Chilling with the Alliance in Jamaica

You might have heard of the Alliance. No, no it does not refer to a trans-Atlantic grouping or a post-World War pact. In Jamaica today it refers to a group of entertainers under the watchful leadership of Bounty Killer. The two hottest young DJs have emerged from the Alliance - Vybz Kartel and Mavado. There are others as well, including Wayne Marshall and Gabriel. There are even selectors (what are elsewhere called DJs) such as Foota Hype.

The Alliance, besides having a recognised insignia (I am sure it is copyrighted) and its own twitter account, has social events. Each week, the Alliance and its fans get to revel in their Alliance-ness, like any good organisation. Corporations have lymes, so does the Alliance. You have Bounti Sundaze and Alliance Thursdays.



I went to both this week. It was an experience. Bounty Sundaze is held at the Lime Light Club in Half Way Tree. It was unreal to see Half Way Tree that full at 2am - wasn't it Monday morning? Bounty Sundaze is a hardcore dancehall event. Everyone is dressed to the nines! Wigs in all different colours, shapes and sizes (I felt weird not wearing a wig myself - it was just me and the Japanese not wearing hair!). The omni-present Japanese observers. The selector who spoke more than he played. Amazing!

There was a pathway down the middle to get to where the session's namesake was. It seemed to function like a modelling ramp or better yet a videolight alley. Some women stayed in this middle ramp where everyone could see them. We are truly a double-six people - always posing! But the music was pumping and drinks flowing - the Alliance was partying!

The night I went, the police locked it down. Probably because the windows were open...I think. It was surprising how well armed they went into the club - was such firepower necessary? Anyway on to Alliance Thursdayz

Alliance Thursdays was fun - I like open air events. It was still in the Half Way Tree area, but this time at Hillview Avenue. It was a more diverse mix of people than Bounty Sundaze - there were more tourists, more non-hardcore dancehall people, and, it seemed, more dancer crews. Of course, Bounty Killer had his own roped-off area... with Alliance men standing all round - warlord ting! There was just one Alliance woman.

Then there were the dancers - the dancehall dancers all pushing for their chance in the videolight. Where do these videos go? Everywhere I see these cameramen - do all end up on the dancehall channel? Are they spliced for export? Raises so many questions of who owns what. I have been researching copyright, copyleft, and creative commons...but will leave that discussion to EOTE.



Anyway, my evening ended with Assassin's acapella performance! Maad! I tried to get a clip of his performance, but being a little short - it was hard as you can see from the clip! But he got lots of forwards! I left everyone there it seems at about 2:45am - and passed the police again at the door - looking to come and shut down the dance.



I should explain to all that there is a Noise Abatement Act in Jamaica - according to this act, if a sound is audible beyond a distance of one hundred (100) metres in the vicinity of a dwelling house, hospital, nursing home, infirmary, hotel or guest house,between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on a Saturday or Sunday, or mid-night and 6 am on all other days, then the sound is presumed to cause an annoyance. Endz of the Earth (EOTE) will deal with this act on its official blog! Will link it as soon as it comes out!

Where was the music industry when this act was made law? Midnight? In Jamaica, that is when people just arriving - it is either our culture has to change or the law has to change. I watch to see which one!

So what of my week with the Alliance - maaad! An insight into the energy that threatens/promises to be the lifeblood of this country - the dressing, the accoutrements, the bleaching, the omni-present videolight and the tunes. You decide which is good, bad or ugly - I still have not decided.

Men Looking Good in Kingston

So the other night something happened. Something amazing! A men's clothing store opened in Kingston - BASE. Now men in Kingston look good - but you wonder how. They have to fight it out among the 'what-lef' of Lee's Collectibles and Xtras. And you know Alexxya is for the ladies!




But while I am happy for the men, I was most happy about the fact that I can now get I&I t-shirts outside the airport. Again, i do not work for I&I. I actually do not even know who makes them, but they are hot! I kept having to travel somewhere to get a hype t-shirt!



Big Up to Cezar (and his partner Jason) for having the courage to open up such a store in these times



The real find of the night was Jah Rock Apparel! Yes, another t-shirt company, but one like I&I, with original designs. Yes, look it up at jahrockapparel.com. It uses crazy graphics on its logo - the outline of the creator - a woman with long flowing dreadlocks - done in red, green and gold to some abstraction.

yes fashion and looking good is a sun game of the Caribbean - no one does it like us. My big question is then why aren't we taking over the world? Our designs are the best, but getting the word out there is an issue. We first need to believe that we cn do it. Then we need to marshall our energy and strategic resources to get our products to the endz of the earth.

Why not band together to make it, whatever it is, a Caribbean brand? Why not make people come to Jamaica just to come to BASE? How many men's clothing stores are there in the region?

How many of the t-shirts worn here in the Caribbean are made elsewhere? Why not wear our own T-shirts? But where are they sold? Are they easily available? Can I get our shirts anywhere?

Seeking answers! Being part of the solution - Endz of the Earth!!!

Settlement - Why did LA Lewis Perform Better than Merciless?

