Jamaican rapper Sean Paul has been charged with using profanity during a performance at Montego Bay’s Reggae Sumfest last week.
Paul’s performance Thursday night was laced with expletives, police commander Newton Amos said Monday. Authorities served him with a summons under a law prohibiting people from using profanity in public.
He’s scheduled to appear in court Wednesday in Montego Bay, police said. Paul was not immediately available for comment.
The rapper, whose hits “Get Busy” and “Like Glue” are in the top 20 of the Billboard singles chart, was served with the summons shortly after he left the stage, police said. The maximum fine is $20 or community service.
At last year’s music festival, rappers Ja Rule and Snoop Dogg were summoned to appear in court for similar offenses, but they ignored the orders and left the island shortly after their performances.
In 2001, eight Jamaican musicians, including Grammy winner Beenie Man, were summoned to court for using profanity during their performances.