Spragga Benz for Sting? – Laing says line-up for the show is ‘fire’ – Jamaica Star
Dancehall megastar Spragga Benz is rumoured to be one of the 10 giants set to perform at this year’s staging of Sting. The event, which is in its 40th year, will be held at Jamworld in Portmore, St Catherine on December 26.
Despite well-placed sources revealing that Spragga Benz is set to unleash his lyrical fury at the ‘Greatest One Night Dancehall/Reggae show on Earth’, Isaiah Laing, CEO of Supreme Promotions, organisers of the Boxing Day event, would only say “The line-up for the show is fire”.
A flyer bearing silhouette images of the artistes’ line-up has been circulating in the media space for weeks. Laing said he can only disclose that “one female has been confirmed so far” but he can assure the public that they won’t be disappointed as these are all superstars, some of whom “we’ve being dying to see perform here”.
“We, maybe, have two … big, big names … artistes are there who have not worked in Jamaica at any major events for over six years,” Laing said.
He promised to release the names of “at least two of the 10” giants in another two weeks, adding “we will have everyone booked by then”.
The highly-rated promoter said that entertainers from across the Caribbean have been calling and want to be a part of the show this year, so “it’s gonna be a big deal”. He said Las Vegas reggae band, Bonafide, and Japanese artiste, Zendaman, are confirmed.
In the meantime, Laing revealed that one special feature for this year’s Sting is a ‘pioneer hour’ “between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.” in which veterans will perform some of their greatest hits.
“We’ll be featuring those artistes who helped to make dancehall what it is today … they are a different form of giants. I hope they don’t upset the other giants that will come later,” he said, while adding that 11 p.m. to midnight will feature “some of the hot new crop in dancehall”.
INVITE ONLY LAUNCH
The show’s launch will be held at The Balcony in Kingston in November, but he is keeping the date a secret as too many people showed up last year. This year, it will be by invitation.
Reflecting on the Queenie Ladi Gangsta and Amari clash last year, Laing was unfazed.
“I wouldn’t say I regret anything … because Sting trended for three days and any publicity is good publicity. Nobody neva lose dem life, nobody neva get hurt; it’s just a situation. They lose a wig but they neva lose any life,” he said as he erupted into laughter.
Laing said he thinks Sting “deserve an award”, because of its longevity and impact on reggae and dancehall music and the ability to bring people together from across the world.
“It’s our 40th year and no other show has ever run this long in the industry. I’ve been out there toiling; it takes so much out of me to keep the show running for so long and people don’t give we the regards. I’ve done my work by bringing dancehall to the forefront and the four corners of the world and, if dem nuh think that’s important, then that’s okay. We will soon start our own award show [in which] I will dub ‘The Unsung Heroes’,” Laing revealed.
Sting will be streamed to 179 countries and will soon be hosted in international spaces such as England, parts of Africa and Japan by 2024.
