Gully Bop’s family was happy for his success, says brother

The rise of dancehall deejay Gully Bop from rags to riches, or rather “from the gully to the money”, captivated fans across the world at the time in history when the word ‘viral’ was used mainly to describe viruses, and being a social media sensation was hardly even a thing locally.

And, just as the dancehall world had a front-row seat on social media with Bop’s success, so, too, did they binge on his fall from grace, enlivened by his tabloid-capturing headlines dishing on his domestic disputes, his brushes with the law, and accusations of drug abuse. The curtains closed when Gully Bop died at the Kingston Public Hospital last Monday. He was 62.

The story all started in the year 2014 when Robert Lee Malcolm, aka ‘Country Man’, shot to overnight fame when a video of him — with no front teeth and free-styling uber confidently that “ every gyal want a wuk offa mi” — went viral. Gully Bop, the Body Specialist, was born. Suddenly in demand for dubplates, stage shows and recordings, he went from homelessness to fame and fortune.

For Gully Bop’s family, it was surreal, and they rejoiced at his success. But, in retrospect, his younger brother, Andrew ‘Blaxx’ Chamberlain, feels that had Gully Bop been “less selfish and cared more for his family” things would have been different.

Gully Bop, in his later years, was suffering from kidney disease and a host of other complications. He underwent surgery two years ago; however, two months before his death, he sought financial assistance from philanthropist Donna Gowe to help with his ongoing health battles and a full-circle lifestyle which had seen him, again, without a stable place to call home.

“When him buss, we did feel good that nobody couldn’t call Gully Bop dutty man again,” Chamberlain said. “I remember him son come to me and seh ‘Uncle, pinch me … ‘cause it feel like a dream.’ His son was crying.”

Chamberlain shared that people would point him out on the street as Gully Bop’s brother and a crowd would surround him. A welder by trade, he is also into music and performs regularly on the karaoke circuit, doing up to two shows per night. He recalled performing with Gully Bop at a concert on Fagan Ave in St Andrew, but that was never repeated.

“Me and him mash up di place, but Bop don’t like share stage with people, and him never hide that. Him talk it plain. Him have a son who deejay and him coulda help him out … but the spotlight get to Bop. Him selfish and him carry it to him grave. Him never like people ‘round him, and when him sick him stay by himself. In the last part, him go ‘round my mother, who was staying with my sister in St Thomas,” he said.

Asked how his mother was feeling about Gully Bop’s death, Chamberlain said that she was prepared.

“To the way how things stay right now, my mother suppose to get stronger. We lose a sister already. I think she grasp the fact that Bop had limited time and so, based on that, she get the strength to cope,” Chamberlain said.

He noted that the last time he spoke with Gully Bop was just before he was admitted to hospital two weeks ago. He said that on that same day, Gully Bop collapsed twice.

“Bop come knock down mi door a ask mi fi painkiller. I gave him two, and something to eat. He said he couldn’t eat the food, and so I gave him something to drink. Him seh, ‘Mi a go dead yuh know.’ And he go hospital and never come back,” Chamberlain said.

Although ailing, Gully Bop was still doing what he loved best – music – and gave his last performance two months ago alongside Major Mackerel and Peter Metro at Rub-A-Dub Thursdays, held weekly at Rebel T HQ on Dumbarton Ave.

Major Mackerel said that the music fraternity has lost a great artiste.

“Gully Bop did gwaan good, but we could see seh him sick … he was showing signs of weakness. We really send condolences to the family. We miss and we lose a great artiste. Gully Bop is loved by the world and is missed by the world. We just a tell people and artiste, when oonu sick, mek somebody know. May his soul rest in peace. We love and respect him,” Major Mackerel said.

Gully Bop’s chequered career saw him capturing headlines on stage as well as off stage. Among the highlights were his performance at Sting 2014 and his first overseas show in the US after gettng a work visa; his fairytale romance with manager and former fiancée Shauna Chin and his turbulent love affair with ex-girlfriend and manager A’mari DJ Mona Lisa, who has been sharing memories of the two on social media, while proclaiming her undying love.

“He is the best thing that ever happened to me but was easily manipulated by others who discard him as soon as they got rid of me as his fiance and manager,” A’mari said.

His brother belives that Gully Bop will be remembered most of all as a lyricist.

“Him build some nice lyrics ... him did have a thing for that and people loved Gully Bop songs. Tune like Gully Whine, Dem Nuh Bad Like Me and Body Specialist a some big song,” Chamberlain said in tribute to his older brother, who he said was one of his favourite people when he was younger.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com