Sounds of Greatness pits old against new

The Guinness Sounds of Greatness seems to have coincided with the return of Silverhawk. THE STAR-sponsored event is taking sound clashing to a new level this year, producing a reality TV type of competition to TVJ every Saturday night from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m.

This year the theme is 'Veterans' versus 'Hotshots'.

The veterans are: Black Kat, Bodyguard, Ricky Trooper and a surprise comeback performance from clash great, Silverhawk.

The hotshots are Area Code, Black Blunt, Bredda Hype, Coppershot, Crazy Chris, Rich Squad, Boom Boom and Maestro.

The competition is the right fit for Silverhawk.

Luciana Maneri, Silverhawk CEO commented, "Guinnness approached us to clash and when they described what it was about we were really supportive. It's a good thing that they can teach so many persons about the sound-clash culture and we're pleased to hear it and be a part of it," she said.

"Guinness is a very good platform to put something like this on air and making it 'clean'. We strongly support that."

Even before taking the competition to the free-to-air television format (though a delayed broadcast), Guinness was insistent on keeping the clashes free of foul language. Rebel T won the inaugural contest in 2008-2009, with Bass Odyssey taking the second staging in 2009-2010. When the competition started on Saturday, October 17, 2009, there were boos from the audience when it was announced that Bredda Hype would lose a point for playing a song with a curse word in it, a clear violation of the rules.

One hugely significant change for this year's Guinness Sounds of Greatness competition is that all the clashes will take place in one location, the Chinese Benevolent Association headquarters on Hope Road, St Andrew.

This is unlike former years, where the series went to St Elizabeth, Clarendon and Portmore, St Catherine, among other road stops.

Epitomising the greatness

According to Guinness brand manager and executive producer of Guinness Sounds of Greatness, Gary Dixon, having Silverhawk in the competition, epitomises the greatness that the liquor has always sought to associate itself with.

"We went out there looking for them after we had heard that they were back on the scene. We're glad that they are back, they are truly representative of greatness. We wanted to bring them back in style and thought that this would be the right occasion. This show gives them a platform for Jamaicans to see how great they are."

According to Dixon, since the announcement that they would be on the show the response from music insiders and fans has been phenomenal.

"Everyone is looking forward to what they can do," he said.

Clashing for Silverhawk will be veteran Richard 'Richie Poo' Reid and a surprise young selector who the sound is training.

"We can't disclose who the new selector is, it's someone we're working on and it's a surprise," Maneri said.

The guest selector is one of many surprises the sound has in store for the competition. Richie Poo is also looking forward to facing off against one particular 'nemesis'.

With Silverhawk being out of the clash scene for years, many wonder what new dubplates the sound will have to battle with in the competition.

According to Maneri they are prepared.

"I really wouldn't comment as to our dubs, I wouldn't want to help other selectors, but we are prepared. Silverhawk has its shield on and our wings are spread," she said.

Silverhawk may find themselves limited during Guinness Sounds of Greatness, simply because many of their older dubs were expletive filled. Maneri, however, says that the sound has worked their dubs out and are coming to represent Steely, who they believe was the king of dub plates. "We've been preparing. Back in the day it was very different, but we've been preparing for a year and a half to make it without that kind of language."

Silverhawk will face off against fellow veteran Bodyguard in the upcoming weeks. The two sounds have never faced off before.