Ninjaman
{{Use Jamaican English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ninjaman
| image =
| birth_name = Desmond John Ballentine
.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1966|1|24}}
| death_date =
| origin = Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica
| instrument = Vocals
| occupation = Deejay
| years_active =
| label =
| associated_acts = 23 children
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members =
}}
Desmond John Ballentine (born 24 January 1966), better known as Ninjaman, and sometimes as Don Gorgon is a Jamaican dancehall deejay, known for his controversial, pro-gun lyrics, his stuttering and melodramatic style.{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p109913|pure_url=yes}}|title=Ninjaman biography|website=AllMusic|accessdate=2007-05-28}} In 2017, he received a life sentence for murder.
Biography
Born in Annotto Bay, Jamaica, Ballentine moved to Kingston at the age of 12. He launched his deejay career with the Black Culture Sound System at age 14 as "Double Ugly". In 1980, he joined the Killamanjaro sound system, where he got the chance to learn from established deejays Super Cat and Early B, and released his debut single as "Uglyman". Yet another name change made him the now, well-known Ninjaman.{{cite web|url=http://www.glp.at/cont/artistroaster/biographie.asp?ID=106|title=Ninjaman biography at GLP|accessdate=2007-05-28|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070529175113/http://www.glp.at/cont/artistroaster/biographie.asp?ID=106|archivedate=2007-05-29}}
In 1987, Ninjaman recorded and produced his first hit single "Protection", a duet with Courtney Melody. The following years brought collaborations with producers like King Jammy, Lloyd "Pickout" Dennis, Witty, Xterminator, Philip "Fatis" Burrell, Redman, Ini Kamoze, Bobby Digital, Augustus "Gussie" Clarke, and Steely & Clevie and Henry "Junjo" Lawes. It has been said that Ninjaman comes up with all of his lyrics on the spot in the recording studio, in a freestyle manner.{{fact|date=May 2024}}
His hits over the years 1989-1992, like "Border Clash," "Murder Dem", "Permit to Bury" and "Above the Law" reinforced Ninjaman's image of a violent rude boy. His rivalries with Flourgon, Super Cat and Shabba Ranks, lead to a number of clashes.{{fact|date=May 2024}}
In 1993, criticism of Ninjaman's violent and pro-gun lyrics arose, leading to a decline in performing gigs and chances to record.{{fact|date=May 2024}}
By 1997, Ninjaman had changed his name once again, now performing gospel reggae songs as "Brother Desmond". He sought help to fight his crack cocaine addiction in born again Christianity.
In 1999, he was cast in Third World Cop, a Jamaican action crime film directed by Chris Browne and starring Paul Campbell. It was produced by Chris Blackwell of Island Jamaica Films. It became the highest-grossing Jamaican film.{{Citation |title=Third World Cop (1999) - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0179063/ |language=en-US |access-date=2022-05-26}}
Other movies he was cast in include Rude Boy: The Jamaican Don (2003){{Citation |title=Rude Boy: The Jamaican Don (2003) - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383607/ |language=en-US |access-date=2022-05-26}} and Gangsta's Paradise (2004){{Citation |title=Gangsta's Paradise (2004) |url=https://letterboxd.com/film/gangstas-paradise/ |language=en |access-date=2022-05-26}}
In March 2009, Ninjaman, along with his son Janiel, was arrested and charged in connection with a murder of Ricardo Johnson on Marl Road, Kingston, Jamaica.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dancehall.mobi/2009/03/20/ninja-man-charged-with-murder/ |title=Dancehall.Mobi » Ninja Man Charged with Murder |access-date=2009-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413190825/http://www.dancehall.mobi/2009/03/20/ninja-man-charged-with-murder/ |archive-date=2010-04-13 |url-status=dead }}Henry, Paul (2012) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Ninja-cleared-to-perform-by-court Ninja cleared to perform by court] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806211108/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Ninja-cleared-to-perform-by-court |date=2012-08-06 }}", Jamaica Observer, 3 August 2012, retrieved 6 August 2012 He was granted bail for the sum of JD$2,000,000 in March 2012, and was scheduled to appear in court 15 July 2012.