This one is going to be Hott! The Hypa Dawg has been fired! The newspaper headlines screamed, now the truth has come to light we are recognizing the apology that wasn’t heard, actually was heard and what we thought was the truth, was not. Let’s get down to “Brass tacks”.
This topic of Lil Rick being “fired” from Starcom Network has been discussed extensively on my Peter Boyce Facebook page, so I will not bore you by repeating details..

It is already known Rick made a mistake and played a song on Hott which contained profanities and Starcom claimed they fired him because he didn’t apologise for such, even though it turned out he did.
Even if Starcom had a problem with Rick and decided he would no longer be allowed on their airwaves, I see no problem with that.

My problem is the systematic and vindictive campaign that the “BIG” Starcom then unleashed on against the “Little” Rick.
They turned the full blast of their Brass Tack calling radio show to focus on Lil Rick, and had not one but two Starcom presenters on to show the public how all of a sudden the person that for ten years had made Hott the most listened too station on Saturday afternoons was now the worst thing on radio.
(I say afternoons cause I know on Saturday mornings U are locked into the P.Boyce Show on 98.1).

Was Lil Rick a big enough topic to featured on social issue call in program “Brass Tacks”? If Lil Rick had pulled a gun on someone in parliament or driven over somebody’s foot. I would have understood, but because you losing him to a next station that bothers you so much?

However what I find most reprehensible, is that Starcom persons contacted companies who sponsor Rick to inform them that they are severing ties with him and why. Obviously such a move would be directed to affect Rick’s sponsorship income.
It’s one thing to terminate a man, it’s a next to go out of your way ensure you affect his other means of income. Don’t you think Rick still has to eat and has the Hypa Kids to support? To me that action by Starcom was dirty; I guessed because Rick played dirty lyrics on the air Starcom thought they would do something dirty in return.

The effort that Starcom put into publicly lambasting and castigating the Little Rick on radio, newspaper and Facebook seems to be a monumental attempt to discredit Rick in the eyes of the public. If I go by what I have seen coming from the public on Facebook it would appear they have failed.
I will stop here before I am fired by Starcom, I have never been hired by them in the first place but that doesn’t matter.

The Lesson we can learn from all this is, when one door slams in your face another “Slam” door opens. Does that make any sense? Stupes, I am such an idiot, I gine home…

Boyce has left the building!