I confess - it is a guilty secret. I like clashes, dancehall clashes. Clashes are seen as promoting violence. When I say clashes, I am speaking of dancehall reggae clashes - lyrical warfare. This is when DJs square off using lyrics from their songs modified to attack their DJ opponents. This is definitely a sun game worth mentioning. Oftentimes, the DJ has to select the appropriate song in mere seconds. The crowd will let you know if you made the right choice or not.

I went to Sting 2009 - a poor showing - expecting to see 2 clashes in particular - between Bounty Killer and Vybz Kartel; and the laughable LA Lewis versus Goofy. Well, neither clash happened. Kiprich clashed with General B and slaughtered him lyrically. That was it!

The first clash - Bounty Killer versus Vybz Kartel - was serious. It represented a 'father-son' showdown. Bounty Killer had groomed Kartel.

Yet, people were talking about the clash between Jamaica's most famous graffiti artist and wanna-be DJ, LA Lewis and Goofy, a bonafide DJ. LA Lewis's previous hits consisted of a scrawl on a wall....many walls, saying "LA Lewis, Biggest DJ"(or his website http://www.lalewis.net/ - which declares him a reggae superstar). People stood up after Kartel, one of Jamaica's biggest DJs, had left the Sting stage waiting for the LA Lewis-Goofy clash. But it did not happen, as LA Lewis did not show up - even after purchasing a coffin for Goofy....symbolically.

Well, Brite Lite International organised The Settlement - a show in which the LA Lewis - Goofy clash was the headline act. It would be settled once and for all (Thanks Tommy Thompson!). I trekked out to Yallahs, St. Thomas to see this. Again, guilty - but saw that OnStage - that iconic entertainment show, the Jamaica Star, the Observer and I think I spotted TVJ. Yes, everybody likes a good clash. You have to hand it to LA Lewis - he promoted himself so well that people came to St. Thomas to see him and he has not one [good] song.I should hire him for Endz of the Earth!

Back to the show - I missed the first female clash. But was around for the second one between Lisa Hyper and Queen Paula. Paula won! I agree with MC Nuffy that it was a poor clash - the two artistes spoke over each other, swore constantly and were generally lyrically deficient- focused on oral sex - why do I like clashes again? But, if only on points, Paula won! Lisa Hyper kept waiting for her tunes to play - instead of just djing. This is a clash!! Niceties, such as correct tunes and speaking order, are often hard to come by. I have included the link - not the video - as the language is foul! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtx0OfsyoTw


Then LA Lewis and Goofy! Their performance was preceded by the infamous coffin being brought on stage! Then LA came on and (shock!!) gave a passable initial performance. However, his imitation of all the big DJs' styles was not enough against the lyrical proficiency of Goofy - though I take issue with the tiresome focus on homosexuality and oral sex! Then LA tried theatre with his pointing his wooden gun at Goofy. However Goofy made fun of his bullet-less gun. It was all downhill from there for LA. I believe LA even called himself a 7-star b***yman. I am serious!!!

Tommy Thompson of Brite Lite came onstage to ask who won the clash. He asked the crowd to scream if Goofy deserved to go in the coffin. The crowd was silent! Nevertheless LA kept telling Goofy to get in the coffin. Maybe you have to be delusional to be as confident as LA Lewis! A moment of silence was held for LA's lyrical death and a white rose placed on the coffin! High Drama.





But LA got a step up - he is now a struggling DJ, not a wanna-be DJ. He had headlined a show and had even gotten a few forwards from the crowd. While Goofy won the clash, I really don't know who got more out of it!

The night was not over! Merciless, fresh from jail, was set to take the stage to clash with Gabriel, a DJ who fallen off the music scene. Gabriel's entrance was mad - head-to-toe in black - black shiny down jacket (serious!), black pants, black bandana, black t-shirt, sunglasses. The crowd went wild! We Jamaicans love a good style!

He djed a counteraction to Merciless' Letter to Mama. Maad! But still no Merciless and he was in the venue! The crowd started calling for him. The people around me started quarrelling whether Merciless was trying to strategise and make Gabriel talk out all his lyrics; or he was just plain coward! When Merciless took the stage, he sounded forceful with his big booming voice, but looked horrible. Who wears a plaid shirt, with aviator glasses, and one of those winter hats with the ear flaps?

Then he kept asking for a real artist to clash with. But why not respond to the disses left hanging by Gabriel? I had to pinch myself - was I really seeing Merciless fall to Gabriel? Then the crowd started to boo Merciless loudly. He had not gotten one forward since being on stage. The crowd was backing the young Gabriel. Unreal! Then Merciless told a woman in front of the stage that he would kick her in her p**sy. Unreal!! Is this rehabilitation? The women in front started tracing Merciless and the crowd just kept booing him. Gabriel said it well, when he declared Merciless dead, picked up the shiny down jacket, and left the stage to the walking dead, Merciless.




Merciless continued djing, but the crowd started to leave as if no one was on stage. So, then I ask, how did LA Lewis give a better performance than Merciless? He got forwards, and left the stage defeated, but not slaughtered. Merciless' blood was on the floor - the crowd traced him! Let me know the answer to this question.

