The writing has been on the wall for sometime now, whilst the rumours, innuendos and propaganda persisted from the camps of Ilah Man and Ricky T as well as their record label, SLU Records run by Dwayne Mendes and producers Irvin “Ace” Loktar and Thygerson “Penn” Tisson. But now it seems official! Ricky T, whose contract with SLU Records expired in July, will not be re-signed nor will the services of Ilah Man be retained by the camp, the STAR has been able to confirm. Furthermore, we have been reliably informed, that there is also a rift within the SLU Records camp with longtime business partners Mendes and Ace on one side and Penn on the other. Dwayne also confirmed Thursday that he is no longer a part of SLU Records, but will soon be launching a new company to deal specifically with artiste bookings and management. He, however, denied any rift between himself and SLU Records but admitted differences with some of the public pronouncements made by one of the members about SLU Records’ artistes.

To put a clearer perspective on things let us go back to the year 2006 when a new Soca star took to the stage with a song entitled “Container” produced by studio 758 (which later merged into SLU Records) and won the road march title that year. Ahead of the 2007 Carnival season Ricky T is signed to SLU Records and wins the Road March title once again with “Pressure Boom” a song which quickly made the rounds on the regional and international Soca circuit, giving the artistes, the label and Saint Lucia, its biggest hit to date, with lots of credit going to SLU records for their heavy promotions, networking and marketing. By the end of 2007 Ricky T had hit Miami, New York, London and several Caribbean islands and by the end of the year, Trinidad—the Mecca of Soca and Carnival—came knocking, more specifically Machel Montano, who strategically placed Ricky T within his Xtatik HD camp, for the December 07 to February 08 carnival season. “Pressure Boom” became one of the most requested songs of Trinidad’s carnival last year and Ricky T became a finalists at the International Soca Monarch in Trinidad, only the second Saint Lucian to do so. That same year the Soca artiste, who by now was a household name not just in his homeland but throughout the region, won the Soca Monarch, Caribbean Soca Monarch and Road March titles in Saint Lucia in July, grossing an estimated EC$200,000 in prize monies and “live” performances.

But as they say money, friendship and the music business are always recipes for disaster, and rumours that Ricky T was not getting his fair share of the pie started to make the rounds including an email which circulated claiming that the TT$100,000 (EC$50,000) that Ricky T got as his appearance fee in Trinidad at the Soca monarch, was “illegally” collected on his behalf and distributed.

Amidst the rumours last year, I asked Dwayne Mendes about the distribution of earnings by Ricky T, who may not have been laying the golden eggs since he did not write and produce his songs, but was certainly hatching them into hit chickens. He explained that prize monies were split several ways, six ways to be exact, with a percentage going to the songwriter, another to the producers times two, a percentage to management, one to the company and of course Ricky T getting his cut. He also explained that Ricky T had at the time, questioned the share of the songwriter, who Mendes felt was extremely important to the formula. We were also told that this distribution only pertained to competition, which occurred twice a year, Saint Lucia Carnival and Trinidad carnival and not to “live” shows. “For Ricky T’s “live” shows we simply take a booking fee and if a road manager travels with him, that person has to get paid,” Mendes revealed.

But it would seem that even with a contract and an explanation from Mendes all was not well between the parties. To add fuel to the flame, Ricky T missed some key US dates in 2008, particularly Labour Day in New York where he was booked and advertised to perform at a major show there. However, days before the event SLU Records issued a statement that said Ricky T would have to miss the Labour Day gig whilst several others had to be cancelled. The reason given was that his girlfriend, who was expecting a baby was having complications, and the singer had to be at home with her. Instead on the day he was supposed to be performing in Manhattan before thousands, Ricky T was down at Fond d’Or performing at Green Synergy. Ricky T was also a no-show at the International Soca Awards in St Kitts where he won an award, allowing the speculation from the public to continue, despite an explanation from Mendes that lack of funds was the reason. However a source told the STAR back then, that provisions were made for Ricky T’s expenses to be covered by the organizers.

