Artistes deliver at successful staging of Summa Sizzle

On Sunday morning at 5:40, Capleton, dressed in fireman red, unlocked a whole new level of energy inside the Woodleigh Sports Complex in Clarendon at Beenie Man’s birthday bash. His Or Wha had the entire venue alert and jumping – with hands in the air and blowing vuvuzelas – as if this were the start of Summa Sizzle instead of the end.

He asked the hardworking Ruff Kut band for the Bellyas riddim and, without wasting any time, he delivered Slew Dem, Lotion Man, Dem Nuh Like Me (And me nuh like dem), much to the delight of the Summa Sizzle crowd who had thoroughly enjoyed themselves from 11 p.m. on Saturday night straight through to the final curtain.

“Oonu know mi bad, don’t it?” a delighted Capleton asked, and the answer was the deafening sounds of the vuvuzelas.

It was a night on which Beenie Man wore many hats, one of which was emcee, and his introductions were off the chain, even a bit sly. When introducing Tommy Lee, Beenie Man declared “right now mi nuh business with no odda Lee … nuh Cawka Lee, nuh odder Lee … a one Tommy Lee”. For those in the know, that was definitely like an “oops” moment.

Anyway, as emcee, Beenie Man introduced every acts, and it was he who got the show started at 10:30 p.m. when he announced that all who had tracks should give them to the selectors “because we need fi start”. And Beenie Man was strict with time and decorum. He insisted that no drinks were allowed on stage and, when artistes were going over their allotted time, he neatly ushered them off. Of course, there were times when he interrupted their sets to jump on a riddim that he also has a song, but nobody minded, and he was also their back-up singer when he felt like it.

Clarendon artistes with names such as Chips Eye, Zebinie, and Wolf Man represented for their parish and so, too, did Broomie ambassador Jahdon, who, at 11:37 p.m. was the first artiste to get a big forward. His Congo Bongo was a hit and so, too, was his new song, Iconic.

At 12:17 a.m., the Atlanta-based Silver Cat, dressed to the nines, opened the band section with a Summa Sizzle song which he created to the tune of Lionel Richie’s infectious party song All Night. It was his first major performance in Jamaica since Summa Sizzle in 2019, and the Fowl Affair singer received much love from the crowd. “May Pen a my place,” Silver Cat told them and, like a true ‘90s dancehall artiste, he pulled for the popular anti-compromise anthem, chanting, “I and I nah go bow.” The crowd loved it.

Summa Sizzle was the stage on which the majority of the artistes dressed like they were there to perform. Sita Lyrical, who was looking slick in a pilot uniform, told The Gleaner that it was Beenie Man’s show “and we all know Beenie Man’s standards when it comes to dressing”.

Sita Lyrical, in one word, is B.A.D. As her name says, she is lyrical, and she has shown growth since The Gleaner last saw her perform live at Ghetto Splash two years ago. The Summa Sizzle crowd loved her as much as they loved Tifa, who performed right after her.

By 12:53 a.m., Beenie Man called up Nesbeth and it was full on Guns Out for the singer, who also got a huge forward for his controversial Side Chick song. He closed his 15-minute set on a tremendous high with the motivational My Dream. Veteran singer Admiral Tibet opened with a song that is as pertinent now as when it was released in 1987, nearly 40 years ago – Time Is So Serious. He couldn’t leave the stage without performing the 1987 Xterminator-produced roots reggae classic, Babylon War.

Louie Culture proved yet again that, once he has a mic in hand, there is just no stopping him. He smoothly continued the big tunes segment started by Nesbeth and, when he left the stage, for many, it was a done deal that “him tek di show”.

Enter Skeng at 2:27 a.m. and it was a different kind of “livity”, but the fans quickly adjusted and acted as if this was the moment for which they were waiting. Skeng came on stage with his backpack, shirt, shorts, socks and shoes. By the time he made his exit, he had stripped down to shorts and socks. He said that he came to hold a vibes with the females and even called on Shaniel Muir, who had performed before him and had left no crumbs.

LUST brought the praise with Goodness of God and smoothly ran through their catalogue of hits, and made way for I Waata. The deejay told the crowd that it was Beenie Man who brought him on stage six years ago at Summa Sizzle and he had to return to show his appreciation. The Bush Lawd Yaksta rolled in with a purpose. He made no apologies about his intent to “reverse di ting” because too much of the lyrics currently speak “too much about sex, suck and skin out”.

Spragga Benz needed no introduction, and his segment was another hit parade which the crowd enjoyed immensely. Jahshii was there to entertain his fans and financially support the vendors, because “a di hustler dem we a send go road”.

At 4:36 a.m. Ashanti’s two female dancers arrived on stage repping in their Jamaica colours and, minutes later, she followed, also dressed in black, green and gold. Her performance was well received and she did the songs that fans knew.

Continent singer, Nigy Boy, who playfully told fans “ Mi only blind, mi nuh deaf,” came with a message – life is what you make it. And he also did a tribute to Fantan Mojah with Rasta Got Soul.

At 5:55 a.m. Tommy Lee exploded on stage to bring the curtains down on Summa Sizzle 2026, which was incident-free. Notably, Future Fambo, whose performance was in limbo, didn’t seem to be anywhere near Clarendon. Kudos to Beenie Man and the entire production team and sponsors.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com