Gabriel left the venue with women calling his name. LA Lewis left to a few congratulations. I did not see the others leave. But you have to love a clash - you never know what could happen - it is definitely preparation meeting the opportunity. The experienced Queen Paula defeated the 'young, hot and hype' Lisa Hyper. Goofy defeated LA Lewis as expected, but LA showed heart! Gabriel, the re-newcomer - the Alliance baby boy, defeated the fearsome warlord, Merciless. Goofy, Gabriel and even LA Lewis have got an unbelievable career boost. Clash - a sun game in the Jamaican dancehall lexicon.

Mojito Mondaze

Kingston is a city where things are happening all the time. It was Monday - one of the most hated days of the week...yet we have Mojito Mondaze, Uptown Mondays and ...didn't Carlos Cafe do Martini Mondays?

In a week characterized by the realisation that a policeman was selling the guns in the police armory, that Jamaica is now sanctioned and approved by the IMF and therefore on an IMF program; and that we are in February - simultaneously Black History (in the USA) and Reggae Month... Jamaicans are finding ways to drown sorrows or better yet celebrate life!

My choice was Mojito Mondaze at Susie's On The Terrace. They make the best mojitos, complete with fresh mint. And they have flipped the script - you can even get a mango mojito. I was just linking you all about another Sun Game - the lyming (hanging out) complete with a glass of liquor...no a Cuban drink, mojito at the Cafe Bar.

Complete with Supa Hype's UPT (uptown) and skillful juggling - it was great. I wanted to chat to my best-est friend in a quiet setting. Yet, it was not and we did not mind. Jamaicans will find a way to survive and thrive. Mondaze!

Youth View Awards

I never expected my first real full length post to be on an awards show. Awards shows are usually so boring, but not the Youth View Awards (YVAs). It definitely is up for the exemplary Sun Games award!!

The Youth View Awards is the awards for the youth by the youth in the Jamaican entertainment industry. No 'experts' choosing the nominees - just the Jamaican people and judging from the crowd, it was truly the youth. Most of the non-VIP crowd was under 24 years old. I even saw ten year olds (with parents in tow). A true youthocracy (is there such a word?)! No alcohol was served - it was a Coke Zero world (complete with Coke Zero car).

Then there was the presentation - no heavy, glitzy, velvet curtainy setting. Lots of screens, video-djing and lights! Seriously simple, but high volume at the same time. Big up, Karen Clarke (aka Aunty Karen)!



It was beautifully planned! No long band changes except for the VIP area being choc full.

Now for the highlights of the show:

Chino's outfits were great. I love the purple trend! I think he had on Romeich! MJ would have been jealous. Then there was Aidonia - that outfit was mad too. Why aren't more dancehall designers recognised? Kingsley Cooper should be hunting down White Skky and Romeich for CFW (Caribbean Fashion Week). Biggy has made the transition...I think. So why not more? The fashion world needs to understand that it takes all types! Did I mention Minka's impossibly sexy crochet dress? Now I have!

Applause is due to Dexter Pottinger of 3D Designs. He hooked Tifa up - the costuming in her performance, even the huge letters spelling (not the B-A-D-D-E-S-T) T-I-F-A - were maad.



Then the style icons awards - a truly Jamaican award. Hip Hop and Dancehall does the styling thing!! No grunge roun' here. Anyway the stalwarts won - D'Angel and Beenie Man. Ding Dong and Spice/Tifa were super-strong contenders - but style is a subjective thing and the youth had voted! The Spice model had on a blond wig and amulti-tiered grey skirt. The contrast was amazing.

But let me get to the music - the whole point of the YVAs. I am the granddaughter of a dressmaker - so I look at clothes first!

There was an MTV2 moment! Shady Squad (there is a pic of them in grey and white outfits) took the stage and I really thought I was watching BET. It was soo well executed - especially for a dance with over 10 people. I took no pictures - as my mouth was wide open in awe the whole time. I actually cannot think of a bad performance for the night - but Shady Squad and Tifa stood out.


No comment on the YVAs would be complete without speaking of the Hype crew. The YVAs were promoted in the Star and in Youth link, the teen arm of the Gleaner. The Hype Crew consisted of a dedicated group of young people - who worked so haaard on this show!

Then the Jamaican co-host was Lady Rennae (of RETV). The other co-host was Teyana Taylor. The guest performers were the New Boyz () All amazing! But to me the night belonged to Lady Rennae - Teyana was hilarious - though the burping from KFC did not go down well with the largely Jamaican audience.

Overall, the show was off the chain. When the show ended, it was really the end of an experience. Karen and the hype crew - maaad props! The real proof was how unbelievably packed the after-party was. More space needed next time for it.

Now if only our stage shows left one wanting...for more. Those organisers seem to think that super-long shows are more loved, but the reviews of Sting and Rebel Salute suggest otherwise. Hhhhmmm.

Plus big up to Jahkno.com - as I used some of their pics and they photographed me as well.

PS. I do not work for the YVAs!