By Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
FOR THE first three minutes, it was doubtful if anybody heard much of what Bounty Killer was deejaying at Paradise Island, Martha Brae, Trelawny, yesterday morning.
The thunderous, sustained roars of the crowd, coupled with the pop of firecrackers and the buzz of insect spray cans turned flamethrowers, all but drowned out his lyrics. However, the bassline and rhythmic chant of 'Hey, hey' of the 'Showtime' rhythm and the Killer stomping and storming on- stage were enough to send the crowd into a frenzy.
When they picked up pieces of a popular tune, as Bounty reeled off a medley of hits, the earth literally shook.
Those 180 seconds were only the start, though, as Bounty Killer put down a show-ending performance filled with lyrics, a couple of Angel Doolas combinations, 'sample talk' and, of course, attitude.
He capped off an Elephant Man-less but still aptly named 'Pon De River, Pon De Bank', as a bridge over a tiny stream had to be crossed to get to the show area. It was a bridge that the 'big artistes' drove over and through the outskirts of the large audience to access the stage. This proved a bonus, since when the vehicles toting the stars came in, those who spotted them formed a double row of cheering fans to drive through, giving them a heros welcome to the dance.
The welcome was buoyed by a line-up that was long on young talent and short on big guns. Vybz Kartel was the first of the big guns to take the stage, his arm in a sling. An extended performance was followed by Anthony B, then Matrix juggled - during which the welcome lane was formed - before Predator and Bling Dawg did short sets, leading up to Bounty Killer's showing.
YOUNGER TALENT
The audience was not very patient with most of the younger talent and displayed their displeasure rather forcefully with a few well-aimed bottles. When MC Ron Muschette suggested a break for some juggling by the Matrix sound system, the ominous clink of bottles being hit together quickly changed the plan.
"So whe yu sey, no more bokkle for de res' a de night? Okay," Ron Muschette said, bringing up Anthony B's 'blessing man', Coolo Coolo. Little Twitch did Spanish Fly and Devil Sen Oonu Come, with Bobo Desert chipping in as well. Then it was real star time. There were howls as Vybz Kartel came on, his left arm in a sling and his cap pulled low, swapping his traditional white for a dark suit. He started out on the Love P.....y Bad rhythm and did not ease up. Mos High, Up To The Sky and the ode to the nether jaws hit the spot.
He had to pull the 10 weed commandments twice, the ladies found him Sweet To De Belly and a Wayne Marshall-less rendition of New Millennium was well received. An explanation that his van had been hit and rolled 14 times was not enough to stop the ladies from hauling him into the crowd.
Anthony B, with a conical red hat reaching to the sky, was a melodious delight and had the audience singing along as he 'burned' Seaga, P.J. and the police at will - and he did not feel he had to say he was sorry. The old favourite, Fia Pon Rome, proved as powerful as ever. Anthony B showed another side, as he introduced the 'Ghetto Bicycle' dance, doing a great imitation of pedalling upright, one hand behind his back, grinning at the audience.
It was Anthony B who 'begged a bligh' for the sound to play some music and they duly rocked the house. After the break, Predator was a hit with Mad, Sick, Head No Good, Mad and Nah No Head, the last tune especially having members of the audience running around in a headless frenzy. Bling Dawg did a short set, which included Roll Up, and introduced his 'Summer Body' to Martha Brae. Then it was time for Bounty Killer, who 'dun the place' in more ways than one.
After settling down from his explosive start Bounty Killer kept going and going, mostly on his own but having an exceptionally good run with Angel Doolas, including Nah Force No Gal. Acknowledging Ninja Mad as his deejay dad, Bounty explained his relinquishing of the 'Poor People Governor' title and lyrically stated his position as the 'Ghetto Gladiator'. Paradise Island loved it.
Bounty Killer brought up Jaguar to do Guinness and the crowd howled as Bounty Killer dropped a wicked skank while Jaguar got into his tune.
He had words for Matrix, as the selectors fumbled with the rhythm. "I don't want to curse no bad words. Bad words are getting very expensive and I don't want to spend any money on them," he said. Later, as he demanded the Diwali rhythm and it was slow in coming, Bounty asked incredulously: "Diwali, whe a mash up dancehall? Whe sell millions fi Sean Paul?" For a large part of his show Bounty was in his 'girls mode', but he took time to explain the Alliance and ended with a new song, lining out the 'A to the K'.
The audience streamed out over the river after he had finished performing, leaving a few to enjoy the sound system on the bank.