On the 19th June, 2010 Rickey Reid a.k.a Lil Rick played a song during the Mackeson Triple Tunes live radio show which contained explicit and offensive lyrical content. Despite initial reports by Starcom Network Inc that Lil Rick did not apologise for his actions, I wish to confirm that upon realizing the error which had been made, Lil Rick played the radio friendly version of the recording. He also immediately contacted Mr. Ronnie Clarke, Programme Manager of Starcom Network and Mr. Ricky Nurse CEO and Divisional Manager of Brydens Distribution, the sponsor of the Mackeson Triple Tunes show to which he is presently contracted to inform them of what had transpired. After concluding dialogue with both individuals, Lil Rick apologized to his listeners on radio for his actions.
In a statement issued on the 24th June, 2010 on Hott 95.3 FM’s website- www.hot953fm.com Starcom unequivocally stated that Lil Rick did not apologise for his actions. This assertion was repeated at page 3 of the Nation newspaper’s article of the 25th June, 2010.
Starcom would later admit through Mr. Ronnie Clarke during the Brasstacks programme on the 25th June, 2010 that Lil Rick did in fact apologise for his actions.
It is also questionable why Starcom would seek to upload the extract of the incident on its website but omit to upload also Lil Rick’s apology which would also have been in their possession. The attempts by Starcom to deliberately mislead the public both in the electronic, radio and print media thereby causing the public to question Lil Rick’s motives and also his remorse for his actions is reckless.
Starcom has further misled the public by deliberately giving the impression that Lil Rick was employed by them at the time of the incident and was therefore fired during the course of his employment. In their online statement issued on the 24th June, 2010 Starcom made reference not only to various documents which members of staff would have signed but also implied that Lil Rick had on occasion been counseled, reprimanded and disciplined on three prior occasions in accordance with “established employee protocols.”
This was coupled with an announcement on various radio stations of Starcom Network that the circumstances under which Lil Rick had been “fired” would be ventilated on the Brasstacks programme on the 25th June, 2010. Also at page 3 of the Nation newspaper’s article of the 25th June, 2010, Mr. Trevor Yearwood quoted Starcom Network Inc. as having taken action against Lil Rick “in keeping with our established employee protocols.”
Over the course of the past few days, both myself and Lil Rick have been inundated with telephone calls about him being fired from Starcom. This has been further agitated by headlines in the Nation newspaper which have read as follows “Dawg Gone- Starcom fires Lil Rick over dirty lyrics” and “ Starcom defends decision to fire popular DJ” on the 25th June and 26th June, 2010 respectively.
I wish to categorically state that Lil Rick was not employed or subject to a contract of employment by Starcom Network at the time of this incident. At the material time, he was under a contract for services with Brydens Distribution which commenced on the 2nd May, 2009 to provide several services to the Mackeson brand including the hosting of the Triples Tunes programme between the hours of 12-3pm on Hott 95.3 FM. To the best of my knowledge, Brydens Distribution entered into an agreement directly with Starcom Network Inc. with the understanding that Lil Rick would host the weekly programme. At no time during the course of Lil Rick’s engagement with Bryden’s Distribution has he received any formal document or protocols of any nature relating to his on air presence or relative to Starcom Network Inc.’s position as it relates to the broadcast of the show.
I am in possession of official correspondence from Ms Veoma Ali, Advertising Manager of Starcom Network Inc. dated 23rd June, 2010 and received on the 24th June, 2010 addressed to me in my capacity as the manager of Lil Rick stating inter alia that, “we wish to officially submit our decision to no longer allow Ricky Reid (Lil Rick) on the airwaves of the Starcom Network of Stations.” There is no mention in the said correspondence of Lil Rick being subject to a contract of employment. I again question the motives of the authors of Starcom Network’s press releases and the subsequent statements of its agents as they seek to convey impressions which are false and reckless in nature and content.
Starcom has also implied that Lil Rick’s acted in a way which was in contravention of customary practice at Starcom Network Inc. with respect to the playing of music which was not in their system. I can confirm that the song which Lil Rick played was not in the system at Starcom Network Inc. However, it must be pointed out that Lil Rick’s actions were not an irregular occurrence in the course of his on air presence at Starcom and it was well known and condoned by the station over the years that he would play songs from his laptop or from CD’s brought onto the premises. To imply otherwise is to mislead the public that he was acting contrary to established and accepted practice by the management of Starcom Network Inc.
I have by letter dated 25th June, 2010 expressed my concern to Starcom Network Inc. in my capacity as Lil Rick’s attorney-at-law that some of the statements published by Starcom via the internet and in the local press are grossly defamatory and are calculated to cause injury to his reputation.
I have demanded a public retraction of the published statement, an apology in terms to be approved by me and I have notified them of our intention to claim monetary compensation for the injury to Lil Rick’s reputation.

SANTIA BRADSHAW
Attorney-at-Law

Have you checked out Karaoke competition at Braddies Bar recently? They have some hot judges, Me for one, and M.C is not bad either.
Had a great time judging that event last friday night, read belows release for a full report:

On hearing a stage name like Commander Bond one would immediately think of a combination of a militant, sweet talking and crafty person. Keith Agard is no James Bond but last Friday night at Braddie’s Bar he gave a charismatic and energetic performance, commanding the stage and audience with a prize winning performance. For his showmanship and the entertainment value he provided he won a special prize from Managing Director of LIME Alex McDonald who came to Braddie’s Bar to view the competition. According to McDonald, ‘I was thoroughly entertained by his performance, and for his lively and enjoyable performance I will give him a prize, a LIME cell phone.”
The men have once again taken up the top positions; besides Agard, Kenrick Murrell was the second qualifier last Friday for the Elimination Rounds in September at the Plantation Theatre. He sang the Soul and R&B inspired “Some kind of Wonderful”. By his impressive vocal talents and confidence in his performance he won the judges and the audience’s approval.

Normally when professionals in the entertainment industry pass through Braddie’s Bar on Friday nights they just check out the competition, but last week Philip 7 of the band Masala showed his versatility by singing the Karaoke version of Superstition by Stevie Wonder to open the competition on a high note.
The LIME Barbados Karaoke Championship has the biggest cash prizes for a Karaoke Competition with $5,000, a Professional Recording and a 32’ inch flat screen television. The judges for the night were Ricky Aimey and Peter Boyce with Janelle Walcott as the Emcee. See you Friday night when the championship continues with registration opening at 8:00pm and judging starting at 10:30pm.