With the onslaught on dancehall from all angles both internationally and locally Magnum Kings and Queens has emerged as a shining light...
Showers of blessing had postponed the April 17 staging of Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall but last Saturday’s show (April 24) at Weekenz Bistro and Bar made up for the absence of the show.
With the twists and turns of the competition, the immense talent showcased on the Magnum stage and the fact than any contestant is at risk of going home, the competition is always exciting and has viewers gripped from start to finish. Jamaica has supported Magnum Kings and Queens over that last three seasons and Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall is still a hit! One patron puts it aptly: “Every week a jus Magnum. Mi caan miss it. Tanto Blacks have mi, Chozenn and Juggla have di place a way and di woman dem a do dem ting, dis a di biggest ting fi dancehall right now”.
With the onslaught on Dancehall from all angles both international and locally Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall has emerged as a shining light, a beacon of hope showing that real authentic Dancehall can be palatable to all those who love talent and music. So says Executive Producer for the show, Mark Kenny: “What we have tried to do this year is improve the quality of the product. The contestants know that they are an example and the whole world is watching so they have to act accordingly”.
Continuing, Mark Kenny maintained that the reason the show is such a big hit is that it appeals to the fundamental tenets that make dancehall what it is: “The show is a combination of all that is good in Dancehall, all the things that have made the world gravitate to the genre all these decades, there is fashion, comedy, wicked lyrics, clashing and swagga, all done in a clean and authentic manner. And importantly, original music works all the time.”
The excitement is not diminished as every week each contestant tries to outdo the other. There is now a tet-a-tet between Chozenn, Tanto Blacks and Juggla. These artistes have shown that throwing words can be done in a wholesome way with lyrics that could stand up on any Dancehall stage, devastating their opponent. Press Fyah also brings another aspect of Dancehall to the Magnum stage and has shown that positive music can move a crowd and has received numerous forwards at Weekendz for his heart tugging lyrics and gritty artistry.
The ladies are not to be outdone as Mysterious and Reggae Queen have maintained a level of lyrical dexterity that mirrors some of the best female protagonists on the Dancehall’s big stage. The ladies too have thrown words at each other and shown that there is a place for women in the genre, a place they have claimed as they seek to be the inheritors of the great legacy that has been created by the likes of Lady Saw, Tanya Stephens, Ce’Cile and other international Dancehall stars.
Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall Judge and veteran Dancehall producer, Scatta Burrell, believes that the competition continues to be a major hit because it resonates with a people who yearn for authentic clean lyrics that they can rock to and rail for: “The show shows that you don’t have to be dirty to be wicked and I believe that is what has made the show so popular on the streets. You can’t walk through Half Way Tree and not hear someone talking about their favourite contestant and sometimes evens school kids are singing the songs. This is what dancehall is about, connecting with the people on the street and I am happy that our decision to only allow clean authentic lyrics mixed with the amazing talent of Jamaicans is paying off. The people have spoken, Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall is still a hit!”
With only a few weeks left before the crowning of the 2010 Magnum King and Queen of Dancehall and with the shock exit of Gibralta, it is now clear that anyone can go home. So vote now and vote plenty. Watch the show on TVJ every Saturday night at 9:30pm and see why Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall is still a hit.
