Gurlpower Rules! DJ Naz creates history in Guinness clash

DJ Naz Gurlpower and sidekick DJ Nelly Swagg are still basking in their victory, as they took the 13th annual Guinness Sounds of Greatness (GSOG) last Friday.

"To work so hard and in the end take the title, plus winning against the 2019 champions is a big deal for me as a disc jockey and owner of my sound, as well as my team. Big up Nelly Swagg!" DJ Naz Gurlpower exclaimed, following the virtual airing of the sound clash. "I feel blessed and honoured. We played against two 'bad' DJs in the business but now, to be the first female sound in history to win Guinness Sounds of Greatness, makes me more elated."

The winning sound took home the championship belt and J$1 million cash. After exhibiting prowess throughout the season, it was apparent that DJ Naz Gurlpower had garnered the attention of the judges, former GSOG winner, Ricky Trooper; founder of the acclaimed sound system Bass Odyssey, Keith Walford; and veteran entertainer Admiral Bailey. Walford, observing DJ Naz Gurlpower's command of the stage in the juggling round commended her appearance, noting that, "it was very creative, and the juggling of sounds was also creative and versatile." She and her teammate coordinated outfit themes as they had done throughout the competition.

FAILED TO IMPRESS JUDGE

Her opponent, DJ Fire Biggs of Fire Explosion, however, failed to impress Walford, who looked mainly for creativity and versatility. He said that while those qualities were visible in the playing style, DJ Fire Biggs' appearance was "ordinary." Likewise, Bailey thought the entire round ordinary.

For the juggling round, the females warmed up with a mixture of old school tracks and transitioned into a female empowerment playlist with Beyonce's Who Run The World rocking the building. Their set was full of energy but when Fire Biggs hit play for gospel music to open the gates for dancehall and soca, he managed to steal a few minutes away from the sound system sirens.

Next up was the Challenge round, which required the competitors to play their top five Dennis Brown songs within four minutes, and Dub for Dub. DJ Naz Gurlpower had a trick up her sleeve, selecting hits like Wolf and Leopards, Promised Land and Revolution, sealing it with spoken history on the icon. Fire Biggs played it safe. The last round was heated. But after the ladies led the third segment, Fire Explosion redemption was impossible.

DJ Naz Gurlpower's win came on the heels of the release of her new single titled Mad Gyal. "It's me holding a reasoning with myself, about the way I am viewed," she said. Unlike previous years where she used a male to mix, she maintained "full Gurlpower energy."

She explained "Now, the winnings should mean to younger females that they can come through like I did and do their best. Look at Nelly Swagg. I brought her here with me and I am gonna do the same for my daughter Isabel. Yes, sure the prize is a big part of any competition, (so) this does not only earn me respect and recognition for landing the win, but incentives which I appreciate too. Gurlpower!"