UPDATED: Sound system thriving in Antigua

Known throughout the region and having competed in and won several sound clashes, Antigua-based Kanabis Sound is easily one of the few which continue to promote reggae and dancehall regionally.

The sound was born out of a love for music. Eigthteen years ago, Mario Casmir and Deon Dunning, both residents of Antigua, decided to start a sound system.

They plied their trade playing at house parties and events, which they saw as promotion for the sound.

The other members of Kanabis are Glenn 'Madd Dawg' Francis, Laurance 'Jelly Belly' Mason, Courtney 'Jahny Gwaap' Timothy, Sadique 'DJ Ladda' Jarvis, and Anthony 'DJ Toni' Spencer. Two former members, DJ Mix Up and DJ Rambo, are Jamaicans.

"The journey for the sound has been really good for the past few years. We have been getting a lot of bookings and we have been doing gigs outside of Antigua a lot," said Dunning.

He said the sound always brings entertainment and non-stop vibes.

"We always know how to get an event hyped up. We host dances annually, and that helps to be creative in anything that we do. We always try to stand out," he said.

Dunning said the biggest highlight for the sound was a clash with Young Hawk from New York and Blunt Posse Tag Team clash in 2016.

"It made a lot of people start to look at the sound differently and it gave us more recognition, more bookings and a larger fan base," he said.

Dunning said the sound promotes Jamaican music and artistes mainly because of the hot songs that are coming out.

"The sound system culture started in Jamaica and we love the music and the vibe. Whether you start or end the party playing Jamaican music, if you don't know where the music is coming from you can't be a great sound. The roots are from Jamaica, and we have to respect that," he said.

Kanabis is looking to build a recording studio to produce music and create beats.

*NOTE: The earlier headline of this article had identified the sound system as being 'Jamaican'. That was incorrect.