A Pioneer for Women in Dancehall Makes Her WNBA Debut
Labor Day in New York City is a very big deal. The city’s vibrant Caribbean community celebrates in a big way every year, even before the West Indian American Parade takes over Brooklyn on Labor Day. This year the New York Liberty kicked off the holiday festivities early, celebrating New York’s Caribbean culture by declaring August 29 West Indian Night at the Barclays Center. All through 2024 WNBA champs’ game with the Chicago Sky, the team found ways to big up the island energy. There was a hot dancehall routine from the Lil Torches youth dance troupe, there was a limited edition T-shirt designed by Esther Wallace of Playa Society, and there was even a fun segment where the Liberty Bahamian-born star center Jonquel Jones chose her favorite Caribbean food. (Spoiler alert: she loves curried goat.) But the climax of the evening came when dancehall legend Sister Nancy took center court at the Barclay’s Center where she performed her classic tune “Bam Bam” during the halftime show. “Where was I?!” said Mayor Mamdani when he learnd about the performance by the legendary Jamaican artist. The Mayor picked “Bam Bam” as one of his favorite reggae and dancehall songs in a recent interview with Boomshots x VIBE, but he missed out on her big performance. But of course, Boomshots was there to catch all the action. Before stepping onto the arena’s hardwood floor, Nancy took time out for an exclusive chat with Boomshots:
Although Sister Nancy admitted that she doesn’t really follow sports, she was happy to accept the Liberty’s invitation because she’s all about supporting women. After all, “Muma” Nancy is the first female to make her name in the sound systems that are the lifeblood of Jamaican dancehall culture. “I had the greatest teacher,” she said, bigging up her elder brother Brigadier Jerry. “I try to do everything that he do.”
Although dancehall remains a mostly male-dominated space, “Muma” Nancy is esteemed as a pioneer within the culture, blazing a trail for generations of women to follow in her footsteps. Unfortunately she says many of the female dancehall artists nowadays do not “rate themselves,” and sometimes resort to gimmicks to attract attention. The ones Nancy does listen to—veteran artists like Sister Carol, Lady G, and Queen Ifrica—specialize in cultural-oriented lyrics and eschew all forms of X-rated or “slack” materal.
“I don’t listen nobody else,” says Nancy. Other artists, she says as politely as possible, “Don’t talk what I want to hear… They bring everything to the stage, like their bedroom and all of that. Most of the ladies, they don’t wear proper clothing. I think they’re insecure of themself. They don’t dress properly to make people recognize them. Those ladies, I don’t think them rate themself, so them haffi go the extra mile to make people really see them.”
Never lacking in confidence, Nancy has been standing up for her rights for years now, fighting for her fair share of royalties in court cases and lawsuits. Sister Nancy now owns 50% of her publishing, including “Bam Bam,” one of the most sampled records in Jamaican history. “Too much, too much,” she says of all the remixes, covers, and interpolations. “The one I love is the one with Jay-Z and Damian Marley,” she says. “He did it the right way. Most of the others did it behind my back and I have to sue them.”
Nancy says she’s never lost a clash—whether in the dancehall or the courtroom. “I have style,” she says. “That’s what I use all the time. You haffi know how fi use the style and fashion.”
“I hope they win tonight,” she said before the game. “Who they play today?”
Final Score: New York Liberty 85, Chicago Sky 66.
Subscribe to Boomshots TV on Youtube
Follow Boomshots on Instagram
Follow Reshma B on Instagram
Follow Boomshots on Twitter
Follow Boomshots on Tumblr