How did Jamaican DJ Merciless die? Dancehall legend felt unwell moments before death
![Jamaican DJ Merciless died on July 19 (Instagram/ @warhead_merciless)](http://d2a0gza273xfgz.cloudfront.net/576925/uploads/c28a80f0-0831-11ed-84a5-2f202401f802_1200_630.png)
Jamaican dancehall entertainer Leonard Bartley, famous as DJ Merciless, has died. The DJ was 51 and celebrated his birthday on July 1. It has been said that his body was found inside a room at the Harlem Resort hotel near Lyndhurst Road in St Andrew, Jamaica on Tuesday, July 19, by the hotel staff.
Reports also said that Merciless, whose other nickname was Warhead, had come to the hotel alone and complained of feeling unwell. However, the official cause of his death is not known yet.
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Born in 1971 in Chapelton's Turner district in Jamaica, Merciless initially became popular performing with sound systems before he released his first album ‘Lend Out Mi Mercy’ in 1994. A year later, his hit album ‘Mr Merciless’ came out. HITC reported that “his track Mavis was also the top reggae single in Jamaica in 1995 and his other big hits include ‘Mama Cooking’, ‘Gal Gizada’, ‘Ole Gallis’ and ‘God Alone’.”
Merciless also worked with big artists like Aaron Hall, Lil’ John, Tall Pree, and C-Murder. Despite not being on good terms with Bounty Killer, he recorded ‘No One Cares’ with him, which came out in 2000.
After his tragic death, several took to social media to pay tribute to him with a fan tweeting, “RIP DJ Merciless. My condolences to your family at this time.” The second one said, “Saddened to hear of the news of the passing of DJ #Merciless. My sister and I knew him well. Back in the day, whenever we saw him, it was a bag of laughs and stories. He was hell bent on me doing #publicity for him. Never eventuated. RIP 🙏.”
RIP DJ Merciless. My condolence to your family at this time.
— RoostersWorldja (@RoostersWorldja) July 19, 2022
Saddened to hear of the news of the passing of DJ #Merciless.
— HumeReports (@DrHumeJohnson) July 20, 2022
My sister and I knew him well.
Back in the day, whenever we saw him, it was a bag of laughs and stories.
He was hell bent on me doing #publicity for him. Never eventuated.
RIP 🙏
“RIP Merciless. Legendary DJ we've lost,” the third one wrote. The fourth one said, “Wow, shocked to hear this. One of my fave DJs back in the day RIP Merciless.” “Merciless still the only man fi kill 3 Dj one time…..sleep well bad Dj!!” the fifth one added.
Wow, shocked to hear this. One of my fave DJs back in the day RIP Merciless https://t.co/OfTqi7Pbn4
— Lady_Lozzie (@Lady_Lozzie) July 20, 2022
Merciless still the only man fi kill 3 Dj one time…..sleep well bad Dj!!
— The ULTIMATE FOWLA (@bobosparxxx) July 20, 2022
Merciless, the Great Dancehall/Recording Artiste /Live Performer and Clash DJ has sadly left us suddenly.
— Lovers Magic Sound (@Wainemagic) July 20, 2022
Nuff respect is due to Merciless for his contribution to Jamaican and dancehall music.
SIEP "The Warring Don From Clarendon"
Lovers Magic " Quenching Your Musical Thirst"© pic.twitter.com/IqS5HqDmZV
“Merciless, the Great Dancehall/Recording Artiste /Live Performer and Clash DJ has sadly left us suddenly. Nuff respect is due to Merciless for his contribution to Jamaican and dancehall music. SIEP ‘The Warring Don From Clarendon’ Lovers Magic ‘Quenching Your Musical Thirst’©,” a tweet read. Another tweet stated, “Sad news... Yesterday Dancehall lost. War-head, Mr War War..... Leonard Bartley stage name Merciless a prolific battle artist!! Rest in Zion King!!!”
Sad news... Yesterday Dancehall lost. War-head, Mr War War..... Leonard Bartley stage name Merciless a prolific battle artist!!
— Likkle Trix👌🏿🇺🇬 (@DjTrixSoulJah) July 20, 2022
Rest in Zion King!!! pic.twitter.com/WZps0CFQb7
DI WARRING DON FROM CLARENDON... BADDA DAN BIN LADEN AN DI TALIBAN!!!
— NATURAL 'Ras' MYSTIC 🇯🇲 (@NaturalMysticDJ) July 19, 2022
REST IN PEACE THE GREAT MERCILESS!!!
INTEGRAL TO MY UP BRINGING IN DANCEHALL!!!
Dancehall Legend!!!
The Legacy Lives On!!!
🇯🇲✊🏿🇯🇲✊🏿🇯🇲✊🏿🇯🇲✊🏿🇯🇲✊🏿🇯🇲 pic.twitter.com/0MVfw3R1km
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A person shared, “DI WARRING DON FROM CLARENDON... BADDA DAN BIN LADEN AN DI TALIBAN!!! REST IN PEACE THE GREAT MERCILESS!!! INTEGRAL TO MY UP BRINGING IN DANCEHALL!!! Dancehall Legend!!! The Legacy Lives On!!!” Another person said, “Merciless was the only DJ to mash up 3 DJ’s one time at Sting! Beenie, Bounty & Ninja. No other has done that in dancehall truly an historic moment.” Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono added: “I want to pay tribute to one of Jamaica’s greatest reggae dancehall artists, Merciless, who died yesterday in Kingston, Jamaica. 51 year old Merciless whose real name was Leonard Bartley rose to fame during the golden era of reggae dancehall in the 90s. Rest In Peace WarHead🙏🏿.”
Merciless was the only DJ to mash up 3 DJ’s one time at Sting! Beenie, Bounty & Ninja. No other has done that in dancehall truly an historic moment.
— oDessa (@oblessa) July 20, 2022
I want to pay tribute to one of Jamaica’s greatest reggae dancehall artists, Merciless, who died yesterday in Kingston, Jamaica.
— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) July 20, 2022
51 year old Merciless whose real name was Leonard Bartley rose to fame during the golden era of reggae dancehall in the 90s.
Rest In Peace WarHead🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/Bvs0UTbRvv