Ghetto Splash takes unexpected turn

Veterans and young guns thrilled patrons inside the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning at the annual, free concert, Ghetto Splash. But it was a Splash with a difference.

Guided by the resilient Sample Man -who repeatedly thanked Prime Minister Andrew Holness for "saving" this year's staging of Ghetto Splash - the young artiste segment kicked off the show quite late, on the stroke of midnight. However, it was a night on which up-and-coming acts would get many more bites off the cherry, and this was during prime time, which was great for them, but it slowed down the pace of the show.

And, perhaps for the first time in Ghetto Splash's history, the police shut down the well-organised event after 4 a.m., a time when the major acts would just be getting ready to take over the stage. The reason was that Wednesday was a work day.

Fans were not impressed and could be heard asking about the big artistes who were promised, but who did not show up. Anyway, they calmly exited the well-laid-out venue, which was decorated with huge light boxes advertising Vybz Kartel's, Vybz Rum.

While many of the big-name acts advertised for the 10th staging- such as Beenie Man, Skeng, Luciano, Aidonia, Govana, Tarrus Riley, D'Angel, Pablo YG, Jesse Royal, Jahshii, and Tommy Lee - were no-shows this year, those who did attend represented well.

Veteran deejay Major Mackerel said it was him, Macka Diamond, and Sita who 'tek di show.' Sita was the first to get a big response. At 1:02 a.m., she unleashed the 'S' song, where every word starts with the letter S. Of course, Sita, sizzling hot with hot pink hair, was representing for 'all the gal dem with the tight punash'.

The S letter song received a few blanks from the crowd who seemed to have been impressed with that fast-paced flow, responding "S!" when she asked "People weh me seh the song name?"

In the 2 o'clock bells, Macka Diamond, who told the crowd that she is "the hottest big woman inna dancehall" ran out with her chant of Money O and asked 'Wha oonu waan hear?".

The answer: "Whole heap a passa passa." And so came her song with Derrick, What Can Go So.

Veteran deejay Major Mackerel, singer George Nooks, Real Ghetto Pain artiste Duane Stephenson, Mr Easy, and Razor B were among those to receive "pull ups" and blanks from the crowd.

Dressed in all-white, Renee 6:30 gave the crowd a show with a sexy dance segment during her set, which gained her a few "fawuds". Following 10Tik's performance came NHance and his crew who brought the curtains down in fine style.