Keep it peaceful - KipRich cautions Masicka, Tommy Lee Sparta about lyrical clash

Following a week-long fiery lyrical war between Masicka and Tommy Lee Sparta, former 'Sting Clash King', KipRich, said while he endorses the clash, he cautioned the artistes not to let it impact their careers.

"Lyrical battle is good. Yuh see as long as dem can keep it pon a peaceful level physically, it nice. But wi waah see it guh to di stage, not jus throwing some words on the Internet. Wi love when di clash guh to di next level; di people dem woulda love fi si dem put on a showdown pon a stage. A dat me woulda love fi see because a dat mek yuh prove yuh skills as musical warriors," KipRich told THE STAR.

Masicka, who reportedly made a statement about being the greatest artiste of all time (GOAT) at Reggae Sumfest, first came under heavy criticism from Vybz Kartel's supporters, as it's alleged that the statement was aimed at the newly crowned dancehall king. With the Montegonian deejay Tommy Lee Sparta directly aiming his Control lyrics at Masicka, warning him not to " gi Gaza chat, be what yuh be, don't be what yuh not," fans were convinced that it was Masicka's statements that prompted Tommy Lee Sparta's response. In a quick lyrical comeback, while alluding to himself once again as the 'GOAT', Masicka answered Tommy Lee Sparta in his track Vain.

The latter returned with another diss song titled Destroyer, to which Masicka counteracted with Tears. On December 4, Masicka's birthday, Tommy Lee Sparta released Dirth Day, which gained momentum online for a three-day period. Masicka then unleashed a lyrical attack on both Vybz Kartel's and Tommy Lee Sparta's camps with the single Revelation.

Describing the war as "sweet" and something that's "timely" for the nation, KipRich, who earned Sting Clash King title because of significant victories at the annual event, urged that the artistes' careers must not be stifled by labelling them based on the clash's end results.

"The only time it get damaging is when yuh only stick to dat and di people dem have yuh as only a 'clash artiste' and put yuh inna a box and seh 'a only di end a di year when Sting come around yuh have a career'," he said.

"Clashing is definitely a strong part of the dancehall culture, people love seeing it, dem love competition. If it can stay di violence-free way, it wi good because the damaging part a it a when yuh move from music and gone personal and corporate groups nuh waah associate dem brands with you," he added.

KipRich said that despite his successes, his career once headed down a damaging path, from years of being labelled as just a clash artiste. However, he remains optimistic about the outcome of this latest lyrical battle doing more good than harm, and suggested that corporate groups would sponsor it "if dem can assure dem seh it's going to be a safe and clean clash".

"Suh it would be good fi see dem tek it pon di Sting stage this year where they can compete proper and the people dem can pick dem winner and continue the clash culture and keep it alive. But Sting is the ground fi dat and yuh nuh properly duh a clash unless yuh guh pon a Sting stage," he opined.

KipRich also reminisced on his most notable moments in Sting clash history. In 2012, he defeated Tony Matterhorn and Merciless, and was later ceremoniously honoured by the clash veteran, Ninja Man.

"Another time was when I was clashing with Monster Shack [Crew] and one a di memba look on another memba and seh 'Kill him nuh, kill him nuh, yuh cyaah mek him kill wi, enuh,' and di other memba replied 'Suh wah mek you nuh kill him," he laughed.