Gerald Bogle Levy better known as Bogle and also as Bogle Dancer, Mr Bogle, Father Bogle and Mr Wacky, was a Jamaican dancehall star, dancer and choreographer.
Beenie Man (one of the dancehall legends from the early 90s) called Bogle “the greatest dancer of all time” and recognised as “part of the foundation and as an icon inside of dancehall culture.”
Bogle created more dancehall moves than any other figure, he is best known for creating the Bogle dance which is named after him.
He created the Willie Bounce (named after his own friend and Black Roses Crew member Willie Haggart), Wacky Dip, Urkle Dance, Sesame Street, Bogle Dance, Pelper, LOY, Jerry Springer, Zip It Up, Hotti Hotti Bogle, World Dance, Pop Yuh Collar, Row di Boat, Out and Bad, Sweeper, Stuckie, and many other popular dances.
His stage name, Bogle, is a reference to Paul Bogle a National Hero of Jamaica ( a Baptist deacon and activist of the 1860s who was hanged on 24th October 1865 by the British colonial government)
Levy began his career performing dance moves to disco music.
He claimed that his occupation was nurtured, curiously, through the espousal of the renowned Jamaican poet Louise Bennett.
He stated that it was through Bennett’s ( a woman ) support of the arts that inspired him to became recognised as Jamaica’s leading creator of new dances.
Through his admiration of the Jamaican national hero Paul Bogle, and his love of dancehall, Levy created the ‘Bogle Dance’ in 1992.
The dance led to a series of hits endorsing the moves, notably Buju Banton’s ‘Bogle Dance’ and Ninjaman’s ‘Gun Bogle’.
The success of Levy’s ragga rumbas led to an international tour, which included an appearance on UK television’s infamous music programme, The Word.
The dance remained popular throughout 1993 and further releases supported the dance including the release of Bogle Mania Xterminator Versus Junjo, that featured Capleton, Tumpa Lion, General T.K. , Yellowman and Shaka Shamba.
Through the Bogle dance Levy gained notoriety and inspired the producers to create new rhythms with his dance moves in mind.
Routines included Sly And Robbie’s ‘Mission Impossible’, as well as the ‘Hot 97’ rhythm inspired by the New York-based radio show and a remake of ‘Bogle Dance’ called the ‘Pelpa Dance’.
At Sting ’97, for news on the latest dancehall moves, Levy and his crew were widely courted by the media.
His moves led to claims that he helped promote the careers of a number of Jamaican performers and inspired hits such as ‘All Fruits Ripe’ (Junior Reid) and ‘Tink Mi Nice’ (Frisco Kid).
In 1999, Levy demonstrated that he was still streetwise when he introduced the Jerry Springer dance, also referred to as (L.O.Y.) Lords Of Yard.
Mr. Bogle has maintained a high profile in the dancehall and by 2000 embarked on a career as a performer in his own right.
Mysteriously Shot by Unknown Assailants
On 20th January 2005 he was killed in a drive-by shooting in Kingston, Jamaica (The Tupac way).
The famous dancer was at a gas station (around 2am) when two men on a motorbike sped passed by and allegedly shot into his vehicle that also had three passengers.
The four were rushed to a hospital, but 40-year-old Levy died at the Kingston Public Hospital at age 40.
The three others — including a 16-year-old boy — are listed in serious condition.
Following Levy’s death, the Kingston home of John Hype, a rival of Levy, was burned to the ground.
Levy was major influence on breakout artists such as Elephant Man and Beenie Man.
Beenie Man who was blamed for his murder posted a $1 million reward for the apprehension of the shooters.
What Really Happened?
According to detailed police report, “Bogle” together with four other persons were traveling in his F150 van on Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10 on Thursday, January 20 at about 2:35 a.m., when they stopped at a service station on Constant Spring Road.
While there, two men armed with handguns rode up on a grey Honda F4 motor bike and opened fire, hitting all five who were in the vehicle.
They were taken to the hospital where Levy was pronounced dead and three others admitted in serious condition.
A fourth person was treated and released.
4 days later, one of the men shot during the incident who was admitted in serious condition, died.
He was identified as Tony Reid aka “Matterhorn” (not the sound system selector).
Note that Bogle was a founding member of Black Roses Crew of Lincoln Crescent (Roses Corner) in Kingston 13.
Its members included community leader William “Wille Haggart” Moore, David “Ice” Smith, Michael Stewart, and Lonsdale “Boysie” Guy.
Moore and Smith met similar fate in 2001 and 2008, respectively (again just like what happened to Tupac and his circle of friends).
