Jugglin’ Masters take Guinness clash title

Hyped dancehall lovers witnessed an epic showdown last Friday, as Kingston's Jugglin' Masters defeated St Mary-based Sweet Love Sound to become the Guinness Sounds of Greatness (GSOG) 'Nex Gen' champion.

The Fisheries Car Park on Port Royal Street, downtown Kingston, came alive for the competition's 15th staging as the winning two-man DJ team claimed $1.5 million in cash and prizes after three intense rounds.

"It feels great to win, especially knowing that this is the first time that Guinness zoomed its focus on the next generation in this way. We never really saw ourselves doing this, even though we won clashes while at university. But it's a blessing to see all of our hard work pay off and to have the opportunity to gain mentorship, as well as have money to invest in our careers. I am very thankful for Guinness and this opportunity. I am looking forward to what comes next," shared DJ Insaneo of Jugglin' Masters.

Thousands of patrons witnessed the ultimate clash. The juggling round started off heated, and both teams had the crowd in a frenzy. However, Jugglin' Masters had the edge and was declared the winner. For the challenge round, both sounds were tasked with playing their best Masicka hits and Jugglin' Masters dominated, earning a wave of support from patrons. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated chune-fi-chune round received overwhelming feedback from the judges, and by this time it was clear who the winner would be. The final round sent Sweet Love Sound packing and unofficially sealed Jugglin' Masters' win. This was confirmed following the tallying of the judges' scores.

"We put a lot of work into what can only be described as the ultimate dancehall spectacle. We wanted to create an authentic dancehall experience for patrons, while putting the next generation of talent at the forefront. This opportunity not only helped them to develop their craft and push new limits, but it aids us in meeting one of our goals as a brand, which is to preserve the sound clash culture," said Guinness Brand Manager Nadine Hylton. "We will continue to support both sounds on their career journeys, and we cannot wait to see how they will continue to leave their marks on dancehall's clash culture for years to come."

The night also featured an international sound clash between Dynamq Sound out of Africa and Warrior Sound from Germany. Equipped with the hottest dubplates, witty comebacks, and creative selections, Warrior Sound emerged as the undisputed champion after three high-energy rounds.

To close out the night's festivities, dancehall sensations Malie and Skeng performed their chart-topping hits, and attendees couldn't help but sing along, accompanied by the latest dance moves. There were also multiple surprise guest performances from artistes such as Laa Lee, and the presentation of a GSOG Recognition Award to veteran sound clash DJ, Sky Juice.