From the second playoffs in western Jamaica to the north, Guinness brought excitement to Plantation Smokehouse in St Ann last Saturday (June 15).

In a highly anticipated and heated competition, Rockwildaz Sound System emerged as the winner of the first semi-finals in the Guinness Sound of Greatness (GSOG) competition.

The battle started with emcee Fyahman briefing the contestants and patrons about the night’s three rounds. The first round, the juggling round, saw Infinity Squad and Rockwildaz go head-to-head, showcasing their skills in mixing and blending different genres of music. 

Both sound systems in round two had to play five top Buju Banton songs. Infinity Squad started strong but fell short in seamlessly introducing the songs. Rockwildaz impressed the judges with smooth transitions and cultural representation.

Despite receiving a penalty for a playback of ‘Til Shiloh‘, the crowd’s response was still in their favour.

The final round, a dub-fi-dub battle, required each sound system to create and play its dubs. Both impressed the judges, but Rockwildaz redeemed itself with a strong performance, solidifying its position as the top contender. 

Yush Sound International and Juggling Sensation followed with their juggling session, where they played the top five Bob Marley songs and engaged in dub-fi-dub. DJ Lollipop commended Yush Sound Intl’s creativity, stating, “Yush incorporated gospel and Father’s Day themes, showing their versatility.” resulting in Yush Sound Intl taking the battle.

The time came for Rockwildaz and Yush Sound International to face off to secure a final spot. With both sound systems giving it their all, the battle was intense. The first round was a 10-minute juggling session; both sound systems played five dance songs in the second round. In the last leg of the competition, the dub fi dub battle, both sound systems played their best dubs head-to-head. 

Rock Wildaz bantered Yush Sound, expressing, “Let me show you how we spend Guinness money to do dubplates!” Yush Sound struggled to keep up, and in the end, they couldn’t deliver a final dub to finish the battle.

The winner was clear. Rockwildaz was announced as the winner of the GSOG 1st Semi-Finals. “We’re overjoyed and humbled by the win,” said Rockwildaz’s emcee, DJ Kre Kre. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but our team worked tirelessly to perfect our craft. We’re grateful for the support of our fans and the opportunity to represent Spanish Town.”

Guinness junior brand manager, Lasana Wilson, stated, “It was a great show tonight; all the contestants were outstanding. Rockwildaz brought a unique energy to the competition. They will face off against the winner of the second semi-final in the GSOG Finals at Stadium East on June 22.”

The night concluded with a performance by dancehall artist Shane O, who praised all ambitious and hardworking people. He performed hits like ‘A Million‘, ‘Partner Draw‘, and ‘Dark Room‘, surprising the crowd with new songs from his upcoming album ‘Distress of Mine‘.

Shane O expressed that the album reflects his journey and growth, featuring other artists like Chronic Law and Popcaan.

“The tracklist is carefully curated to tell a story, with songs like ‘When Everybody Gone We Stay With God‘, ‘Breakdown‘, ‘Soon Alright‘, and ‘Chase We Dream‘. It’s an album that people can relate to, relax to, and think about life,” he added.