Sister Nancy on women in dancehall: 'Nuff disrespect
Nancy performs her 30-year-old classic Bam Bam" tonight at the Five Spot for Reggae Legends Week"
You don’t even need to know anything about reggae music to recognize Sister Nancy’s signature dancehall anthem, “Bam Bam.” What started out as a Jamaican festival song has turned into a 30-year career for the dancehall queen and DJ, and the feisty Jamaican native has achieved all of her success on her own terms. With a yearly tour schedule that has taken her from Jerusalem to Portugal, Sister Nancy’s influence extends beyond any sweaty dance floor and into the gut of dancehall. She headlines Reggae Got Soul at the Five Spot on Fri., Feb. 11 in honor of Reggae Legends Week.
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"Bam Bam," Sister Nancy
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You’re cited as a direct influence for female reggae/dancehall artists including Lady Saw and Sister Carol among others. What’s your take on the way female artists have evolved since you entered the scene?
Sister Nancy: My time was totally different from now, all the ladies are still doing their thing but my time was a better time, it was more cultured. You didn’t have to do so much work just to make a name. Maybe because there weren’t so many female artists out and men respected the women.
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What do you think led to the disrespect?