Arguing that he is not a criminal, dancehall artiste I-Octane on Tuesday afternoon refuted reports that alleged members of the One Don faction of the Clansman gang accompanied him to recording studios.
“Just let me clarify something that I see on the net. [First] thing, no one escort me to studio… Do your research,” the entertainer posted as part of a lengthy caption on social media site Instagram.
His social media post was in response to testimony given by the prosecution’s second witness in the One Don-Clansman gang trial, which suggested that gangsters visited the artiste at a St Andrew recording studio on multiple occasions.
According to the witness, himself, along with alleged One Don gang leader Andre ‘Blackman’ Bryan and defendant Fabian Johnson would visit the recording studio owned by I-Octane, whose real name is Byiome Muir.
The witness said they went there to record music.
The witness testified that Bryan would leave the gang’s headquarters on Jones Avenue in Spanish Town, St Catherine and visit another recording studio, this time in Dunrobin, St Andrew.
He claimed that on that occasion, the entertainer and his daughter were there while I-Octane recorded songs.
Posting a screenshot from a media report on aspects of the witness’ testimony that mentioned his name, I-Octane said that after reading the story, there was nothing in it to say that he was a criminal.
“After reading this and see what they say about me. Where and how am I a criminal?” he quizzed.
“People me never know seh voicing music for an established recording company is a crime,” the entertainer said.
“Mi bus from mi a 16/17 – over 15 or more years now and mi voice for so many GHETTO LABELS…. Buss nuff ghetto yutes who a produce music from di ghetto and never involve or mention in any criminal activities, so why now,” he added.
I-Octane admitted that he did, in fact, have his own recording studio, explaining that if “anybody” wanted to do any form of recording, they would meet him at the studio.
He also confirmed that his daughter who loves music was at his studio whenever he was recording.
“… Why would I [be] doing crime and have my little daughter at a crime scene?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, I-Octane claimed that he has been one of the “biggest Jamaican superstars” for many years.
“… So mek mi tell unuh this… I have come across [over my 15 years] nuff yute who inna badness because of their background, but come to me and say, ‘DJ help take me out a badness’,” he admitted.
He continued: “Note, I don’t know nothing about dem badness, but dem ask for help just to record a song on a riddim so they can get into producing, and me nah go tell no lies, me record fi dem over and over because I want to show dem say life nuh stop a badness.
“Jones Avenue Records is big recording label, and multiple artistes have done recording for them, so how I-Octane is a criminal fi do the same thing.”
I-Octane argued further that he has voiced dubs for both sides of the political aisle and has performed at venues for lawmen.
“When it is election time, I sing dubs for politicians on both sides. That don’t mean me into politics,” he asserted.
“When badman keep dem ghetto shows and nuff artistes, including myself, go, that don’t mean me inna badness,” he contended.
I-Octane rose to fame in 2007 with the roots-reggae track ‘Stab Vampire’. He released classics such as ‘Mama You Alone’ and ‘Lose A Friend’, both of which topped local charts.
One of his songs called ‘Any Bwoy’, interestingly, opens: “Jones Avenue, Blackman, dem tink seh a clothes deh in a the wash pan, De La Vega to Boston, Portmore, wi nuh sissy, wi a badman,” he dee-jays over in the dancehall song.
