Review Star Jam 2K5

Review: Star Jam 2K5 - Unfinished Business

Megastars and local stars graced the grounds and stage of Pier 1, Montego Bay, on Saturday, August 12 to finish business that had been left unfinished at the Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest 2005.

Headline act Rodney Price, popularly known as the Bounty Killer “the ghetto gladiator” took the stage at shortly after 6 am dressed in his business suit and ended business but only after long bout local acts and proper address from his “Alliance,” characters such as Vybz Kartel, Wayne Marshall and Bling Dawg, who all worked apparently unrehearsed with the Anger Management Band.

Bounty Killer and a host of artistes, took the liberty of lyrically whipping the Sumfest sponsors as well as promoters, particularly Johnny Gourzong, who the ghetto gladiator emphatically told, “Johnny Gourzong me naah keep nuh b---man money inna mi bosom.” He went on to explain that he amongst other artistes had helped to put Sumfest where it is, long before the Red Stripe had taken title sponsor role.

Missing from the line up however was the Gargamel, Buju Banton, who Bounty explained was stuck in Pittsburgh.

Prior to the onslaught of big acts, the crowd was privy to up and comers such as Merritol (whose performance was cut early), Warface whose set was plagued with CD mix ups, Lady Champagne, New Kids, Military and Mobado. After the being warmed up by some of western Jamaica’s finest, the heavy hitters took the concerts helm. We then saw the likes of Pickney, Jagwa, Busy Signal and Angel Dulas.

Pickney whiney voice gave the crowd much to laugh at and be entertained with. Busy Signal with a string of current hits got full crowd support with songs like “Step Out.”

The show started racing to its peak when megastars like Fantan Mojah and Norris Man commandeered the microphones. Bling Dawg got good response with songs like “Nicky-Ann,” while Vybz Kartel decked in white issued hit after hit, like “I Never,” “School Bus,” and his cell phone songs “…can you hear me now.”

Wayne Marshall treated the crowd to his romantic ode to Juana, the song known as “Marry Juana,” the crowd was then surprised by the presence of the Twin of Twins who slipped their song, which was a response to Macka Diamonds counteraction of their hit single.

The morning however belonged to Bounty Killer who gave the crowd a great cross-section of his catalogue; he belted his early songs, war songs and love songs. The crowd “Lodge,” “War,” “Look Into Ma Eyes,” “Fitness,” “It Ok,” and “Heard that you’re Leaving.”

By Yannick Nesta Pessoa