchanges directly, he said he turned to songwriting, making Dutty Heart a personal statement as well as a wider look at betrayal and shifting loyalties.

Frankie Sly, who was once close with Buju Banton and Wayne Wonder, said the record draws on the pain of feeling betrayed and on how fame can alter people. He described their earlier bond as a kind of brotherhood built through years of performances, travel and musical work, but said his connection with Buju has been distant for a long time.

"All of us used to roll together. We toured the world together, but at the end of the day, he is who he is, and it's sad to see it end up where it has," Frankie Sly said.

He said Dutty Heart came after he spent time thinking through the controversy and the emotions attached to it. Music, he said, became the way to respond.

"Everything in it is a fact, but at the same time I didn't want to make it seem like it was all about him (Buju), as a nuff people have experienced having a friend that did them wrong," Frankie Sly said.

Frankie Sly said his friendship with Wayne Wonder remains strong, but the same cannot be said for Buju Banton.

"He and I haven't spoken in years. I can't even remember when was the last time. I don't like negative energy, and if a pure negative energy you bring, then me rather nuh see you or be in your space," he said.

"Dem seh some fren rich and switch, well dat a him. A him tek wey himself, enuh. Me and Wayney Wonder still par. Nothing changed about our relationship, and we did a par before him come 'bout," Frankie Sly added.