By Yolande Gyles, Staff Reporter
Bounty Killer (left) and Elephant Man on-stage at 'It's Tha' Party' last Saturday night. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
BOUNTY KILLER celebrated his 31st birthday with a party, which included a stage show and exotic dancers on the grounds of the Kingston Polo Club, which is off the Mandela Highway in St. Catherine, last Saturday night. The event, dubbed 'It's Tha' Party', lived up to its name and more as patrons danced until dawn to music and performances from the cream of the dancehall fraternity.
Despite wet and muddy conditions and skies which seemed to promise more rain, the venue was full by midnight.
The birthday man promised an event unlike any that had been presented in recent memory and he proved himself to be true to his word. The polo club's grounds were divided into three sections, re-gular, VIP and Platinum. The regulars were placed behind a chain-link fence, the VIPs were on the other side of the same fence, but directly below the stage. The Platinum section was located under a silver tent positioned to the left and rear of the venue. Under the tent, the specially invited guests sat in plush leather seats while sipping on Moet, Hypnotiq and other expensive liquors. For their personal entertainment were dancers dressed in mini-skirts and tight short-shorts, as well as a lone exotic dancer, who showcased her talent on a specially built stage and pole. There were also variety of meats and a screen on which to watch the live action on-stage, just in case the happenings under the tent were not enough.
On the stage, Renaissance, Stone Love, Deejay Karim, Tony Matterhorn, Leftside and Esco and Foota Hype a newcomer built a strong vibe, spinning the hits from the dancehall and hip-hop genres.
However, the disc jockeys had to play second fiddle to the exotic dancers who showed off their moves in two steel cages, placed at either end of the stage. Patrons watched as the young women wearing 'barely there' outfits performed several sexually-charged moves.
At about 4:00 a.m., the real climax to the show began as the entertainers took the stage. Predator, the opening act, told the crowd that "Bounty Killer a mi puppa", before beginning a brief but energetic set which included his latest hits, Mad and Nah Nuh Head. He was joined by Kiprich, who was unable to get the same kind of audience response and left just as the crowd began to 'boo' and give him the slow handclap.
Their performances, however, were overshadowed by five-year-old Amanda Cat, and her father, Johnny Cat. Amanda played the role of 'hype man', repeating her father's phrases.
Her performance garnered massive favourable audience response, so much so that Bounty Killer himself called the father and daughter duo back for an encore.
After brief appearances by General B, Captain Barkey, Galaxy P and Suckoo from Ward 21, the man of the moment took to the stage.
Bounty Killer told his fans, "I wish I had the knowledge of 31, when mi did just come about." Afterwards he performed Eagle and Hawk before being joined by Lady Saw and Lady Mackerel. Next on-stage was Angel Doolas, who performed Fitness alongside Bounty Killer.
However, when Wayne Marshall, Vybz Kartel, Elephant Man and Assassin appeared on-stage, the crowd went into a frenzy. They each performed a few lines from their more recent hit songs and received applause and 'gun salutes' for their efforts. At about 5:00 a.m., the show and the event ended, bringing the curtain down on a night well spent.
