Give me my flowers – Pamputtae
Dancehall diva talks getting the credit she deserves, plans for new year
Published:Saturday | December 31, 2022 | 12:22 AMStephanie Lyew/Gleaner Writer
The dancehall community has been singing Pamputtae’s praises for her performance at Sting 2022, but after stepping on to the stage all “dolled up” down to the box, the diva who appeared on the platform for the third time in her career, believes there is more that could be said and done.
“Talk of the town is that I gave the best performance, and down to my soul I’m confident that I did. I feel good about how I did, but I don’t appreciate the treatment me, or my dancers received when it was time for us to take the stage. A lot of persons have said that it is when we come out to perform, is that time the show start, and a we take Sting, but even now, who fi say it not saying it. Is time them give me my flowers,” Pamputtae told The Gleaner.
Pamputtae’s performance included choreography by dancers Thanise Thickas and Izzy Wine, along with a special guest feature, whose name they have given as ‘Short Man’.
“I was scheduled to perform at 3 a.m., but things did not look like they were going according to plan; the artistes them, like myself, really had expectations for the show to organise the thing much better than that. I knew I wanted to make an impact especially with my Single Mother song, but also make people remember some of what make dancehall what it is today.”
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM SPICE
She said that prior to her performance, fellow female dancehall entertainer and friend, Spice, urged her to not waste any time or have production delay her set. The Queen of Dancehall offered other words of encouragement and empowerment, which she is “forever grateful” for.
“While sitting and waiting to perform, Spice text me and say don’t wait no longer and is like a spirit kick in and say you know say a true, nuh wait until day light and me nuh get fi do what I go there to do because we all know how the stage show thing set up,” she said.
The artiste said that in addition to delivering a memorable showcase at Sting, for which she would have last performed in 2010, she headed to Catherine Hall Stadium in Montego Bay the following day on December 27 for FIP Jamfest where she created more memories.
Pamputtae explained, “I was the only artiste to come off the Jamfest stage and be called on for an encore. It was an eventful week, and closing out the year, I’m proud of how I performed, not only for these past events, but 2022. A long time me inna it, but it is being made to look like I have not worked hard enough for it. With all that happened this year including the endorsement from Nicki Minaj, I can say hard work is paying off.”
Pamputtae has been busy in studio recording several tracks for release in 2023. Earlier in 2022 she also made her debut in the gospel space with a collaboration with Minister Taneisha Shaw titled God and Time and she was one of nine female acts to be featured on the Likkle Miss ‘Fine Nine’ Remix with female rap star Nicki Minaj and fast-rising dancehall deejay Skeng. The remix amassed over three million views on YouTube.
Ringing in the new year, Pamputtae will dedicate the time to her children, specifically to celebrate her eldest son’s birthday she said.
“All now me cyaa see how me have a 23-year-old; each year, once I’m not travelling, I make sure the New Year is about Kevon as that is his birthday. It’s adds to me starting things off [for] the year right, being with who matters most and the reason I keep working hard at achieving certain goals in life,” Pamputtae said.