Wifey Vs Matie

Hotlipps said: 

At the forefront of Dancehall music there has always been the wifey and the matie.  Dancehall is merely a microcosm of Jamaican culture on a whole. From the inception dancehall artistes have pit wifey against matie. In some cases the wifey got the praise, and in other cases matie got top ratings.  The songs “Matie” from artistes like Beenie man, and Penny Irie, as well as “Mate a rebel” and “Dun Wife” by Cobra are some of the most popular matie-bashing songs of the 1990s.  “Wifey” by Dugsy Ranks and “Wife” by Joseph Stepper praised wives as the top choice, and the one to aspire to.  Not to be outdone were songs like “Gal pon di side” by Frisco kid and “I got your man” by Lady Saw which had maties across the globe beating their chest. 

Fast forward to 2010, where wifeys and maties are still the subject of many a lyrical debate.  Tony Matterhorn’s song “Wifey vs. Matie” on the Mento riddim is a comical back & forth about the positive and negative aspects of both positions. As always Matterhorn vividly paints the picture of Matie jumping through the window, to escape wifey; or the wife who lacks the confidence and skill in the bedroom of matie.  Ce’cile’s song on the Rail Up riddim “Mi Tek u Man” is the ultimate matie song of this year, where she boldly brags about taking away another woman’s man.  In fact it seems like Wifeys and Maties have been going at it all year.  The One Day Riddim, which is arguably the biggest riddim for 2010 also took a stab at the topic with, ZJ Liquid’s “Wifey Walkout”, which I am sure, has fueled many brawls.  The frequency of these songs shows the acceptance of infidelity in Jamaican culture.  Is it a matter of ignorance is bliss, or what you don’t know won’t hurt you? Some say a good matie knows her place, and doesn’t disturb the home, and the wife.  However, it seems of late, maties have not been looming in the background, but are actually jockeying for the first place position, causing many a verbal and often physical war.  Is it the music and often the soundman that is “hyping” up the war, or is the music just a reflection of what is already happening in society?  The Wifey vs. Matie situation has become so commonplace, that it is one of the most popular Dancehall party themes. Much respect to Jiggy Joyce in DC, as I recall her being one of the first to promote that theme. 

We can debate the cause and the effect all day.  It’s sort of like the chicken or the egg. Whether you are the, wifey, or the matie this will always be a part of Jamaican culture, and every culture for that matter.  Some choose to embrace it and work with it; others are trying to move away from it.  But as women, why fight, and belittle each other.  We are merely giving men more power.  Instead of vying for first or second place, why not vie for the ONLY position. And why not beat the man instead of each other. I am just kidding….Not really lol.  All in all it makes for great entertainment, and great music! 

Smooches from Hotlipps till next time.

 

Mishigan from RBZ said:

Wifey vs Matey... 
"Yuh Nuh Response Fi A Gyal..."

To put it plain... Matterhorn connect with this one!!! 

The Wifey vs Matey controversy has been going on since man & woman and will be going on till the end of time. As long as a woman have a man to call her own there will be other women who will go after this man and either assume the role of Matey or try to take Wifey's place. Why you ask? Maybe some a dem woman too red eye... I can't call it... But what I do know is that the Wifey Matey argument has been here before we and it will outlast we. We should be mindful that singing about this is not exclusive to our culture and music. Classic Soul Ballads like "As We Lay" and "Me & Mrs Jones" are odes to adulterous affairs. In "As We Lay" the Matey sings about the affair she's having with the Married man & clearly acknowledges that family the man has to go back to. Rod Stewart sang about his affections for his Matey when he did the cover "If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Right". (If you don't know Rod Stewart... Google him). In the 90's Xscape sang about being the man's little secret & how it turned them on that the wife didn't know. And let's face it... SWV was the official Matey Singing Group. But, as is always the case, no one can put more style & flavor to the subject than our Reggae Artists. 

Though there are many Wifey & Matey songs, Matterhorn is the first to sing from the vantage point of both parties in one song. He gives equal attention to both the Wife's & the Matey's point of view in a way that makes it hard to choose which side you're on. I assume that women will join the side they are most familiar with. Regardless of which one... Matterhorn makes it easy for each woman to boast about the role that they are playing. 

Now ladies... Please be aware that both roles are important to play. Once everyone adheres to their respective positions, relationships can be long and fulfilling for all parties. Some may argue that due to the increasing man shortage, especially in our community, a woman cannot honestly hope to keep one man all to herself. With the excess of women out there that need love & affection they should be expected to share. As the old saying goes ladies... "Sharing is Caring." Others may say well if she don't have a man for herself... Too bad... She needs to go & find one. Whatever the case may be ladies... It is important to remember that blaming the man in this situation is wrong. Hotlipps suggests that women should stop beating each other and beat the man... But I would like to offer a different approach. Instead of beating the man who is doing the job he was placed here to do, which is to love & satisfy woman... Beat the Battyman dem who have neglected their duties as men. Ladies... Battyman are your enemies. The more Battyman there are is the more strain on the straight man to satisfy the growing number of women. Single Women will be forced to go for the straight men anywhere they can find them and that includes those that are taken. Now I do not endorse infidelity by men or women in a relationship. However, when you look at the social dynamic of the situation, it is only going to get worse unless there is a change. Women need love... Battyman gone di wrong way... And the Straight Man becomes the victim, from being overworked with all these women demanding satisfaction and then unappreciated for the job we're doing. Its a cruel & vicious cycle.

In conclusion, ladies the only way to reduce the number of Matey's is to increase the number of straight men. This means not parring with the Chi Chi dem... And getting it back to the way it was meant to be. Of course this, like poverty and war, is something that can never be fully eradicated. There will always be women who will red eye a next woman's man and attempt to seduce the poor defenseless man until he gives in. 

In closing... I'd like to say Matterhorn, you find a chune. 

This is Mishigan signing off... 

RRRRRRR!!!