Stone Love Propelled Merciless To International Stardom In Just One Night, Says Mr. G

Veteran Dancehall artiste and producer, Mr G. (formerly Goofy) says Stone Love was the catalyst that skyrocketed the Gyal dem Gizzada Merciless, from a virtual  unknown to one of Dancehall’s most revered sons, in just one night.

According to Mr G. who is best known for his breakout hit Fudgie and songs such as Swaggerific, Buff Bay, and Stepfather, at the time he was working with Stone Love as owner Winston ‘Wee Pow’ Powell’s studio engineer in the mid-90s, when the events which led to Merciless’ ascension to national stardom all unfolded.

Mr. G said Wee Pow, as was customary, had booked out Penthouse’s recording studio one particular Thursday, during which his music colleague Ghadaffi came to him and said he had a “bad artiste” whom he wanted him to give a listening ear.

“When mi hear di man (Merciless) open him mouth an seh: ‘Mi len out mi mercy, mi nuh get it back yet’, mi seh ‘Jeezas Christ.  Gwaan wid a next song’.   Di man seh:  ‘who a get di woman a di year, if a nuh Miss Glamourous…’ listen to mi, mi meck him deejay round five or six song an di whole five or six song bad,” Mr. G said excitedly.

“Mi seh ‘come, wi a guh inna di voice booth’.  Wi voice Len out mi Mercy pon dub plate; wi voice Who a guh get di woman a di Year pan Frog riddim, weh Wee Pow did lick ova Steelie dem Frog and Steelie dem neva badda put out di original Frog – a our own put out, because Steelie did upset.  Caw Steelie used to lef him riddim dem dung a Arroz fi dem duh dub plate pon dem fi di riddim dem buss quick. Seen,” he continued during an interview with The Entertainment Report Podcast.

He added: “Anyway, at dat time, Merciless, when we discover him, him name Sugar Demus.  Change wi change him name.  Him name change to Merciless. Seen.  Anyway when Wee Pow come, mi seh ‘Pow, mi have  a yute fi uh hear enuh.  Dis yah bwoy a guh bus, bus, bus, right now’.  Him seh ‘gwaan’, caw Pow trust mi ears.  When Pow hear, pow seh ‘no man him gone’.”

“At that time, Wee Pow and Bounty Killa was not on good terms.  Suh in comes a yute weh Pow can use weh have di same voice.   Suh hear wha now, Merciless teck one night an bus.  House a Leo, Stone Love.”

He said he and Wee Pow turned up at House of Leo, where the Stone Love boss handed his then-senior selector Rory the dubplate Len out Mi Mercy, which had been voiced for the sound system by Merciless, and instructed him to: “bus dah yute yah tonight”.

He said Rory put on his headphones and listened to the dubplate whilst the dance was in full session, and then made his preamble.

As soon as Rory played the first line of the track, Mr. G said House of Leo erupted in wild cheers, and Merciless, who was born Leonard Bartley on July 1971 in the district of Chapleton in Clarendon, became an instant star.

“Mi si House a Leo split up inna bout 16 part.  Merciless bus – one night,” he whispered as if still in awe.

Len out Mi Mercy was a hit on the island, which started Merciless’ prolific streak as songwriter and deejay.  Songs such as Mavis, Ole Gallis, Whaddup, Mama Cookin, Gizzada, Let Dem Have It, and God Alone with Little Hero and Action Fire were released by him.

He also collaborated with Lady Saw for Baby Mother and Long Till It Bend.

He also went on to become a staple act at the Sting stage show, clashing in several high-profile on-stage battles with Beenie Man, Ninjaman, and Bounty Killer.  He and Bounty Killer also recorded the track No One Cares in 2000.