Ja Rule man threatens DJ
2003-07-09 07:27
Pietermaritzburg - Playing a song by a rival rapper nearly got a DJ's neck broken by a member of Ja Rule's entourage at a concert at Kingsmead on Sunday.
Sakhile Xulu, 24, known in the trade as DJ Staxx, was booked to play after Ja Rule in a two-storey tower that faced the main stage.
"Shortly after Ja Rule had finished I started up my first song which was 21 Questions by 50 Cent. I chose it because, as an entertainer, I give the people what they want to hear and, at the moment, this is the most popular song in 10 countries," said Xulu.
He said that within minutes the sound was switched off and he was told over the PA system that he wasn't allowed to play that particular song.
"I looked really unprofessional in front of thousands of people, cutting such a popular song and when I asked why, I was sworn at over the PA," said Xulu.
He said they took the song off and continued with another song, but after about 10 minutes one of Ja Rule's entourage climbed up the tower to confront Xulu.
"I had no security, no contact with the crew and this guy was standing there threatening me and swearing at me while I was trying to perform," said Xulu.
Two choices
He said the man gave him two choices: either he hand over the record so that it could be destroyed or he would have his neck broken after the show.
"I tried to negotiate with him and said that if he gave me money for the record he could have it, but he totally refused and I didn't want to test his patience," said Xulu.
He said that the bully then took the record, broke it into pieces and threw it on to the floor.
"I was totally alone in that tower and he could have easily pushed me off it," said Xulu about the incident.
"I was just trying to entertain, not defame," said Xulu.
Mike Fuller from Famous Concerts, who was one of the co-promoters of the concert, downplayed the incident, saying that it is well known that Ja Rule and 50 Cent have a major difference of opinion.
"I am sure that the DJ didn't realise what he was doing but it was really like waving a red flag at a bull," said Fuller.
He said that from the moment the song went on, Ja Rule's team made sure that it wasn't played again but was sure that "no records were smashed or anything like that".
Xulu said that although he is not planning to lay charges, he will seek a court order to make Ja Rule apologise publicly as well as reimburse him for the broken record.