Corey from MoBay’s Merital Family shot dead

A member of dancehall group Merital Family was shot and killed in Montego Bay on Thursday night. He is Derrick Edwards, popularly known as Corey.

The four-man group – Corey, Duwain Samuels, Noel Mason (Blade) and Trovoy Keneale Bracket – from Flankers was once part of incarcerated dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel’s Portmore Empire and shot to fame in 2010 with the single My Money Ha Ha.

Corey’s Facebook timeline has been flooded with tributes following news of his death.

“Corey Rebel Merital wish life could go back to wen we never have nothing dem days deh every man good from that side to this side. A we help put Flanker on the map from dj to play football so how we life reach yah so weh all a we a live inna fear. Sleep in paradise mi bredda sleep,” Bunna Mel wrote.

“Rip Corey Rebel Merital. So heart breaking. ..return if possible,” Toya Prapaway Reble wrote.

Before gaining fame under Kartel’s imprint, Merital was known for creating dance moves in Montego Bay. These include dances such as the famous Dutty Wine, made popular by Tony Matterhorn, Frog Back and Buss A Wine.

Merital would later split from Portmore Empire, claiming they weren’t receiving payments for royalties for their hit song, My Money Ha Ha.

The group has since gone through some transformation. Mason left the group and went solo while Bracket was reportedly held in the US for cocaine possession.

Meanwhile, the status of Samuels is unclear. Following Bracket’s arrest, Corey told the media that he was “the last man standing”.

“A just me alone now; mi a di last man standing. He is still a part of Merital nuh care wey him deh. Mi haffi just duh the music same way fi me and him because a nuh dead him dead,” Corey said.