Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest: Montego Bay, Jamaica

Catherine

Hall Park in Montego Bay, Jamaica was flooded with Reggae music’s hottest talent accompanied by thousands of local and international fans

during the 15th annual Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest, July

15th-21st. Sumfest,

Jamaica’s only annual week long music festival dedicated to supporting

and promoting the lands indigenous music, was divided into three nights

of live performances. “Explosion” was strictly for the Dancehall lovers while

“Evolution,” delivered an authentic Culture vibe while pleasing a

diverse crowd with electrifying performances by Hip-Hop legend LL Cool

J and Soca phenomenon Alison Hinds. The final show, “Zenith,” closed

the concert series on a higher level, featuring Roots and Rockers

favorites, Richie Spice and Beres Hammond, alongside the Queen of Hip

Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, who definitely gave Jamaica a show to

remember.Sumfest jumped off Thursday, July 19th with

energy infused performances by Dancehall veterans Bounty Killer, Beenie

Man, Movado, Lady Saw, Vybz Kartel, Elephant Man, Baby Cham, Assassin

and Ninja Man, not to mention a slew of the island’s freshest artistry

(Munga Hounourable and Aidonia) that also pleased the hefty crowd that

night.Clothed

in a crisp green military suit looking nothing less than ready for

battle, Dancehall’s gun talking Warlord, Bounty Killer, strode on stage

taking attendees on a musical journey with classics like “Sufferah,”

“Ghetto Dictionary” and “Mystery” right before advising Ninja Man, who

entertained the patrons earlier in the show, to stay off drugs and to

keep the “Killa’s” name out his mouth.Fireworks

lit the early morning sky, horns blew out of control and a non-violent crowd of more than 21,000 people went crazy when Movado,

stormed on stage full of emotion, crying out new hits like, “Dying,”

“Me and My Dogs,” and ladies x-rated favorite, “Squeeze Breast,”

undoubtedly reaching the climax of the evening. Concert goers sang in

unison to every single Movado song, showing the extra raw deejay nuff

love.The

international Energy God, Elephant Man danced around stage with half

yellow, half red hair while delivering new and old hype up tunes,

pulling members from the audience to participate in his notorious, on

stage, dry sex sessions. Lady Saw bruk’ out to “Hice It Up” and “Sycamore Tree” before going into more heartfelt ballads like “No Less Than a Woman”  and “Not World’s Prettiest”  from her 2007 release Walk Out.Cute

face ladies man, Assassin, flew through songs from his debut Infiltration with a satisfying stage presence and intriguing lyrical

prowess, while Baby Cham visited a time when he had bashment’s on lock

with hits like “Ghetto Pledge” and “Man & Man.”“Evolution” and “Zenith” brought an easy vibration to Jamaica’s 15th

Annual Sumfest, but it was the opening show, “Explosion” that made

2007’s music festival an exciting part of Reggae music history.