Don Mafia: the relentless pursuit of prominence

I will occasionally feature articles on hip-hop/rap stars who are looking to create an image based upon a particular mafiosa from the past. It is always interesting to examine the mafia's influence on pop-culture and vice versa.

It may well be that the image of the Mafia don, romanticised both in media (The Sopranos) and in real life (the flashy rise and fall of NYC Mafioso John Gotti) is having a deeper than suspected impact here.

Along comes the artist Don Mafia, formerly known as Gringo (you may remember the track Slam Bam), whose Mafia House production has gained attention recently through his link with top DJ Beenie Man.

Well the DJ is now seeking his career further and has wholly adopted the Mafia ethos -with he says, an explanation. "The name really speaks to a 'Mafia mentality' which you need in this business, that is, you have to be relentless in establishing your thing and going for what you know is right," Mafia explained.

Since last February, the 'musical Mafioso' has been on a schedule -mostly recordings - that would 'rub out' lesser beings, but the Don asserts that he cannot afford to be too comfortable. "I have to keep working. Is long time I'm in this business now, and I understand - through all the drama and the fight I been through - what I need to do at this stage."

The same applies in his lyrics, which he says, have matured from his early days as a "counteraction specialist" "I not in the counteraction thing again. A guy want to hate me, then him go ahead. I have to come different now and just focus on my thing and the company, cause no matter where else I've been or whatever else I been doing, I always have to come back to music."

Regarding his better-known partner, Don Mafia has nothing but praise. "I know Beeneie Man from King Jammys'. He saw him work a show one day at Fort Clarence and from that the association start." The association has seen the Don writing hit tunes for the Doctor, beginning with Straight Prison and including many more.

Among his own trove of current singles is Born A Man. The former Apositolic churchgoer and member of his devotional team at Decarteret College is also getting busier on the performing front, appearing at shows big and small around the island.

"The reason why I can't sit still is that I always thinking of new things, I always have new ideas. As a Mafia you always have to be a few steps ahead of the game."