“All dem deh, whey all dem did deh? Cause mi a straight weddy weddy, mi not a lean weddy weddy”
These lyrics are excerpts from the late dancehall icon Bogle’s controversial lyrics said to be at the heart of the heated arguments between himself and rival dancer John Hype, who responded with:
“Yuh ready? How dem sey dem ready, dem nuh ready ’cause dem a par wid Freddy. A wha duh yuh? A wha duh yuh cookie monster an yuh crew?”
Their ongoing feud dated back to 2004.
Reports from several fans in Jamaica and abroad revealed that physical showdowns and word dropping had taken place between the two dance crews at several dancehall events as they grumbled about “who better than who, who bring who, who done and who a mek more money and dress better than who.”
“Dem wet up dem one anodda, drop wud, even bax dung, kick dung and spit pon gwaan between the followers,” one female fan close to the wrangling reported.
Some Jamaicans also blamed a popular sound system operator for causing the fiery rift between the two dancers, by breeding it and encouraging it at his weekly events.
There were reports of a conflict that took place at Standpipe (night club and music center) in 2004 in which female fans of Beenie Man had verbal arguments with a member of Bogle’s entourage who threw Guinness at them, which caught Beenie Man on the hand.
It is alleged that another member of Bogle’s camp talked it over with the DJ.
However, trusted reports from Jamaican streets revealed that by the time they returned to Black Roses, two men, one armed with a rifle and the other a shotgun, opened fire on them.
Recognising the men, Beenie Man was called and he was reportedly upset that the men from a section of the community had taken it up on themselves to retaliate.
A meeting was called and the matter quelled.
In another instance, it was reported that at a popular Monday night session, there was a confrontation between Bogle and John Hype’s dancers.
Men from Bogle’s corner went around to John Hype’s corner.
Things got physical and punches were thrown.
Allegations are that one man from Hype’s corner went to a nearby street for a gun and was on his way back when he was held by the police.
Bogle and Hype were not involved in that brawl.
The night of Wednesday, January 19, 2005, turned out to be a fatal one.
One eyewitness, a member of Bogle’s crew, reports that there was no confrontation between Bogle, John Hype or any member of the crew at the popular Weddy Weddy night in Kingston that night.
“The only argument whey tek place a between Beenie Man footballer bredda and Kid Kurrupt.
Mi know sey di man dem inna Beenie Man camp did vex when wi let out the two fowls from inside a suitcase.
The black fowl whey have on the bead on the top of him head fly go over whey Beenie Man stand up and everybody start laugh.
Beenie Man wasn’t amused as him face did ben’ up. Mi jus’ step out a di crowd and observe whey a gwaan,” he said.
It is understood that followers of Beenie Man took offence at the fact that Bogle had brought the fowls to the dance, and the implication was made as to who the fowls represented.
Some considered it disrespect and even vented anger at Bogle.
The eyewitness said that for a while he did not know where Bogle had turned until a man brought two six-packs of Guinness and Bogle instructed to
distribute them.
“Mi nuh know if a dat time him an anybody get inna nuh argument and him woulda sey supp’n to a man, yuh see mi,” the eyewitness said.
He went on to say that, “Beenie Man and his followers were the first to leave the venue and Bogle said him not going anywhere until him ready to go to Passa Passa where he was planning to do the same fowl thing.”
Bogle and a van load of followers later left Weddy Weddy heading for Passa Passa when Bogle realised that he was low on gas and stopped at the Esso gas station on Constant Spring Road.
Bogle was sitting in the passenger side of his F150 vehicle driven by one of his colleagues.
What Did The Driver Say After The Shooting?
The driver of the vehicle said:
“Bogle go inna him pocket and come up wid a $500 and sey “a ongle this mi have inna mi pocket.” Him hand mi the $500 and push him hand inna him pocket again and come up wid $100 whey him push back in him pocket and say a it alone him have.
“Him did give me $2,000 to hold on to at Weddy Weddy.
A it him teck and buy the Guinness.
A entertainer did deh pon the pump so Bogle come out a di van and guh stand up unda di shed inna di gas station.
Meanwhile mi a wait pon di entertainer fi come off when mi see a bike ride up and a man in a helmet reach fi him waist and start opening fire on Bogle.
As mi back up fi use the vehicle and drive dung pon him, mi only hear a shot and feel supp’n lick mi inna mi head back and tun roun fi see a man a aim a gun at mi head.
All mi coulda do is drive the vehicle up in a corner and jump through the window and run go ova through Pavilion and run fi mi life.
When mi a run, mi see a nex’ yute a run and the gunman shot him inna him back and him drop.”
As news of Bogle’s death spread far and wide, persons who knew of the ongoing feud, and who were at Weddy Weddy, immediately linked the death to Beenie Man and John Hype because of previous friction.
The burning of the premises at 12 Dillon Road belonging to John Hype’s parents is considered retaliation for Bogle’s death (happened few hours after the shooting).
