By Nagra Plunkett, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE HEAVY rains that lashed the city of Montego Bay on Friday night forced the promoters of 'Springfest 2004' to cancel the start of the two-day festival at the Caribbean Showplace in Ironshore, St. James and alter it to become one big show.
On second trial the much anticipated, star-studded event, which featured some of the biggest names in the hip hop and reggae business, went smoothly as patrons flocked to the beachfront venue to party from early Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning under overcast skies.
MEETING PLACE
Wet grass and mud puddles did not prevent the crowd from enjoying themselves as they gobbled up the performances that were dished out. The event, a collaboration between the United States' Radio One and Danga Zone Sound System, is in its second year and could be described as the meeting place for hip hop and reggae.
Female artistes were in full stride with the likes of deejays Cécile and Macka Diamond as well as bad girl rapper Trina. Trina, also known as the Black Diamond, strutted her stuff with her four female dancers and a sexy orange outfit that had the men drooling. She launched into an assault with hit after hit including Leavin' You, Pull Over, For All My Ladies, Right Thurr and Hotel (remix).
For the younger audience, there were appearances by Marques Houston, his brother Omarion, formerly of B2K and Formula One. Marques had the girls screaming with his tunes Pop That Booty and Up in The Club.
CROSSOVER
Lil Jon, the Eastside Boyz, Jadakiss, Petey Pablo, the Ying Yang Twins and Young Bloodz 'cranked up' the crowd and made way for Beenie Man and the 'Energy God', Elephant Man, who is riding high on his successful crossover into mainstream entertainment.
With songs like Jook Gal, Chiney Ting, Jamaica, Haters Wanna War, Signal Di Plane, Passa Passa and Get Low with Lil Jon he got an overwhelming response and was a whirlwind on-stage as he leapt into the air and showed off the newest dances crazes. He also made a plea for an end to the animosity in the dancehall and called for world peace ending his act singing We Are The World with the audience.
Some of the acts such as Mr. Vegas, Red Rat and Don Yute managed to win some crowd support with old hits but it was the comical Merciless that stood out. He did a combination of girl and gun tunes, and had the place in frenzy with fresh songs such as New Gun.
