Dancehall deejay Gully Bop has died
Published:Tuesday | October 31, 2023 | 11:33 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
Rags to Riches dancehall toaster, Gully Bop is dead. His manager, Jackie Hunte confirmed to The Gleaner that Gully Bop, whose real name is Robert Lee Malcolm, died at the Kingston Public Hospital on Monday.
Hunte, who is based in England, has been managing Gully Bop since 2017 - "papers sign and everything" - and she spoke highly of the entertainer, who has been experiencing severe health challenges in recent years.
"I am in shock. Gully Bop is like my brother ... he is a good human being. He had been admitted to hospital about two weeks ago... his daughter and his producer had been looking after him. He passed Monday night... I am devastated. I can't think clearly now," Hunte said.
Gully Bop, who has been forthright about his illnesses, including complications from hernia, blocked tubes and kidney-related disease, told THE STAR in an interview in August that he had undergone surgery at the Kingston Public Hospital in 2021, and additionally, he had received a kidney transplant, but stressed that he was still ailing and using colostomy bags.
Pastor Christopher Tate, of El'Shaddai Prophetic Ministries, has been one of the persons assisting Gully Bop in the later stages of his life. He explained that although the deejay had a new kidney he was still not able to function the way he wanted to. He expressed sadness at the entertainer's passing, but said that there was hope.
"Gully Bop is gone ... it is finished. In the last part he gave his life to God and I am praying that he is saved. Gully Bop was a very kind man and he was always willing to share everything he had with others. That's why Gully Bop didn't have any money. All who want to rejoice can rejoice now," Tate said.
Three months ago, Gully Bop's precarious health situation made the headlines when he visited philanthropist Donna Gowe seeking help. She called upon all those who "get a wuk offa" the Body Specialist deejay to show up for him financially when he most needed it.
Shauna Controlla, who was one of his associates, went on IG Live solicited prayers for him at the time.
“Me a ask all who did love the story ‘from the gully to the money’, ‘from rags to riches’, ‘every gyal want a wuk offa me’…mi a ask unno fi please pray for him. Nothing beats prayers. Him have him ways, but this is not the right way for us to go about giving up on him.”
Another of Gully Bop's associates, A'Mari DJ Mona Lisa, when contacted, was too distraught to give a comment.
Gully Bop, who was born on May 30, 1964 first emerged on the scene as Country Man. and became a viral sensation in 2014 after a video emerged of him freestyling. He put out his seven-track debut EP titled Rags to Riches in 2015 and Rumours in 2019.