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Plymouth Jazz Festival 2007 feat. LL Cool J and Sean Paul - Plymouth - Tobago

They are calling him LL Hot J in Tobago.And for good reason. Nothing else quite sums up US-rapper/actor LL Cool J's sexually charged high-energy stage show at the opening of the Plymouth Jazz Festival on Friday night.

LL, real name James Todd Smith, went from romantic to bombastic during a memorable performance that displayed the true spirit of Hip Hop music.

The Queens, New York, native danced on stage just after 11 p.m. in a custom-made blue jeans and glittering red T-shirt and ordered the crowd to "throw their L's up".

He anted up with his party hits "Phenomenon" and "Head Swung",

kicking a custom-made gold microphone stand, designed in the letters of his name, to the ground during his performance of the latter.

The large crowd all rose from their seats in approval as the veteran rapper worked the stage with as much verve as a young soca star. And when Cool J tried to cool down by emptying a bottle of water all over his muscular frame it seemed the transfer of energy from the superstar to his audience was complete.

His female fans melted back into their seats when he cued his DJ into his romantic chart topper "Hush" but rose again in hope of catching a souvenir when he threw about two dozen red roses at them during his performance of "Love You Better".

"I have always respected women," Smith told regional and international media following his performance.

"I think everyone involved has to shoulder the blame for what is happening in Hip Hop. The artists are to blame for objectifying women, but the women who choose to be in those music videos also have to share that blame.

"It takes two people to make a baby," he continued.

Earlier Jamaican dancehall star Sean Paul seemed to be taking a page out of soca star Machel Montano's book when he picked up a

rag and ran to and fro across the stage to hype the Plymouth crowd with a slew of his hits including "Head in the Zone", "We Be Blazin" and "Temperature".

The multi-platinum selling artist worked overtime during an hour-long set that included choreographed dancers and two "hype men" to present arguably his best performance on T&T soil.

His band was tight and for once he kept the right key, but his stage show still hasn't caught up with his reputation.

Sean Paul, however, did win some fans over when he uncharacteristically picked up an acoustic guitar to perform an alternative song calling for peace in Jamaica. But, ironically enough responded aggressively when their were technical difficulties to mike his guitar.

"Sabotage, ras clat sabotage," Sean Paul said earning cheers from his die hard fans.

Soca bands Roy Cape All Stars and Kes the band, meanwhile, made full use of their chance in the spotlight to show their diversity and depth.

Roy Cape lead singer Trini Jacobs, daughter of Carl and Carol Jacobs, was particularly impressive. The younger Jacobs showed her pedigree with a pore-raising cover of Aretha Franklin's "Natural Woman".

Kees Dieffenthaller and Nadia Batson, meanwhile, showed their chemistry when their band jazzed up Shadow's "Dingolay" much to the appreciation of the crowd.

Batson also tested her vocal range on Franklin's hit inviting Trini Jacobs on stage with her for the performance.

The real surprise of the night, however, came from Tobago-based band Flames International.

Lead singer Sharon Philips blew the audience out of their seats with her powerful vocals and wide octave range during performances of Whitney Houston "I'm Every Woman" and an original called "You" with reggae singer Ziggy Rankin.