Ghetto Splash makes exciting return

A stage set-up that rivalled Reggae Sumfest with big screens, light and sound to match greeted the hundreds who packed inside the Waterhouse Mini-Stadium in Drewsland on Tuesday for the 33rd staging of Ghetto Splash.

Founder Patrick Roberts was elated at the success of the event following a two-year COVID-enforced hiatus and shouted his praise for his sponsors, the artistes and Clear Sound.

"The sound at Ghetto Splash was crystal clear ... no sound problems at all. And the artistes who were booked kept their promises and gave the crowd performances that will be talked about for a very long time," Roberts told THE STAR.

High on the list of those crowd-pleasing performances was that from D'Angel, who repped her Spanish Town roots, staked her claim as "the one Lady of the Dancehall' and was the embodiment of a thirst trap, dressed in a black, knee-high, leather boots and matching black, itsy bitsy corset bodysuit.

It was a performance designed to entertain and titillate, as D'Angel showcased her repertoire and thrust her super athletic self into the spotlight with lithe moves and eye-popping sexual simulations with a random member of the audience who gave his name as Tyrone.

Post-performance, she was thrilled at the over-the-top reception and noted that she had achieved exactly what was intended.

"I'm a performer and I know that you are only as good as your last performance. At the last Ghetto Splash, I took it home and this time around I had to raise the bar," D'Angel told THE STAR.

"I'm a fit woman ... long time I have been doing my craft. I learn from the best and I incorporate various styles in my routine. But the thing is that I don't plan what I am going to do on stage, it just happens spontaneously. Sometimes when I watch back the videos of my performances on stage, all I can do is laugh," she added.

Also turning in entertaining performances were Bounty Killer, Munga, Bugle, Capleton, Mr Lexx, Black-Er, Marcy Chin, Richie Spice, Jahshii, Little John, KipRich, Predator, Alozade, Vanessa Bling, 450, Deno Crazy, Jahmiel, Tamo J and Japanese artiste Zendaman and his three dancers.

Earlier in the evening, Genuine, formerly Ele Trunk, the son of deejay Elephant Man, made a statement with his single, Mummy Daddy, and emphasised that his mother is the main person in his life.

Roberts spoke highly of Ghetto Splash being a platform to showcase young artistes and many of them had their moment in the spotlight prior to the real showtime when Ruff Kut band took the stage.

Popular MC Sample Man was worth his money and had the audience in stitches as he mimicked the antics of artistes who were not scheduled to perform, sang parodies of popular songs, and chided the crowd for not showing appreciation for young artistes.

The only blight of the night was an onstage scuffle between a member of Jahshii's entourage, who tried to remove Brysco from the stage, after he appeared uninvited in an attempt to interrupt Jahshii's performance. Security acted quickly to defuse the situation.