{{cite web|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=36104|work=Jamaica Gleaner|title=Ninja Man granted bail.|date=23 March 2012|accessdate=23 March 2012|archive-date=23 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323193508/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=36104|url-status=live}} At least 58 jurors were needed for the start of the trial but only 15 showed up. The trial was rescheduled to start in April 2015, but was again postponed and rescheduled to start in January 2016.{{cite web|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=38572|work=Jamaica Gleaner|title=Jurors no-show stall Ninjaman trial.|date=16 July 2012|accessdate=23 March 2012|archive-date=17 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717023456/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=38572|url-status=live}}"[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/April-2015-for-Ninja-Man-s-trial_17917067 April 2015 for Ninja Man’s trial] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112025846/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/April-2015-for-Ninja-Man-s-trial_17917067 |date=2014-11-12 }}", Jamaica Observer, 11 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014
In 2015 he parted ways with Downsound Records and opened his own Picture Frame Studio on Blackwood Terrace in Kingston.Morgan, Simone (2015) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Ninja-s-studio-to-focus-on-youth_19227363 Ninja's studio to focus on youth] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925201700/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Ninja-s-studio-to-focus-on-youth_19227363 |date=2015-09-25 }}", Jamaica Observer, 5 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015
On 20 November 2017, Ninjaman and his co-accused were found guilty of the 2009 murder of Ricardo Johnson.{{cite news|title=Dancehall star Ninjaman found GUILTY of murder|url=http://wicnews.com/caribbean/dancehall-star-ninjaman-found-guilty-murder-29468132/|work=WIC News|access-date=2017-11-21|archive-date=2017-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032135/http://wicnews.com/caribbean/dancehall-star-ninjaman-found-guilty-murder-29468132/|url-status=live}} On 18 December 2017, Ballentine was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 25 years. {{cite news|title=Ninjaman gets life, 25 years before parole|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Ninjaman_gets_life,_25_years_before_parole?profile=1228|work=Jamaica Observer|access-date=2017-12-19|archive-date=2017-12-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221114823/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Ninjaman_gets_life,_25_years_before_parole?profile=1228|url-status=live}}
Discography
- Number One
- Glad Me Release (1986)
- Send Threat To Me (1988)
- Slackness Done (1988)
- Stumbling Block/Sixteen (1988)
- Superstar (1988)
- Big Showdown (1990)
- Border Clash (1990)
- Kill Them And Done (1990)
- Murder Dem (1990)
- My Weapon (1990)
- Out Pon Bail (1990)
- The Last Of Flourgan (1990)
- Warning You Now (1990)
- Zig It Up (1990)
- Bring Them All To Jesus (1991)
- Bunty Hunter (1991)
- Dirt Heart (1991)
- Excuse Me (1991)
- From Mi Hold Him (1991)
- Gunman (1991)
- John Law (1991)
- Mandela Come (1991)
- Permit To Bury (1991)
- Step Aside (1991)
- Sunsplash (Don Gorgon) (1991)
- Target Practice (1991)
- Ting A Ling A Ling A School Pickney Sing Ting (1992)
- Hardcore Killing (1993)
- Original Front Tooth Gold Tooth Gun Pon Tooth Don Gorgon! (1993)
- Run come test (1993)
- Artical Don (1994)
- Booyakka Booyakka (1994)
- Hollow Point Bad Boy... (1994)
- Jungle Move (Remarc Remix) (1995)
- Ninja Man Mega Mix (2000)
- Anything Test Dead (2001)
- When It Done/Mad Again (2004)
- Money (Feat. Ninjaman) (2017) (collaboration with Collapsing Scenery)
- Badness (Prod by Monkey Marc)(Digikillaz)(2019)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.daintycrew.com/ninjaman.htm DaintyCrew.com interview]
- [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Ninjaman Discogs entry]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Jamaican dancehall musicians
Category:Jamaican reggae musicians
Category:People from Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica