The ladies went all out to impress as their favourite songs blared from the speaker boxes.

Despite a 90-minute break because of a power outage, the real fans waited patiently for a possible resumption. As the lights flicked on for the resumption of the party there was instant cheer and joy from patrons.

Unleash Entertainment, the promoters of the party series, thanked the patrons for holding the faith and they were rewarded for their patience as the party was extended from the regular midnight end.

Five lucky patrons were given 5 microwaves courtesy of sponsors Wray & Nephew.

The ladies, as customary at this party, shared the lime-light, however, some went the extra mile to make it a memorable occasion. Next up for Unleashed Entertainment and Wray & Nephew is the Wray & Nephew White Rum Bikini Sundayz Street Dance at the Old Harbour Bay Bus Park on Sunday, December 22.

Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer

  
Anthony Minott photos

Joseph Bagdonavich, the label’s CEO, announced recently on entertainment programs ER and E Prime a $3-million winner-takes-all lyrical clash at Sting, which is celebrating its 30-year anniversary.

Ninja Man, also a contender, will have the duffle bag of cash live on stage to hand over to the winner.

The much-touted event, set for Jamworld Entertainment Complex, Portmore, St Catherine on December 26, will feature international artiste 2 Chainz, dancehall legend Super Cat and current icons including Beenie Man and Mavado.

Bagdonavich, via his company, officially became a full-time partner of Sting, with founder Isaiah Laing last year, after a few years behind the scenes.

The event is dubbed as ‘The greatest one-night show on Earth’.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, which has never happened in the event’s 30-year history, DSR has released a commemorative single, Downsound Christmas, which features label artistes Ninja Man, Ishawna, Harry Toddler, Don Husky and Naazir.

The track was produced by Bagdonavich and Scatta Burrell and will be marketed by DSR’s marketing arm, Contractor Music.

“The song is already generating interests,” said marketing director Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards.

The label has enjoyed a number of successful collaborations, namely Ishawna and Specialist’s Do For Love andDweet, featuring Ninja Man and Specialist.

Ninja Man was recently victorious in a sound clash against popular radio disc jock GT Taylor at the Irie FM street dance. Ishawna was also engaged in a sound clash at Famous Nightclub for the STAR‘s All-Star Face Off.

Naazir and Don Husky continue to work hard in studio and are set to release new tracks.

The entire Downsound Records clique, which includes reggae sensation Nature, will perform at Sting.

The young artiste, born in Manchester, but now living in St Catherine, has expressed his desire to change Jamaica’s youth with the message in his music.

Keywee described his style as, “singjay like Vegas or Khago, but my sound is signature”.

His musical journey has been a rough one, thus far, but he is determined he will press on to achieve his dreams of one day being known to the masses through quality songs and entertainment.

Performances at shows in Manchester and St Mary have convinced the young act that his music will one day find a place on the charts.

“My ultimate goal, in about five years, is achieving a Grammy. But, still, the sky is the limit,” he said.

“The music industry is in a good direction now as we can see the rap artistes are interested in our flavour and style. Reggae music now is a good look with emerging artistes like Chronixx, Protoje, I-Octane etc, so we just need more love in the industry.”

Keywee plans to bring something different to the table.

“My difference is by doing good music and help uplift the people while being myself, being natural,” he said.

His songs released, thus far, include Back It Up, Blessings A Pour, Di System and Jah Keep Me Holding.

Keywee is currently working with producers such as Vineyard Productions, St Bess Records, Cross Fire Productions and Live Village.

Scott Wilson of HITZ FM poses with a Magnum girl during Thursday’s event.

Flava Unit’s selector Badda Bling.

A patron strikes a pose for the camera.

During his set, a Bredda Hype selector makes a point to his opponent from the Flava Unit sound system.

Bredda Hype selectors were outstanding during their rounds.

Even after the exciting tussle between Elephant Man and KipRich during last Thursday’s Magnum All-Star $1,000,000 Face Off, the encounter between Bredda Hype and Flava Unit still managed to lift energy levels in a near-full Famous Nightclub.

Although Flava Unit’s eventual winning margin was wide – 53 to Bredda Hype’s 42 – the two played equal part in a musical battle of almost epic proportions.

Bredda Hype, who had lost an earlier face-off with Ricky Trooper, began the night in fashion befitting someone who did not intend to lose.

The selecting duo was imperious in that first round, dubbed The Juggling Round. Flava Unit had no answer.

It was not until the second round that the Portmore sound began to come into its own.

That second battle, The Challenge Round, brings something different to the table each week. This time around, the sound systems were instructed to play a combination between a singer and a deejay.

Flava Unit, playing second, had responded with Leroy Smart and Baby Wayne claiming, “mi know mi fren’ different from mi enemy dem”, Pinchers and Bounty Killer Riding west and the remake of Barrington Levy’s Murdererfeaturing Beenie Man. This was after Bredda Hype’s selections had included Alaine and I-Octane, TOK and Bounty Killer, and Reparation, done by Vybz Kartel and Gaza Slim.

While Bredda Hype was still riding on the wave of his brilliant juggling in the first round, his second featured songs just couldn’t match the stature of those from Flava Unit. Bredda Hype duly lost the second round.

When it was time for the 45 round, again Bredda Hype was slated to play first. Bredda Hype’s selector came out with Ninja Man’s Murder Dem. The damage had already been done, however, as questions from the selecting team about the judging had turned the tide of the crowd.

Flava Unit, credit to them for doing so, chose that round to put some theatrics into the face-off, Badda Bling handing out tomato and escallion to members of the audience before pulling Super Cat’s Vineyard Style.

It was the first of a Super Cat double, as Don Dada followed, and there was an especially humorous moment as a bundle of escallion was tossed back on stage, then in turn hurled from the stage to near the middle of the audience, two ladies dressed to the hilt neatly sidestepping the seasoning as it fell.

“This is my place!” Badda Bling declared before dropping Bounty Killer’s Lodge to the pleasure of the home crowd support that had showed from early with the vuvuzelas sounding at the mention of the sound system’s name, as well as a large Flava Unit banner of the type seen largely at stage shows held aloft in the venue.

The dub-for-dub round also went to Flava Unit, handing Bredda Hype the group’s second loss of the tournament, though much credit should go to the team for an impressive showing.

			Patrons live the At Conroy Samuels’ birthday bash
Life of a Star at High House, in Old Harbour, St Catherine, recently.A plethora of big-ups belted over the microphone constantly as one of St Catherine’s biggest promoters, Conroy Samuels, celebrated another milestone on earth at his third annual birthday event held at High House in Old Harbour, St Catherine, recently. Not that it was a detractor; it was actually one of high points of the event, and for Samuels, who would have felt honored hearing so many well wishes at a rapid pace. The rains came sporadically, testing the mettle of what seemed to be loyal patrons determined to have a good time. The rains could not breach their resilience so it was up to selectors Gary Chucks, Mad Ras, Richie Feelings, Chub and Fire Wayne to repay their loyalty with quality entertainment. None of the four aforementioned selectors failed at their responsibilities as, with an eager-to-be-thrilled audience, they created an atmosphere of fun and frolic which later went into complete frenzy. The party was dubbed Life of a Star and as such, it challenged the patrons to attire at their elegant best or most other cases, raunchiest. Right after the early-morning drizzle, deejay Deablo, a protégé to Aidonia, delivered a brief yet entertaining performance. Samuels, who founded Overdose Entertainment, said he could not have asked for a better outcome of the event. “I am very pleased and I must heartily thank all those who stayed when the rain began. Everything went according to plan and I am already thinking of bettering this, come next year,” he said.