Reggae boss Iley Dread says he never earned a penny from smash riddim—and may finally take legal action.

A bitter royalties row has erupted over one of dancehall’s biggest international success stories—with veteran producer Colin “Iley” Dread sensationally claiming he has not received a single penny from the Coolie Dance riddim.

The Kings of Kings boss alleges that despite investing in the project, selecting the beat and helping to push it to disc jockeys around the world, he has been left empty-handed while others reportedly profited from its enormous success.

“I invested in Skatta. I invested in the project. Unfortunately, I still haven’t received anything,” Iley Dread declared.

The veteran music figure says he is now under growing pressure to take legal action against producer Cordel “Skatta” Burrell, whom he once regarded as a son.

But despite feeling hurt, frustrated and—by his own admission—perhaps “too naïve”, Iley insists he has not yet decided whether to drag the dispute into court.

“Multiple persons have contacted me and said that I should take legal action, but I still haven’t made any such decision,” he said.

“It should never be money over morality. It should never be vanity over humanity.”

Billboard bonanza

At the heart of the row is the Coolie Dance riddim, the infectious beat that stormed international charts in the early 2000s and powered several popular songs.

Its biggest crossover moment came through Nina Sky’s Move Ya Body, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Other performers also recorded on the riddim, which spread from Jamaican dancehall sessions to radio stations and clubs around the globe.

But while the rhythm became an international cash machine, Iley claims his pockets remained painfully empty.

“I did not make a penny,” he said. “I cannot give something out of nothing.”

The producer alleges that he and Skatta had verbally discussed a publishing percentage, although he declined to reveal the figure publicly.

“Skatta verbally told me the percentage that I would get. I remember it as clearly as ABC,” he claimed.

“We had a discussion regarding a percentage. I’m entitled to a percentage of the publishing based on what he said verbally, but I haven’t received that—or anything at all.”

There has been no independent verification of Iley Dread’s allegations, and the precise ownership and contractual arrangements surrounding the riddim were not established during the interview. Skatta Burrell has not responded to the claims presented here.

“People think I cheated them”

The dispute has allegedly left Iley facing uncomfortable questions from artistes and industry figures who believe he made a fortune but refused to share it.

He says some entertainers are now reluctant to voice on his new projects because they think he failed to “break bread” with those involved in Coolie Dance.

“There are people who don’t even speak with me because they feel like I deprived them,” he said.

“Even people who love the riddim are reluctant to voice on the new riddim because they feel I did not break bread.”

Iley maintains that nothing could be further from the truth.

“I would not be so selfish or self-centred that I wouldn’t break bread from the biggest juggling of all time,” he insisted.

The fallout, he claims, damaged both his reputation and his appetite for music.

“I was feeling lost. I was feeling broken and disappointed—to the point of giving up,” he admitted.

“I invested resources in the music business that I could have spent on my biological children. I had this vision that it was going to become an empire.”

“I still believe he will bless me”

Despite the bruising row, Iley appears reluctant to accept that his once-close associate would deliberately leave him with nothing.

“My manager told me a few days ago that I’m too naïve because I still feel like Skatta is going to bless me with something,” he said.

“Even if it’s not exactly what we discussed and agreed, I don’t think Skatta would have the heart not to give me anything at all.”

Iley recalled being told about comments allegedly made by Skatta during the early years of their association.

According to Iley, Skatta reportedly said that Iley already had his own house and that it was time for him to emerge from beneath the veteran producer’s shadow.

Far from resenting his former protégé’s success, Iley claims he welcomed it.

“I wanted to see him strive and prosper. I’m happy for his success,” he said.

“But there must come a point when you can say, ‘I already have my house. I already have this. Let’s bless Iley with something.’

“It is undeniable that I, Iley Dread, CEO of Kings of Kings, am entitled to something.”

Verbal deal at centre of row

The apparent lack of a written agreement could prove to be a major hurdle should the dispute reach court.

Iley conceded that he should have paid closer attention to contracts and accounting during the label’s earlier years.

“A lot of us in the early days were thinking more with our hearts than our brains,” he said.

“You have a working relationship with individuals and you just think you will get what is due to you without having everything in writing.”

Still, he argues that his role in the riddim’s rise is well known throughout the music industry.

“Why were so many songs released on the Kings of Kings recording label if it had nothing to do with me?” he asked.

“Why would I bring the music to disc jockeys around the world if I wasn’t entitled to something?”

Kings of Kings rises again

Now, after years of disappointment, Iley says he is rebuilding.

The veteran producer is preparing to celebrate the 31st anniversary of Kings of Kings with an event at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Jamaica, where he also intends to launch his album.

He has invited artistes from across the label’s history—including those who recorded on Coolie Dance—to participate.

“I’m finding back the courage to relaunch the label,” he said.

“I want to share this moment with the people who have been on this journey with me for more than 31 years.”

Whether the celebration will be followed by a courtroom showdown remains uncertain. For now, Iley is leaving the door open for an amicable settlement—but after more than two decades of waiting, the beat may finally be heading towards a legal reckoning.