Dancehall Artists Mad Cobra and O'Neil Edwards Shot in Jamaica

BY David DacksPublished May 12, 2010

Mad Cobra, whose "Flex" was one of dancehall's biggest crossover hits of the '90s, was shot in Jamaica Tuesday night (May 11) and is currently in critical condition.

The Jamaica Observer reports that 42-year-old Cobra (aka Ewart Brown) had been shot three times in the shoulder and/or upper body. According to the Associated Press, the incident took place near his home in Portmore, located on the outskirts of the Jamaican capital of Kingston, and Mad Cobra was admitted to Spanish Town hospital, where he was in critical condition. However, Radio Jamaica says that he was transferred to another hospital this morning.

Local authorities have yet to offer a motive or suspects, and do not believe that the incident is linked to another recent shooting involving O'Neil Edwards, of the group Voicemail, who was critically injured on Monday night (May 10).

In the Edwards incident, the rising star was shot multiple times. His finger was severed and one bullet has fragmented in his head and has swollen his brain. He is listed in critical condition in Kingston Public Hospital. Kingston police told the Jamaica Gleaner that they were pursuing solid leads and had recovered Edwards' cellphone.

Mad Cobra and O'Neil Edwards are on opposite ends of their careers. Cobra is a 20-year-plus veteran of dancehall, having experienced tremendous Jamaican and healthy international success. "Flex" was his apex, reaching No. 13 on Billboard's Pop Chart in 1993.

Edwards's group, Voicemail, had only recently started to make waves in Jamaica and the rest of the world, but his regard is such that the parking lot of Kingston Hospital has become the scene of a vigil by his fans.

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