Dubbed the greatest reggae show on earth, Sumfest is not only limited to Jamaican music as international acts such as Lil’ Wayne, Keisha Cole and T-Pain will also create a ‘hype’.
The event, which started on Sunday with the beach party, will feature a host of local and international acts throughout the festival, which ends on July 19. While people are looking forward to the international acts, Jamaican hitmakers, Beenie Man, Mavado, Vybz Kartel, Bounty Killer, Busy Signal, Tarrus Riley, Beres Hammond and Jah Cure are still maintaining their strong presence.
Chart-topping album
With a Billboard chart topping album, Tha Carter III and single Lollipop, Lil’ Wayne was included on the list of artistes people are ‘hyped up’ to see. According to Robert Russell, Chairman of Summerfest Productions that organises Sumfest, “I hear them (the public) talking about all the artistes on the show. Of course, there is Beres Hammond, T-Pain and Lil Wayne. There is a lot of buzz about Mavado as well.”
Stampede, founder of Stampede Street Charts, also listed Lil’ Wayne as one of the favourites for the show.
“Everybody a come fi see him (Lil’ Wayne). Di younger youth dem a go crazy over him CD,” he told THE STAR.
He noted that acts like Beenie Man, Anthony B, Bounty Killer and Macka Diamond will also be show-stoppers. In addition, he said I-Octane, Serani and Konshens are the new artistes that will do well.
“Beenie (Man) a di one weh a go tek da show deh. Anthony B a di black horse; him nuh have a hit tune right now but him a one a di man weh a go come out pon top wid him performance,” said Stampede.
T-Pain
Although a featured act on the show, Serani says he is looking forward to performances from other artistes.
“Mi a go deh deh a watch and support the Alliance; Mavado, Bounty Killer, Wayne Marshall, Bling Dawg, Busy Signal,” Serani told The Star.
“But T-Pain a mi artiste still,” he said. “A him mi a look fi see. T-Pain is very musical and creative. People don’t really think he can sing but he can. Him crazy.”
Though he will be watching other persons perform, Serani said he plans to give a ‘fresh’ performance with his popular songs, Doh, She Loves Me and Everywhere I Go, as well as some of his newer tracks.
While this is his first time as an artiste on the Sumfest stage, he has played for Bounty Killer, Wayne Marshall, Mavado and Vybz Kartel in his own Anger Management band. Hence, he is mentally prepared for what to expect. He says he has prepared his outfit and is in the last stages of rehearsal for his performance on Thursday night.
Source: JamaicaStar