Dancehall Artist Rytikal Granted $1 Million Bail On Gun Charges

Eastsyde Records deejay Rytikal was granted bail when he appeared in the Gun Court today on illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition charges.

Rytikal, whose real name is Ryan McFarlane, was ordered to surrender his travel documents and the court imposed a stop order at all ports.  He must also report to the Bull Bay Police Station on Wednesdays and Saturdays and abide by a 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. curfew order as part of the conditions of his bail.

The King Inna War singer, 25, will go on trial on April 28.  He is represented by attorney-at-law Able-Don Foote.

A report from the Elleston Road Police said cops were on patrol in 8 Miles, Bull Bay in St. Andrew around midday on January 28, when Rytikal was seen acting in a manner that aroused their suspicion. He was questioned by police and following a search of his car, a Taurus .380 pistol with twelve rounds of ammunition were found, according to the release.

The deejay reportedly told the police that the weapon was a prop for a music video, but he was, however, taken into custody and later charged.

“Rytikal is innocent of the charges, it is not his gun,” a source close to the EastSyde Records camp told DancehallMag in February.  “The gun was in the car, Rytikal was doing video shoots at the time, and a whole heap of people forward inna the car during that time, so he will be pleading innocent to the charges.”

The charges carry a penalty of 10 to 15 years in prison.  Tommy Lee Sparta, Laden, and Shokryme have all recently pled guilty to similar gun possession charges, in their bids to receive lesser sentences.

In 2017, Rytikal joined the independent East Syde Records, which is also home to Skillibeng.

He eventually grabbed attention last year with King Ina War.  The hard-hitting single, which has 1.7 million views on YouTube, includes lyrics like “di way mi beat di old .38” in its hook.

His other hits are Galaxy Brain, My World, and Cookie Jar.