Veteran selector Billy Slaughter hints at legal action against Stone Love over ‘dismissal’
Popular veteran selector Billy Slaughter has hinted at retaining legal counsel over a dispute with iconic sound system Stone Love Movements.
Stone Love Movements owner Winston ‘Wee Pow’ Powell last week announced that the highly decorated selector is no longer on the roster of the sound system.
Explaining his decision, Wee Pow stated that “some rebellious things are happening around Stone Love,” which led to the move.
“Billy Slaughter is no longer on my platform…he wanted to be the leader, my son is my son, Billy Slaughter is not my son,” Powell said.
Powell made allegations that Billy Slaughter had indulged in some inappropriate practices and added “you’re going to have to face the consequence”.
Rumours have been swirling for months about tension in the camp. However, when contacted, Billy Slaughter claimed that he had not received any official dismissal letter from his former employers. He also hinted that he had retained legal counsel in the employment dispute.
“Mi lawyer have this thing covered, yu understand mi? When she done do what she have to do, then I will speak to media people,” the 58-year old veteran, whose real name is Esran Phillips, told Observer Online.
With over 33 years as a selector on Stone Love Movements, Billy Slaughter has emerged as a global ambassador for sound system culture and he was recently honoured with the Guinness Sounds of Greatness (GSOG) belt for his hard-core delivery and dominance in sound clashes.
Growing up as the youngest of seven brothers in the Red Hills community of Burnside Valley, Phillips played cricket, football and table tennis before he embraced music.
He was given the name “Billy Slaughter” by Powell for his impressive ‘killing’ skills in clashes with other sounds. He was bestowed the name after an impressive victory over two rival sound systems, Exodus and Silver Hawk, at the Beachline Sunday event in Hellshire.
Billy Slaughter worked alongside other Stone Love stalwarts such as Rory, Geefus, Cancer, Diamond, Fire Ras, Ice Burg, Scary Gary, and Dwayne Pow.
The legendary Rory left years ago and worked as a disc jockey at Bridge FM while fellow selector Cancer left over a decade ago to start an oldies sound.
— Claude Mills