MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — In a breathtaking showcase of musical talent, the Reggae Sumfest Global Sound Clash at Catherine Hall Stadium in St. James became a fierce arena of sonic rivalry, leaving many competitors in its wake.
MC Boasy Boy Floyd declared the event a musical battlefield, and this year’s competition reached extraordinary levels. The intensity saw last year’s runner-up Code Red and reigning champion Dynamq Sound from South Sudan knocked out in the early rounds, highlighting the clash’s high stakes.
By the third round, it was evident the trophy would find a new home. The contenders included Notorious Sound from Maxfield Avenue, Japan’s Bad Gyal Marie, Warrior Sound International from Germany, and the veteran Bodyguard from Clarendon.
The stadium buzzed with energy as the crowd grew to capacity, cheering their favorites with fervor. Exclusive dubs echoed through the air, creating an electrifying, party-like atmosphere.
Warrior Sound’s lone German contender, doubling as hype-man and selector, despite his valiant efforts, lacked the firepower to compete with the final-round contenders. The experienced Bodyguard and the resilient Notorious Sound, alongside Bad Gyal Marie, proved too formidable, eliminating Warrior Sound in the fourth round.
As the audience at Catherine Hall chose the top two sounds by the show of hands and vuvuzelas, anticipation for the ‘Dub-Fi-Dub’ round soared. Bodyguard, armed with exclusive dubplates from reggae legends like Jimmy Cliff and Barrington Levy, launched an early attack, challenging Notorious’ confidence.
“mi nah give up,”.
Likkle Shabba
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Yet, with the bold declaration, “mi nah give up,” Notorious’ Likkle Shabba and his wife, Bad Gyal Marie, staged a remarkable comeback. A special dub from the legendary Beres Hammond bolstered Notorious, prompting them to demand Bodyguard “step aside now” as they aimed to take over.
This declaration rattled Bodyguard, who faltered with weak counteractions, allowing Notorious to win consecutive rounds and bring the score to 4-2.
Despite the two-point deficit, Notorious displayed remarkable resilience. After five intense rounds, showcasing their grit and determination, the sound from Maxfield Avenue, Kingston 13, triumphed. The husband-and-wife duo crafted a winning strategy that stunned even the seasoned Bodyguard Sound.
Likkle Shabba and Bad Gyal Marie, under immense pressure, secured the title from Bodyguard in the final round. The winning team, acknowledging their sound is relatively young in the clash circuit, proved that with enough determination, anything is possible.
“Bodyguard is a sound weh mi grow up a listen to and mi have great respect for them, but tonight was all about showing what Notorious is capable of as a sound who just a do this professionally for maybe six, seven years,” said Likkle Shabba. “We came out here with a female selector, which is my wife, and the Jamaican-Japan connection did just strong. I am really proud of what we were able to do. Never give up.”
They walked away with the trophy, courtesy of Magnum Tonic Wine, and $1 million. Notorious Sound was also declared the Power Play winner, earning an additional $100,000 from Sunshine Snacks.
Runner-up Bodyguard expressed pride in their performance despite the outcome. “A di first this mi a clash so I feel very, very proud of my performance. Big up Notorious, Likkle Shabba, Bad Gyal Marie, it was a good fight and a fair one. I have no complaints, no regrets,” said Derrick Roache.
Magnum Tonic Wine, the presenting partner with Reggae Sumfest for the Global Sound Clash, reiterated their unwavering support for dancehall music. “The energy on display tonight is why we continue to back dancehall,” said Magnum brand manager Brandon Wallace. “Events like the Global Sound Clash showcase the best of Jamaica’s culture. We had sounds from all over the globe, and the creativity was astounding.”
Wallace continued, “We had sounds from all corners of the globe representing tonight and they really came all out. Di dub dem bad, we even had a Donald Trump (AI-generated) coming in on some of the dubs and it just goes to show how creative persons get in these clashes. This year is a really big year for us at Magnum. We’re celebrating our 25th anniversary and from inception, we have been supporting dancehall and we are all about Jamaican culture. We’re always going to be behind dancehall sound clash, the Street Dance and Festival Night One are things that align with our brand and we are proud of that connection.”
Other sound systems also expressed gratitude for the platform provided by Magnum and Reggae Sumfest. Chris Dymond of Code Red noted, “An event like this means a lot. We were added last minute but represented well.”
Kennedy Ongele Lorya of Dynamq Sound shared, “I always say this, I am privileged and honoured to be in Jamaica for Sound Clash. Jamaica has the best music in the world and amazing people. I mean, they welcomed me all the way from Africa, Warrior Sound all the way from Germany and Bad Gyal Marie all the way from Japan.”
“I respect Magnum and Reggae Sumfest for continuing to welcome international sounds because Jamaica could do it alone and at a very high standard but they say come in and enjoy our culture,” Lorya continued.
The Global Sound Clash at Reggae Sumfest continues to set the standard for musical competition, uniting fans and performers from around the world in a celebration of Jamaica’s rich musical heritage.
