Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Poet Dingo. - FILE
WORD, SOUND, Power debuted at Backyaad on Constant Spring Road on Friday night with an offering of poetry and music that often simmered and by the end of the night erupted into a hilarious volcano of controversy.
The backing band, Enforce, attempted to hold the fort in the early part of the night as the audience trickled into the venue by pulling on a slew of reggae hits.
The lone female on the roster, Inubia (formerly Marsha Hall) was the first of the poet to take the stage.
She delivered her standard repertoire of black beauty/power pieces, first attacking DJs, male and female, for "pimp[ing]" women, then using a haunting violin-played version of Summertime she spoke about black beauty.
Music once again took over the stage with a short performance by Daman. The young saxophonist began on a strong note by pulling from the Marley arsenal with Redemption Song. He followed it up with a blend of contemporary reggae and jazz.
DIFFERENT STYLES
Poetry once again dominated as the Royal African Soldiers, Neto, Ginsu and Takura took over the stage with their largely militant rhymes.
The three poets have very different styles although Ginsu and Neto, who waver between a hip hop and reggae aesthetic, are more similar, and also tend to deliver the more poetically potent rhymes.
Takura has a far more earthy feel and played on his status as a farmer and dabbled in some double entendre with the erectile nature of plantain.
The trio were followed by Steppa who, at a level which ought to have been heard around the world, delivered his trademark call to "Listen to Steppa".
Although his topics varied from a falling quality in music, to the need for money and love, his harsh, militant tone never varied.
A change in tone did come, however, with the arrival of Dingo who had slipped off his poetic hat and come in the guise of a DJ.
His performance, accompanied by Tafani on saxophone or backup vocals, varied between tales of desire and social politics.
The piece displayed versatility and his lyrics were infused with the metaphoric potency which infused his poetry.
Bissenta then took over the microphone and maintained the dominance of music.
STIRRING SET
He delivered a stirring set. Though he dealt with issues of homosexuality and violence, he commendably steered clear of all clichés and thus exhibited good lyrical skill.
The night was brought to a good end with the rhythmic, dramatic and comic performance of Nomaddz who lent hilarious controversy to the night, by sending barbs at the growingly infamous tapes.
Read story on the 'sex tapes' in The Star today.
