Dancehall superstars rock Trinidad

Jamaican dancehall star Teejay used his platform at last weekend's Magnum Xplosion Summer Stage to appeal to Trinidad & Tobago nationals to "put down the guns" and "stop the violence".

Teejay, who delivered a blistering set, decried the senseless nature of violence and told patrons who gathered at the Queen's Park Savannah venue that they should embrace peace and love.

"Stop killing one another," Teejay said, as he paused for a moment to speak during his 40-minute set. "My name is Teejay, The Up Top Boss, and true me sing badman song, this is just entertainment! Ghetto youths, me wha uno make nuff money, take care of your family, seen, yuh understand."

Launching next into his Up Top hit single, the singer-songwriter had the massive crowd singing his lyrics and following his instructions throughout his performance. The entertainer displayed his singing skills as he sent shivers through the venue with an a cappella version of Sam Cooke's classic A Change is Gonna Come as he prepared to enter the stage. The Drift hitmaker and recent Warner Music signee then ran onstage with Haunted, and soon stripped off his jacket and threw it to fans in the crowd, much to the audience's delight.

Valiant had already warmed up the crowd just before Teejay with his charismatic presence and engaging delivery shining through a few threatening sprinkles of rain.

Jada Kingdom experienced similar fan adoration. Taking the stage at midnight and expressing satisfaction with the turnout and the energy of the assembly, she quipped rhetorically, "Me love how the crowd looks! None ah we in here not no losers, don't it? 'Cause one ting, we ah go try how much time, no matter if ah million times, don't it?"

Launching into Win, she grooved and waved for the sea of cell phones recording every moment.

Rheon Elbourne and Jahllano delivered a stirring tribute to K-Lion after Jashii ripped up the start of the main segment, opened by the 2023 Magnum Top Performa, Jubba, and the Magnum Spotlight Winner, Ola 'Kesi' Tempro.