After listing Skeng and Jahshii as the first hardcore deejays to be booked for Sting 2022, the event organizers, have declared that Dancehall fans will have to “wait and see” whether the First Nation artist’s nemesis Silk Boss will be booked.
Sting is set to make its return at the Grizzlys Plantation Cove in St. Ann, on Boxing Day, December 26, after seven years of absence and, according to the organizers, Jahshii was “booked with no hesitation”.
Also named in the same first batch are singjays Shaneil Muir, Stalk Ashley and Moyann.
Jahshii had promised that he would be ensuring that Silk Boss, who has challenged him to a lyrical duel, is booked for Sting, in order to musically flog the Surgery artist and any other deejay who decides to face him on Boxing Day.
According to the Grants Pen native, he had studied the tactics employed by the late Merciless, who lyrically trampled Ninjaman, Bounty Killer and Beenieman at Sting 2000 and was ready.
When the announcement of the show’s return was made in July during Reggae Sumfest, Code artist Brysco had expressed joy that Sting, which is predicated on clashes, would be back, and would separate the men from the boys, musically speaking.
The announcement of the Sting 2022 lineup on Sunday, served to spark a call from some followers for a Masicka vs Alkaline clash.
“A Clash with MASICKA AND ALKALINE would Pull the Whole Jamaica to Ochi.🔥 #LetsGo,” one commenter said.
Two weeks ago, Dancehall selector and producer, Foota Hype, had said that many artists, appeared to be afraid of going onstage to clash, and called for them to come clean and tell promoter Isiah Laing that they were scared instead of quoting some exorbitant appearance fees to “turn off” the promoters, so they could escape.
He had also stated that it was full-time for Masicka, who has been demanding a clash from 2014, to step up to the plate and take on Skeng, who supposedly subliminally dissed him.
“Masicka, teck mi foolish advice… yuh seh yuh a di tuffest ting. Yuh seh people fraid a yuh. Dat a just you talkin. But si people a move to you now… Wha yuh a guh do, run? Or react? Yuh haffi react. Yuh caan keep runnin. Yuh caan keep runnin bredrin,” Foota said.
Foota had said that the excuses being given that Skeng was too young and did not have enough songs to clash with Masicka did not carry any weight, as Bounty Killer one of the greatest clash artists of all time had demolished artists lyrically without regard for their status.
“Mi naw seh, him (Masicka) nuh brave enuh. Mi feel him can dweet. Him caan have suh much 45 an talk suh tuff and when him deh pon di interview him a talk tuff an a meck some diplomatic speech. Yuh caan clash nobaddy. Every clash yuh find fault: di artiste either too likkle, or di artiste too big, or di artiste weh yuh waan clash naw answer yuh… F-ck dat! Excuses. War a war. Yuh nuh si Bounty Killa kill all Zebra dem; all Gringo dem. Killa nuh business bout dat,” Foota declared.
Among some of the most memorable musical showdowns at Sting is the Super Cat versus Ninjaman battle back in 1991, which did not get to be completed as patrons rained bottles onstage during the performance.
Another clash was Vybz Kartel versus Mavado in 2008 and the infamous Vybz Kartel versus Ninjaman in 2003 in which Kartel and his entourage physically assaulted the Murder Dem artiste.
Sting 2000, in which Merciless single-handedly decimated a combined force of Ninjaman, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man, in their failed ambush at Jamworld in Portmore, was one of the most hilarious.
The clash, which is one of the most iconic in Dancehall history, saw Merciless, aided by the sting crowd who sided with him, turning the three combatants into the laughing stock of the nation, following the Boxing Day stage show.
Merciless had brushed aside Ninja Man, then ordered Laing to “sen out Bounty”, whom he held at bay. He called on Beenie Man to team up with him to take on the Don Gordon and the Warlord.
However, Beenie Man joined forces with Merciless’ two rivals, resulting in Merciless having to flog on all three, extemporizing his way to victory.
The most celebrated clash in the history of Sting however, was the legendary matchup between then arch-rivals Beenie Man and Bounty Killer back in 1993. That clash sparked one of the longest lyrical rivalries in Dancehall history, but it also propelled both men into household names in Jamaica.