Jamaican Biography: Desmond John Ballentine (OC) Ninjaman - Teach Dem

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Desmond Ballentine, better known as Ninjaman, and Don Gorgon is an iconic Jamaican dancehall deejay and actor, known for his controversial and pro-gun lyrics and his stuttering and melodramatic musical delivery
In ancient Japanese culture, a ninja is a highly trained assassin, who specializes in using undetected tactics in the art of slaughter. In modern Dancehall culture, Ninjaman is the original lyrical terror, known for using his razor-sharp wit; slow, steady, calculated delivery; and mastery of the art of rhyme and rhythm to musically slaughter any and all who cross his path.
For over twenty years, Desmond “Ninjaman” Ballentine has stood out as one of the most candid, colorful, and controversial of all of Jamaica’s Dancehall deejays, with the skill, performance, and lifestyle to earn the apt title “The Don Gorgon” he is a most respected Dj in the Dancehall fraternity.
It would be Ninja’s over-the-top stage performances that cemented his place as the “original gold teet, front teet, gun pon teet don gorgon.” The theatrics, politics, charisma, intensity, and bravado that he brings to the live arena married with his ingenius on-the-spot lyrics has made him not only the most respected, but the most feared lyrical stage opponent among other artists. Revered Dancehall lyricists such as Shabba Ranks, Merciless, Super Cat, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, and Vybz Kartel are among the lengthy list of Ninja’s lyrical rivals.

The story of Desmond John Ballentine OC Ninjaman next on Jamaican Biography

Born Desmond John Ballentine on January 20, 1966, in Annotto Bay, St. Mary. His family moved to Kingston when he was 11, and he started DJing a year later under the name Double Ugly.
Initially performing for the Black Culture sound system, he moved over to the Kilimanjaro organization in the early '80s, and there got the chance to learn from Super Cat and Early B.
He changed his name to Uglyman, then Ninjaman when another artist of the same name came forward. Kilimanjaro started its own label, and in 1987 Ninjaman got the chance to make -- and self-produce -- his first single, a duet with Courtney Melody called "Protection." It was a success, and led to further hit collaborations under producer Lloyd Dennis in 1988, most notably "Cover Me" with Tinga Stewart and "Zig It Up" with Flourgon.
However, Ninja’s greatest acclaim would come at the turn of the decade, when he became the initiator of the “badman era” of 90’s Dancehall, with the release of the highly acclaimed “gunman” anthems “Murder Dem,” “My Weapon,” “Champion,” and “Permit to Bury
Over the next few years, Ninjaman recorded prolifically for a variety of producers, including King Jammy, Philip "Fatis" Burrell, Redman, Ini Kamoze, Bobby Digital, Gussie Clarke, and Steely & Clevie, among others.
His hits over the years 1989-1992 established his image as one of the most dangerous rude boys around: the controversial "Murder Dem," the chilling "Permit to Bury," "Border Clash," "Laugh and Grin (Mad Ninja)," "Test the High Power," "My Weapon," "Above the Law," "Reality Yuh Want."
He also continued to cut duets with artistes like Cocoa Tea, Gregory Isaacs, and Linval Thompson, he also teamed up with Shabba Ranks and Admiral Tibett for "Time Is Serious."
As Ninjaman's popularity began to approach that of Ranks -- at least in Jamaica, where all the gun talk wasn't yet a liability -- the two struck up a spirited rivalry, trading barbs at many a concert clash. At the height of his notoriety, Ninjaman christened himself with the alternate appellation "Original Front Tooth, Gold Tooth, Gun Pon Tooth Don Gorgon," and inspired a legion of imitators with their own ninja-themed names.
By 1993, however, Ninjaman's gun-toting rude boy persona was beginning to spur a backlash. Criticized as irresponsible, he began to find it more and more difficult to get recording or performing gigs.