ttgapers.com

World Soca Festival - MOBS2, Chaguaramas, Trinidad - December 4 2004

Vybez Kartel is presently the hottest Jamaican dancehall act on the international urban music scene. His unique toasting style really sounds great on CD, sending folks wild in the clubs, but the so-called real badman proved a dud when he performed December 4 at World Soca Festival, MOBS2, Chaguaramas. Truth be told, Kartel did manage to deliver a fantastic performance during the first several minutes of his presentation, raising a frenzy from the moment he hit the stage.

Vybez Kartel, however, eventually lost momentum and people actually began to leave the venue although there was still the Roy Cape All Stars and other acts still to perform following the Jamaican act.

The event began with Bunji Garlin and the Asylum kicking off the music for "Get On Bad" and Bunji chanted out the lyrics in triple tongue. He then said he was angry because he was not scheduled to perform in first place and that someone had purposely screwed up the schedule. "Bounty does say he's cross, angry, he's a rebel. I doh have time for all that. I'll just tell them dey mudder's condensed milk," Bunji declared as the crowd went wild. Bunji also welcomed Vybez Kartel, but reminded the crowd that there are foreign artistes who came here and disrespect the nation.

Bunji then performed "Fete" and the entire crowd chanted out the chorus, "We want Bunji Garlin." The reigning International Soca Monarch performed favourites such as "Licks," "From The Ghetto," "Coofie Lie Lie," "Soca Bangra" and "Jah" during which he was joined by Benjai who blended in his own song entitled "Jah" after the two had done a sample of Cappleton's single "CowboyTown." Bunji then instructed the two flag crews at the bottom of the stage to run a race and he gave $100 to the winner.

Benjai went on to perform "Over And Over" and Bunji joined in with him for "We Don't Watch Face." Gailann was next with her single "Watching Me," before Bunji and the rest of his Asylum crew came back in with "By The Bar," "Desperadoes" and "Cock Back So." Bunji then asked the engineers if he was live on radio, instructing them to take him off air before he launched into some x-rated sexually charged triple tongue lyrics. At one point he counseled the women that they must take care of themselves sexually saying, "Poom poom not like passport. You can't renew it."

Before leaving the stage because some guy kept bothering him to end his performance, Bunji performed a couple of his 2005 tracks that will be featured on his CD entitled Flamestorm including "Break (Raise Yuh Hand)," "We Dread" and "Fan Dem Way." Benjai also performed "Saving Myself." As he exited the stage, Bunji performed a verse of "Warrior Cry," leaving the crowd begging for more.

KMC premiered his new band called Red White & Black opening with "Bashment To Carnival" quickly switching to "High In The Air." With Diamond Cut sharing lead vocals with him, KMC took the pace of the song down and the band kicked in the music for Rita Marley's, "One Draw" as KMC instructed the people to wave their rags and the musicians spliced in the music for "Carnival Rag," which featured some heavy rock riffs performed by Michael Chang Wai. More reggae as KMC sang Marley's classic "Natural Mystic."

Diamond Cut then sang his cover of the Michael Jackson hit, "Heal The World" and KMC returned to perform snippets of "Fire", and "Rough Wining". Vocalist Jungle from the village of Tabaquite showed up next to perform vocals to the "Stinging Nettle Riddum". KMC also introduced other young upcoming artistes he is assisting including Revelation and Rocky.

KMC then introduced the Grenadian act, General PP who performed his popular "Nookie" alongside a guy called Luther.

The two took over the show and ate up most of KMC's allotted time so that after the Grenadians exited, KMC could only deliver a quickly performed rendition of his hit, "Set My Soul On Fire," leaving the patrons calling for more as he and the band members disassembled their instruments and left the stage making way for Vibez Cartel to do his thing.