Merciless, also known as Leonard Bartley, a reggae and dancehall performer, died on July 19 at the age of 51. Bartley was found dead at the Harlem Resort hotel in St. Andrew, on Walkers Avenue near Lyndhurst Road. After not hearing from him in a long time, Bartley’s friends and family went to check on him at the hotel. According to sources, his fully dressed corpse was discovered on the bed in his room. There are no indications of foul play, according to law enforcement. However, an extensive inquiry is ongoing. Bartley died only 18 days after celebrating his 51st birthday. He’d been in the business for about two decades.
How did Merciless pass away? The cause of death
Bartley was discovered dead in his room at the Kingston hotel where he typically stayed. His driver said that he had not heard from the artist since his return to the hotel on Monday night. When the hotel employees and driver entered his room, they saw Bartley face down on the bed. According to some stories, he was highly inebriated before his death. For the time being, it is assumed that Bartley died of natural causes. His family members, however, have yet to make an official comment on the matter, and further information is likely to be released shortly.
Who was merciless?
Bartley, who was born on July 1, 1971, rose to prominence in the Dancehall scene in 1994. He began his career in the 1990s with his debut single, Len Out Mi Mercy, which was followed by an album, Mr. Merciless. He has built a name for himself with other hits such as Mama Cooking, Gala Gizada, Ole Gallis, God Alone, and Mavis. He then worked with Lil’ John, C-Murder, Aaron Hall, Tall Pree, Rita Marley, Yami Bolo, and others to record collaborations.
During Sting 2000, he challenged Ninjaman, Beenie Man, and Bounty Killa to a lyrical duel, which he finally won. The fight took place in the Jam world Entertainment Complex in Portmore, St. Catherine, and it is still considered one of the most renowned in Dancehall history. Bartley’s musical inspirations include Shabba Ranks, Dennis Brown, Super Cat, Bob Marley, and others. A few years back, Bartley mentioned launching a new 12-track album and told The Star tabloid that he was working on a Dancehall mixtape in addition to a compilation of a 10-track gospel album. He announced in June 2021 that he will be releasing an album titled Warhead Is Back.
“The huge voice dancehall icon!”: Twitter users pay homage
People flocked to Twitter to offer their condolences after learning of his death:
RIP Merciless
— Snips (@snipstweets) July 20, 2022
damn rip dancehall legend merciless. one of the greatest clash deejays ever.
— (777) 777-7777 (@SEVNTHOMAS) July 19, 2022
