No clash, no problem. Bloodthirsty fans of Vybz Kartel and Assassin had to swallow their anticipation on Saturday night as both deejays steered clear of any on stage clash at the 'Camouflage' stage show held at Fort Charles, Port Royal.
By Germaine SmithLike the deejays had said in previous interviews, they would do their acts on stage then leave. That was how the show went.
Even as Vybz Kartel was on stage and one of his dissidents threw an empty Smirnoff Ice bottle which barely missed him, there was still no war.
"People a wha just happen a while ago?" the deejay asked a stunned audience.
Silence.
"Wha unnu seh, mi fi do work or mi mus leave?"
"Unnu waa mi fi work don't?," he asked before getting a resounding yes.
On with the show.
Gatecrashers
The only real war at the show was at the entrance gates. Of the thousands pouring in, no one it seems wanted to get searched by the police, and while they cursed and tussled with the lawmen to avoid it, the opportunists tried to rush inside without tickets. It threatened to get even uglier when an advancing mob charged for the gates. One cop blasted four rounds into the sky to warn them and like timid children they cooled down.
In terms of performances, both artistes gave Port Royal a shocker. The sound systems juggled until after 4 a.m. and a fashion show followed.
Assassin then performed first, and left everyone gasping in disbelief when after only 15 or so minutes he was done. He handed over his microphone, walked off the stage then left the venue.
To some, this was the ultimate anti-climax to a lively and entertaining performance. He had teased them with snippets of their favourites. From Girls Gone Wild, to Yardman, to Do It If Yu Bad, to some brand new lyrics, he held the crowd's attention, then gave it up.
Fled like a 'Mad guitar'
Kartel also shocked everyone. After performing just two songs, he suddenly frowned, handed over the microphone, then left the stage as well. At this point MC Nuffy raced on stage and frantically tried to calm the audience down. He must have had flashes of last year's Magnum Sting on his mind because for one, he was the MC that night, and two, he was wearing the same 'war suit'. The crowd, however, seemed more curious than agitated as the promoters huddled around Kartel to settle things.
He returned after a few minutes and delivered to a crowd which fed off his words as if he were a preacher. From gun, to girl, to ganja lyrics, he had them. He even branched out into a cultural tune, which he boasted would silence his critics who say he could not do it.
His set was not much longer than Assassin's, but he brought deejay Schoolboy, Bascom X, and Jagwa on stage with him before ending the show.