Bogle’s mother Dorothy Smith, affectionately called Mama May, said this after the death of her son:
“A Bogle buy [everything], up to mi panty fi mi.
Mi leave everything to God and mi doan want nobody sorry fi mi.
God is my revenge and no amount a money whey dem a put up naw bring back mi pickney.
Same way people know di names a the two man, and since a dem friend and dem doan know nutten ’bout mi pickney death, dem fi just come clean and give up the man dem.
“When mi hear Beenie Man pon TV a talk ’bout a nuff people waan kill Bogle, him need fi talk who is dem nuff people deh.
Bogle nuh nyammy nyammy. A mi cook him food still.
A Tuesday (day before he was killed) mi cook beef and food fi him.”
Mama May sat back and lamented on the good relationship she had with her son.
According to Mama May, “A waiting on some family members abroad to come in for the funeral and February 6 is the most likely time. I’ve already gotten the go ahead from the MP to lay the body in state at the Tony Spaulding Complex.”
On Sunday at a candlelight church vigil being held at Black Roses corner, another of Bogle’s colleagues told XtraNews that, “Bogle did a prepare fi see dem do a counteraction, dress up two black Doberman dogs inna chain and sey a him. Him sey all him woulda do a jus deejay sey, ‘Mi a di ongle dawg wid di bark roun’ here, walk and dance roun here.’ Jah know sey a so Bogle stay. Him just love them things deh.”
After the death of Bogle, Dancehall was in limbo as nobody knew why Bogle was gunned down, nobody on the street revealed who really killed him, or if, when and where reprisals will take place.
As a result of what happened on that fateful night, and the uncertainty of what will happen next, the police encouraged promoters of street dances and weekly sessions in certain areas to desist from hosting these events until further notice.
Whether these events were still being kept or not would have been redundant, as following the incident many dancehall patrons stayed home, very few brave enough to venture out.
Beenie Man Clears Himself Again!
In 2020 Beenie Man once again denied allegations that he was involved in the death of Gerald “Bogle” Levy.
During a recent interview with YouTube Vlogger, Teach Dem, Beenie Man said even though they had beef he still considered Bogle a friend.
“Bogle ah me fren, ah mi bredrin, me and him born di same day…me and Bogle never have an argument, Bogle just end up ah disrespect me cause him ah par wid Eleman Fant” He said.
According to the Doc, the night when Bogle died, he was in an argument with dancehall artiste Kid Kurrupt who had disrespected Beenie Man’s brother Brian.
They however went home and it was 2 hours after reaching home his security personnel advised him of Bogle’s death.
“Me could never harm mi fren cause ah still me fren regardless ah whey you do, as long as you nuh hurt me, you nuh try fi harm me, you nuh try fi harm my family.” Beenie Man added.
Those behind his death have NEVER been found!
Dancehall Music and Violence
Dancehall music had its genesis in the political turbulence of the late 1970s and became Jamaica’s dominant music in the 1980s and ’90s.
It was a music genre which grew out of Reggae (let’s call it hardcore reggae).
It was named after the dancehalls that housed local sound systems, from early sound systems.
The music and artists of the genre are representatives of day to day life and combine elements of the American gangster ideal with the true stories of hardship that plagued the lower and working-class people of Kingston.
The music explores Kingston’s 6 G’s:
- Guns
- Gyals (Girls and Sex)
- Ghetto
- Gays
- Ganja
- God
It utilizes track instrumentals better known as “riddims” to paint the portrait of Jamaica’s most lively music scene.
Again, Dancehall music got its name from Sound System venues called Lawns.
No one personally started dancehall music, it was started by Sound Systems in Jamaica.
A sound system consists of Turntables, huge speakers & boxes, Disc Jockeys, MCs and engineers.
The first sound system used to create Dancehall Music was founded by Tom The Great Sebastian who was of Chinese/Jamaican background.
Jamaican music producers like Duke Reid and Henry “Junjo” Lawes created the first dancehall recordings in the 1970s by taking existing instrumental songs or passages from songs with vocals and rerecording new vocals with other singers and deejays.
Dancehall music blazenly endorses wild sex, drugs and Violence.
Most Adolescents response to dancehall genre has become a national (the Jamaican perspective) and public health concern, and has raised policy debate in terms of adolescent’s sexual and violent behavior (with respect to pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)).
Issues relating to sex and violence among adolescents have, in recent times, raised much public health and policy concerns, especially in an era where first sexual debut is at the mean age of 11 years for boys and 12 years for girls in Jamaica.
Studies have shown that graphical lyrical contents in some music can impact adolescent sexual and violent behavior.
The fast riddim of dancehall sounds seem to hypnotize the youth to believe “nothing is evil… Just embrace your freedom and do what pleases you”
Gun violence has claimed the lives of several top Jamaican artistes.
That will be a topic for another research work!