Fast forward to 2009 and everything seems “cook and curry” between Ricky T and SLU Records who approached the public and government for support to send the singer to Trinidad to represent at the International Soca Monrach competition. His “Wheel and Come Again” is not as big a hit as “Pressure” but Ricky T continues to be a much sought after performer in the Caribbean and North America. In March of this year, the singer is booked for a show in St Croix and heads there with producer Penn. Both are in the possession of Visas to visit —not work Visas. After being detained and interrogated by customs officials their Visas are both crossed after it is determined that they were on the American territory to “work” and did not have the required documents. They were both sent back to Saint Lucia.

During this year’s carnival season, the rumours and small talk, grew in intensity about the fact that there was dissatisfaction by Ricky T about SLU Records and 758. This time, there is a new element to the formula. Another Soca artiste Ilah man who is a long time friend of Ricky T had earlier been signed to the label and there are signs that he is now the trump card. However, Ricky T goes on to win the Soca Monarch (with Ilah Man placing second), the Caribbean Soca Monarch and the Road March titles.

However just days after another chapter closed on Saint Lucia’s carnival, Ricky T spoke out on Radio Caribbean about having bad feelings as to how he was being treated by SLU Records and wanting to take a break from the music scene. On July 23 speaking during an interview aired during RCI’s midday news Ricky T had this to say about winning three titles again: “I’m supposed to be happy, but I’m not that happy. The way things going between 758 and I, the friendship has been breaking off.” He also spoke about being unhappy about the fact that he was only given one song this season and kept on asking for another.

“I know there is a God. With that one song I was able to maintain all my titles,” he said adding “when you feel like the trust is not there anymore, you’re not feeling the vibe. I feel like I should take a rest.” Ricky T also expressed his displeasure at the fact that after he had won the Soca monarch there was no one from SLU records around to congratulate him just his father and his girlfriend. The STAR has learnt that since last year Ricky T has been in the picture acting on his behalf on negotiations between SLU records and the singer.

In response to Ricky T’s statements in July, this is what Dwayne Mendes had to say; “Ricky T felt terrible for getting just one song and he found that Ilah Man was given more attention. We gave Ilah some additional attention because we felt he needed more work so he could have the same opportunities Ricky T has.” After speaking to Ricky T, Mendes told the STAR that Ricky T has no intentions of leaving the team and that he was working with him to put their differences aside. He added that the public who does not understand the business and certain persons close to Ricky T was confusing him. “The real problems we are faced with is that our St Lucian society doesn’t understand the industry, hence, Ricky is the first to break-out and he is always being bombarded with comments from persons who try to advise him,” Mendes says.

With Ricky T’s visa still an issue, he was booked an advertised for several shows in New York for Labour Day which was last weekend. However the artiste failed to get a proper Visa in time and for the second year had to forgo some profitable gigs in the United States. Again Mendes distances himself from this saying that he had things in place to secure the Visa but other persons had their own ideas as to how this should be handled.

In the midst of it all another problem; this time involving Ilah Man. The STAR has learnt that the singer was not living up to his contractual arrangements and offered to give SLU Records what he felt was a fair percentage from his 2009 earnings as opposed to what was agreed upon. Ilah Man performed last weekend at Labour Day in New York.

And then to the present, a press release issued on Thursday by SLU Records which had this to say; “St Lucian hit factory, SLU Records is about to explore new music genres by adding Reggae and Pop to it’s already successful collection of internationally acclaimed Soca hits.

“It’s all about taking music to another level and presenting the best Lucian and Caribbean talent to the world!” says CEO Irvin “ACE” Loctar who takes the reigns as head of business operations in lieu of the recent departure of Dwayne Mendes, former Managing Director. Choosing to go a different direction with his career, Ilah Man will no longer be cited as a SLU Records artiste. “We had a good run, and wish him all the best!” says Loctar who also notes that while Ricky T’s contract with SLU Records has expired, the company is not considering renewing his contract at this time.

The STAR spoke with Mendes on Thursday who confirmed the release adding that we will be hearing more about his new venture soon.

“I am out of the music business,” he added.

Meanwhile efforts to get an interview with Ricky T has proved futile.