Sizzla, who has not had a performance on a major show in Jamaica since it was reported in March that he was setting up a base in Zimbabwe, Africa, did not get to complete even his 'cut and go through' snippets of popular songs on Sunday morning.
He may have been off the live circuit for a few months and without a popular new release for a while longer, but the enduring appeal of Good Ways and Holding Firm, among others, with the large audience at the Royal View Entertainment Centre was very clear. However, as he deejayed "they act as if they aint got no sense" from the song Trod Mt Zion at Stone Love Movements' 38th anniversary celebration on Port Henderson Road, St Andrew, a tall policeman wearing a motorcycle helmet stepped purposefully onstage and put his left hand over the turntable in a slashing motion.
The music was stopped immediately at a few minutes before 5 a.m. - although a number of advertisements for upcoming events were read to the departing audience - and Stone Love's 38th anniversary had come to an inconclusive end.
numerous trophies
The dance had been shaping up to be a daylight marathon, as up to that point very few of the numerous trophies had actually been handed out, Stone Love CEO Winston 'Wee Pow' Powell saying in the earlier going that persons have complained about the award process holding up the party in previous years. It was no different for the 38th anniversary, the awards handed out before the end, including to MOB for Best Local Male Dancer, the Swag Team for number one dance move - the Swag, Sample Six awarded Best Male International Dancer and Khago New Male Vocalist of the Year.
fine form
Despite being hoarse, Khago did perform, including both parts of Nah Sell Out, with the competent Rikki Tikki, Classical Esco and Tico performing in the earlier going as upcoming acts. The ladies got a crack at the microphone, Lady Toya, below par and Ikaya, displaying fine form as she did Hard Way in customised style for Wee Pow and Stone Love.
Vibrant got a brief look-in - to good effect - when the Swag Team was performing, LUST's members riding the 'Real Rock' in turn to good effect.
Wee Pow stamped his authority on the proceedings for one of the award highlights, the crowning of dancer Ding Dong.
"I don't want you normalise this thing. A king is a king and a queen is a queen. After Bogle this is the man who take it up and take it to the next level. As of today, he is officially named the king of dancing," he said.
Stone Love is renowned for its juggling and with the full crew present and decked out - even Rory was there to introduce his 1990s sparring partner Sky Juice to hail the audience - there were times when they did work up a steam. But there was simply not enough room for the party atmosphere to transport Royal View to a party high, a string of Mavado hits, notably Stulla, a Vybz Kartel run into the famed "dumper truck" and a remix of Bounty Killer's No Fren Fish among the highlights.
The Magnum girls, fantastic fannies hanging out and routines down pat, were a huge hit with the audience, as was Sample Man with his rapid-fire sample talk.
In the end, though, there was simply not enough time to get the celebration up to speed, for which Stone Love cannot take full responsibility as up to 1:30 a.m. when the first rockers tune of the night was played (Johnny Osbourne's Rock You Tonight), there were precious few persons in the venue.
And when it was all over two men walking through the venue with a carton box laden with trophies were a symbol of just how much did not happen at Stone Love's 38th anniversary celebration.
( l - r ) Ikaya Sizzla
