Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Pumping Jamaican culture unto the American college scene, Pumpstation Entertainment provides the one stop for Caribbean vibes.

Pumpstation Entertainment is an event management company based in Washington D.C. Founded by Jamaicans Omar Stephenson, Leon Anderson and Shayne Pilpott, past students of Howard University, Stephenson says Pumpstation provides bookings for entertainers, musical acts, DJs, sound systems or if you need help with planning your event or entertainment ideas. They operate globally up and down America, Jamaica and the Caribbean.

One of the major events that they cater to is Howard University's homecoming. Stephenson says, "We're catering for the Caribbean crowd. Damion Marley, soca artiste Fayann Lyons, Coppershot is playing, as well as Radio Active out of Trinidad and our sound Pumpstation."

Cultural obsession

Music is not the only entertainment aspect coming out of the Caribbean that is needed. Pumpstation caters for comedy, dance and any other Caribbean-inspired entertainment events. Stephenson elaborates: "Apart from music there is a kind of cultural obsession wid Jamaica, like food, vibes of the people, what we wear. People who attend Howard are predominantly black, they are interested in the culture, Africa, roots, dub poetry, everything."

The demand for Jamaican music and culture is very strong in the United States. Stephenson says Pumpstation events gets a lot of support outside as well as inside of the Caribbean community. They usually cater for a crowd of 8,000 persons. This year with Damion Marley booked for the concert, they are expecting a much stronger crowd.

Bold step

So far, Pumpstation has got Elephant Man, Beenie Man, Wayne Marshal, Cécile, Sizzla and more acts to attend events at Howard. "Cham is going to be performing at Howard this year but it was the hip hop community that is having him for their performance," Stephenson says.

The infiltration of Jamaican music is one that Stephenson can attest to, "Pumpstation is classified as an urban sound, we play reggae, dancehall, hip hop, we get a lot of play outs at clubs and we book a lot of artistes." He believes this is as a result of acts like Sean Paul, Damion Marley and Beenie Man that is being exposed on MTV, BET and more. Producers have also begun to spread the music as well. "A lot of Jamaican producers like Don Corleon, DJ Kareem, Coppershot and more. They understand what the market is yearning for, they are building riddims on international tracks that everyone can do. The collaborations are doing that as well", he added.