Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Mr. Vegas holds up the photo of a six-year-old girl who was raped and killed in downtown Kingston at Sting 2005 held at Jamworld in Portmore, St. Catherine, on Monday. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
THE MORNING sun waxed warm on the backs of the large crowd yesterday as thousands happily faced a searing alternating barrage of lyrics from Beenie Man and Vybz Kartel which ended Guinness Sting 2006.
No effort was spared in emphasising peace, love and unity, selector Glamour Wayne and MC Nuffy reading from a violence prevention manual for children. And with a few exceptions, a sole missile for Ghandi, as well as some gun lyrics from Aidonia, which ignited the audience, it was almost a church fun day, complete with a jumping for Jesus set by Prodigal Son.
There was peace even as Ninja Man, who came on before the closing pair, ignited a frenzy with "me cyan kill Bounty an' no kill Beenie" and demanded back his gun from Reneto Adams, who did not appear on stage, although he walked directly behind The Gleaner team at the rear of the audience during the concert.
Kartel responded as he came on with "Ninja cyaan step pon me corn/me no normal/me get me ring whe day ..." When he was joined by his 'uncle', Beenie Man who advised him to leave Ninja. "A ol' time artiste," Beenie Man said.
There was no strong Jamaican language, although there was a 'f' or two.
With a performers' roster equivalent of a full quarter million heading from downtown Kingston to Duhaney Park at peak hours, Sting 2006 ran, ending at 8:07 a.m.
There was little in the way of extended performance, the singers tending to take the more measured approach at different segments of the concert. The large early turnout lapped up First Born's Irates a bit past 10:00 p.m. and agreed with Anthony Cruz that it was "truly a blessing". They rocked to Half Pint's Greetings and appreciated Luciano singing "for the leaders" just past 2:00 a.m., then grooved to Pinchers' Agony as Sting 2006 headed into the 'morning ride'.
AUDIENCE IN HEAT
But the torches, firecrackers and roars which greeted Richie Spice's Blood Again, Wayne Marshall's Gimme A Light and I-Wayne's Lava Ground were more in line with the reception Sting 2005 reserved for its deejay favourites in the closing stretch.
Those included a largely garbled but vocally emphatic Aidonia, who was much clearer as he ended with the encouragement to be "proud a yu ghetto" and 'Lolly', as well as a crisp, clear, rhyme cracking Busy Signal who stepped out in full black and joshed LA Lewis with "mi no know yu tune, but yu graffiti dem bad eeh".
There were cheers for Chuck Fender from his opening "cry for my people every day", through a recall for Murderer. Gyptian struck a chord with those who love mama, as well as with Serious Time, while Turbulence and Sasha found the 'love others have been searching for' and Kiprich, who was joined by Alozade on stage, opened with Liquere. However, when Kiprich was describing how the entertainers 'look girl' and asked "yu waan see how Elephant Man look girl" there was a chorus of 'nos' and he exited just as the hounding handclaps started from the back.
The firecrackers which sizzled into the morning sky for Fantan Mojah were in contrast to the mildly interested response from the audience, while a hoarse Assassin was given space to chant 'Eddiat Ting Dat'.
HARDCORE FEMALES
In the earlier going, the fantastic females of the dancehall (with the exception of Lady G) who were first up, went below the waist to the extreme delight of the audience, Ruffian, Spice and Lady Saw going hardcore. However, there were howls of laughter as Face said "a whe de man whe can wuk dem man right", although she corrected herself, and Blacker, who screamed 'bun him' along with Macka Diamond, was soundly booed off the stage.
Beenie Man did his first stint closer to 1:00 a.m. than the scheduled 10:45 p.m. and although Shane-O chanted 'ayiyiyiyi' and Nanko delivered Lucky You to appreciation, it took Noddy Virtue with Rebel In Me and a reggae Broken Arrow to get the audience really going again.
And there was respectful silence, lighters and torches for the dead as Vegas held up a large picture of a six-year-old girl who was raped and killed in downtown Kingston.
Bands for the night included Live Wyya, Kaushan and Ruff Kut, with Denise Miller, Shaka Fame and Ragashanti doing MC duties before Nuffy and his 'Nuffiesha'.
