During Could You Be Loved Damian was joined by his son Elijah, who sang a verse of Stevie Wonder‘s I Just Called To Say I Love You in honor of his father’s birthday.
Spice is coming for America’s headtop.
You know Spice has every mon grab a gyal with her tun up tunes. Why would this have been any different?
Wakanda forever. They say i’m black so i came out in my Black Panther theme 藍 Proud of the skin i’m in representing like a strong black woman. How did you like my Lupita look ?
Do you think Nakia would be proud or nah?
She let off a banger while rocking her natural hair and talking about the rumors that the people dem talk about.
Then a battle went down where Spice performed her waistline off, wining her body to the tune to see who can take it best.
And in an epic pyro moment, the fire department really was about to soon come when the artist added literal “more fire” to her set.
This isn’t the Spice we we’re used to. Whether rocking her smurfette blue hair or a natural due, Spice always delivers. #BlackandaForever.
Journalist Patricia Meschino accepts the ‘Golden Pen Award’ from Director of Tourism, Donovan White.
Living legend Bob Andy, internationally acclaimed duo Sly and Robbie, the Godfather Chris Blackwell, and promoter Copeland Forbes were inducted into the Reggae Sumfest Hall of Fame while crooner Beres Hammond received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Sumfest Inspire Awards on Thursday night.
The five shared the spotlight with the undisputed King of the Dancehall Moses ‘Beenie Man’ Davis – who was named ‘Sumfest Legend,’ and Jamar ‘Chronixx’ McNaughton, who was recognised with the Reggae Sumfest Rising Star award.
Twelve other awards were presented to individuals who have walked alongside the 26- year-old festival founded by Summerfest Productions and now owned by Downsound Entertainment.
Bob Andy, renowned for his Fire Burning lyrics, who placed his hand on his first musical instrument the piano – 60 years ago, said that he had no clue his life would have led to this. Admitting that the road that brought him to Thursday night had been long, rocky, and at some points smooth, the stalwart said that the beauty of his job was the fact that he didn’t leave anyone crying, “Or rip anyone off. All I had to do was give love in my music”.
In accepting his award, Blackwell, one of the most influential figures in the local music industry, said that his first three records went to number one, but his career peaked because Jamaicans could hear themselves in his music.
“After my music came hundreds and thousands more records, which were made in Jamaica more than anywhere else in the world,” revealed the man who brought Jamaica’s King of Reggae, Bob Marley, to world fame.
For Copeland Forbes, Thursday night was one of the greatest moments in his 50 years in the music industry. “There is nothing like being recognised in your own country,” said the man who has received over 250 awards worldwide.
Hammond, who will be performing on Saturday night, and who has dedicated his life to reggae music, was absent from the event, and his award was collected by CEO and founder of Downsound Entertainment, Joe Bogdanovich.
Beenie Man was the first artist to be booked on Reggae Sumfest when the festival started in 1993, and he has performed at the event a total of 23 times. He boasted that no one could beat his track record.
“I can’t change a bulb, I can’t patch a tire, this is all I know,” said the artiste while collecting his award.
The evening’s other awardees were ace journalist Pat Meschino, who has been standing in the press pit covering the festival for 24 years and who received the ‘Golden Pen’ award; while On Stage‘s Winford Williams, freelance photographer Alan Lewin, and freelancer writer Marlon Tingling were named Special Honourees. Williams’ profession in the entertainment industry grew with the festival, which he has been covering since it began.
“My passion has always been to be part of something that would help to expose our music, so it was easy for me to be part of this,” stated Williams.
For Lewin, this award was his Grammy. Hermine Shaw received the ‘Big Up Award’ for putting food into the festival for 25 years.
Yanique ‘Curvy Diva’ Barrett said she cried all day on Friday when she realised that her dream of performing on the Sumfest stage as an artiste was about to come true.
“It never even matter what time me work, I was just happy to be here,” Curvy Diva told The STAR after her Sumfest debut.
“People don’t understand just how much tonight means to me. Working in the media, I was living vicariously through the artistes on stage. I was running back and forth, interviewing artistes at Sumfest over the years, and I said to myself one day I will be on that stage so I was definitely emotional tonight,” she said.
The ‘Lifestyle artiste steered clear of the controversial issues that thrust her into the spotlight in the months leading up to her debut performance at Reggae Sumfest. She said she deliberately did not indulge, adding that her aim was to deliver a performance that would cement her place as one to watch out for in the future.
And that she did as she delivered an energetic set.
“At the end of the day, I don’t want everything I do to surround controversy like I’m the queen or something. This is a moment me a pray for fi a very long time so me never wah highlight the controversy. Me nah try give this moment to no badmind, no man, no bad energy,” she said.
“I am here to stay so this is not my first and last Sumfest, watch out for Yanique,” said Cuvy Diva.
Up-and-coming artistes who touched the stage at this year’s festival Night One at Reggae Sumfest are happy they got the chance to showcase their talent to the world.
Former Magnum King of the Dancehall, Accid, was among the fresh acts to perform at ‘the greatest reggae show’ on Friday night.
Accid was crowned Magnum Kings of Dancehall in 2016.
“It’s a good platform because from me win Magnum people a ask wah gwaan fi Accid. We have songs out deh pan the radio but people dem wah see me and now they got the chance to. This is a show that stream worldwide to thousands of people so wah more me coulda ask for. Me get to showcase me talent and more people see me, a lot of opportunities can come from this so I want to say thanks to the Sumfest organisers for putting me out there,” Accid said.
Another of the fresh artistes to perform at Sumfest was Kim Nain.
“This my first ever big stage so it was a big deal for me just being here. I was nervous but me overcome and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my talent with so many people,” she said.
Kim Nain last year decided to take a break from her law career and focus on her musical career. She believes that the opportunity to perform on Sumfest stage will only help her career to grow.
“Reggae Sumfest is being streamed all over the world so, we, up-and-coming artistes need this, especially us women. People keep asking where are the women in music but it’s not that we aren’t there, it’s that a lot of us aren’t getting the opportunities we need to help establish us. We need more opportunities like Sumfest so more foods can open for more young talent,” she said.
Tosh Alexander was among the new artistes on Sumfest this year.