Kemar “Ding Dong” Otty rose from ghetto celebrity as a dancer and choreographer to full on chart-busting musical success with his addictive 45 “Badman Forward, Badman Pull Up.” In the process he established the blueprint that selectors like Tony Matterhorn and Supahype are following in their transition from crowd motivators to recording artists in their own right. He has been criticized for the simplicity of his call-and-response vocals, but as the NY Times recently pointed out, his memorable catchphrases are actually a selling point to a broader audience that is mystified by dancehall’s intricate patois and Kingston-specific subject matter.
