Entertainment

Champions show respect

By MEL COOKE, Freelance Writer

ASSASSIN HONOURED HIS elder Buju Banton lyrically and Ninja Man initiated a handshake with Vybz Kartel, as Saturday's 'Champions In Action' at the Caymanas Polo Club, St. Catherine, lived up to its billing.

With Military Man dismissing the non-supportive sponsors at just past midnight, the show ran in brisk fashion to the closing trio of Vybz Kartel, Beenie Man and Elephant Man at 6:00 a.m., Aidonia actually having the last deejay word of the night.

It was so smoothly laid out that no music was used between the few band changes, the night's main MC Nuffy filling the dead time with chatter.

Hero chanted for God Alone and the massive audience supported Perfect as a singing, dancing Handcart Boy.

Sugar Roy, in a baseball catcher's outfit complete with the mitt, climbed some way up a stage rigging to deliver his part of Tiad A It, done in combination with Conrad Crystal and Ras Ghandi sent a rapturously received Message To Mama and some money to the crowd.

There was a sustained 'forward' for Gyptian's Serious Times', which was done extensively, although his second song did not receive anything near the same acclaim. I-Wayne dropped in some words of advice in a set that got red hot with Lava Ground and Mega Banton described just what happens Pon De Corner.

Angel wore a black halo of a skirt in affirming herself as a "downtown girl living an uptown life" but faltered on her next song, a call-up of Delly Ranx not easing the Headache. Ruffian lyrically draped up her man Barney for some sex, to the delight of the audience, Barkey and Wickerman were a raucous riot with "who yu calling likkle" and Queen Paula backed up her statement "we wi bruck e" with wining that had her short green outfit lifting.

Really big times

Voice Mail brought a 'Weddy Time', Macka Diamond gloried in her 'conqusts' and then 'Champions in Action' hit the really big times with Assassin. After Do It If You Bad he called in Spragga Benz, whose 'avoid dis' battle song had the large audience howling. They exchanged lyrics before Buju Banton roared in on the 'Love Punaany Bad' rhythm, Assassin taking over with a lyrical respect to the Gargamel's Stamina Daddy.

Buju and Spragga went back in time to Lover's Choice and Trials and Crosses respectively, Buju turning the Polo Club upside down with Over Me before leaving.

Sizzla's fare varied from hardcore 'badness' lyrics to the inspiring Rise To The Occasion and the soulful Just One of Those Days.

Turbulence topped off a 'crowd-bussing' performance of snippets of his lyrics with Notorious, earning one of the night's very few recalls to the stage. Bounty Killer gave the pink wearing bad men a month to get the delicate shade out of their closets.

"People a wonder why I am on stage with Beenie Man and Vybz Kartel, after Sting. But this is Champions in Action ...," Ninja Man said, just before the peace gesture with Kartel.

And it was three the very hard way up to the 6:00 p.m. end, with a 'willy bouncing' Elephant Man, 'King of the Dancehall' Beenie Man and instructive Kartel effectively wrapping up Champions In Action with a rapid-fire exchange of lyrics.