For the first time, probably ever in the history of the Clash, participants were restricted by the needs of the sponsors: no verbal profanity was allowed and profanity in the music was to be kept to the minimum. Three strikes and you’re out. At first, people didn’t seem to take it seriously, questioning what language profanity event counts (English, Patois?) but in no time it became evident that these rules were hard and MC Boassy Floyd was here to keep the artists in check. 

Participants this year were the defending champion Warrior Sound (Germany), Exodus Nuclear (Guyana/Jamaica), Silver Hawk (Jamaica), Mystic Sound (Canada), and Bass Odyssey (Jamaica). Challengers, most of whom have met on the battlegrounds in the past, pulled their turn number out of a hat and began their sets in order. From the start, Silver Hawk, Bass Odyssey, and Warrior Sound (who came solo) were standouts with the crowd.

As the night went on people began to get eliminated one by one, often due to obsessive use of profanity – which quite frankly felt rather odd given the nature and history of the Sound Clash but sponsors make things happen. After many hours, as the drama of the restricted battle went on, with booing and all, Warrior Sound got eliminated (for cussing) and Jamaica’s Silver Hawk took the throne [cover and last image]. The duo brought their best and fought hard for the title but the crowd undoubtedly left wondering if the outcome had been different sans the restrictions.

Left: Mystic Sound; right: Exodus Nuclear

Silver Hawk Sound, first round

Raining champion Warrior Sound

New champions Bass Odyssey

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Earlier this month we chatted with King Turbo about the workings of the Soundsystem and covered a bit of basic Sound Clash history. This was my first event of its kind, I was prepared to hear some smack talking, some joking around, a whole lot of yelling, and even mentally prepared to potentially go a little deaf for the morning after. My expectations were met and exceeded.

Within the first round, it became clear that the top contenders were the “young kids” – Warrior Sound and Yard Beat. King Turbo and Pink Panther! were in close ties while Ricky Trooper began to take smack talk from the audience as soon as the first beat dropped. All participants had original tracks made for them by reggae artists across the decade. Some got Koffee, some got fake Koffee – Warrior Sound kept close notes on all cheap tricks and cheap track samples. To quote the referee: “People. The war [was] on”.  Smack talk, jokes, cultural innuendos like oriental music and hilariously stereotypical jokes, were passed across the court with sharp skill like ping pong balls.

While most competitors were having fun punching holes in one another Ricky Trooper was visibly shaken by what King Turbo’s Slingshot called “psychological warfare” and it showed as soon as he came back on stage for the second sound system. As a result, first elimination round Yard Beat cleaned it out with fresh new beats while Ricky Trooper took the first leave by a very popular vote. “Trooper pack up your things. Trooper gone,” the referee closed out the first round. The war is ON.

As the night went on Warrior Sound kept on telling inside stories and calling competitors out on various musical missuses, Yard Beat maintained his position as the entertainer and Pink Panther! continued to build support for his dedication to the classics. Unfortunately, after a strong start King Turbo, faced with some technical difficulties, had to take the next leave. In the next elimination round the referee made the judgment call to eliminate Yard Beat. A largely controversial vote that the audience protested but supposedly, from the stage view an accurate one. In the final round Pink Panther!, aka The General, faced off with Warrior Sound.

At the end of the day Warrior’s storytelling, clean lyricism, and on-point, up-to-date beats won the battle. For this year Global Clash trophy is making its way over to Germany.

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