Jamaica Salt

This is the concert that I have always wanted to go to but never have yet. Every year I’m like, wouldn’t it be great to go, but I still never have. One day, one day.

It is a legendary concert. The proper ghetto concert – not for the faint hearted. Go there expecting some shots to be fired!

It happens in Portmore every Christmas time. Run by the promoter called Leng – proper name Isaiah Laing from Supreme Promotions.

It’s the 25th concert this year and it has been launched by Portmore native, Vybz Kartel (who’s been busy promoting Ramping Shop!)

Laing of course and none other than Renato Adams. Adams is a more than controversial police man. To just get a flavour of how controversial he is take a look at some of these newspaper headlines about him – here and here.

Gosh I could write a very long post about Adams, but this is about Sting.

2004 I was set to go but life got in the way – that year was when Kartel bottled Ninja man in the face and there was a lot of blood.

There is always some beef between the artists that has to get hyped up – but hopefully it won’t lead to any actual violence this year. In the past, the big beef has always been between Bounty Killer and Beenie man – but them two are ready to collect their pension now!

It’s all about Kartel and Mavado nowadays.

I always loved Kartel the best – whenever I have met him and interviewed him he has made me laugh and i’ve always been blown away by his eloquence and sense of humour. I like the guy and I’ve always liked his songs.

But I don’t feel like that anymore – since Mavado, Kartel just seems like old news. Mavado is singing about Jamaica now – he’s got the sadness and the grief in his voice.  Kartel has got the bravado and cockiness and cheekiness which I think is the past. Today’s Jamaica is much more serious. Read more about this years’s Sting line up and details here.