Hundreds of patrons from across western Jamaica flooded Jewel Plaza in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth on Saturday, June 9, to witness the second playoffs of the Guinness Sound of Greatness (GSOG)
Sound Clash.

The massive turnout was expected says Guinness Junior Brand Manager Lasana Wilson.

He said, “GSOG is more than just a competition – it’s a celebration of music, culture, and community. Over the years, Guinness has been bringing together some of the best sound systems in the region to not only showcase the rich heritage of dancehall and sound system culture but also provide a platform for community building and connection. We’re proud to have created this activation, which allows Western
Jamaica to experience the energy and excitement of Guinness and dancehall sound system culture.”

The competition featured ten sound systems battling to be in the top four. Radio host sensation Jade and Emcee Fyahman, the evening’s dynamic hosts, ensured the energy flowed seamlessly throughout the night. The atmosphere gave the true feeling of what a street dance in Jamaica feels like, with the jerk man, soup man, and peanut man in full play. With a flip of the coin by Fyahman, the playoffs kicked off, setting the stage for an intense showdown. Patrons, equipped with horns and pot covers, were ready to match the energy of the disc jockeys. Meanwhile, Keith Walford, Oraine Bennett, and Davy “Tall Boss” Scott were in full ‘judge mode’ to evaluate the performances and determine the top four spots of the night.

With each sound system delivering its unique blend of reggae and dancehall hits to engage the crowd, Reggae King fell short in the battle to secure a position as their selector struggled on the turntables to keep up with the emcee. On the other hand, Simple Touch showcased their versatility, earning them an ‘almost perfect round’ from the judges.

Despite journeying from Spanish Town with little support, Blackstreet Sound faced technical difficulties in delivering to the crowd. However, their efforts still managed to earn a few salutes and whistles.

“You know my mixer, and I prepared for this. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our night. But we are not giving up. We are going back to the drawing board and coming back better next year,” said the team emcee, Worl Jett.

Next up, Kryptonik, hailing from Clarendon, juggled impressively; however, the judges felt they needed to improve in the ‘clashing’ aspect of the competition. Meanwhile, Black Champion sound system played a safe segment – their performance was steady but lacked the spark needed to stand out. Ego Force Sounds emerged as a force to be reckoned with, generating the most interaction from the crowd. DJ Splendid’s
shoes were left in the crowd as evidence of their energetic set. The judges signed off on their performance with a “This is Guinness Sounds of Greatness Sound Clash!”

El Chappa Sound System kept similar energy and had the crowd raving about their segment, while Sweet Rock did just a fair job that would not see them advancing to the next round. The night’s last two sound systems, Jahved International, showcased different juggling sets. However, the judges felt they failed to connect with the crowd, and Black Widdo closed the night with what the judges declared “a super hardcore clash segment.”

As seasoned dancehall players, the emcee/mixer duo complied with the rules, which made it an enjoyable spectacle of creative musical artistry. The judges’ verdict? Ego Force took the top spot, followed closely by Simple Touch, Black Widdo, and El Chappa.

In preparation for their segment, Ego Force Sound System’s emcee, DJ Splendid, expressed, “We came out to put on a good show, and our set list of the tunes played and the order were very intentional. We knew the vibes we wanted from certain riddims and the artistes’ songs that would please the crowd.”

The crowd erupted in approval as the top four sound systems advanced to the next round of the competition, with a few Kryptonik fans left disappointed. Closing the night on a high note, a guest performance by Kaka Highflames and the High Flames dancers locked the crowd into the summer’s trending routines, performing hits like Flames Rock, Teach Dem, and Learn Fi Dance.

“The search for the next GREATNESS continues. All roads lead to Plantation Smokehouse, St. Ann, on Saturday, June 15, for the Semi-Finals. We can’t wait to see what the sound systems bring!” exclaimed Nadine Hylton, Brand Manager of Guinness.