The Resistance in Kingston

By Steve James on Saturday, January 26, 2013 - 1 comment

Sizzla, Raging Fyah, Jah9, Protoje, Jesse Royal and Kayla Bliss.

It has been one year since the untimely passing of producer Phillip ‘Fattis’ Burrell, one of Jamaica’s great producers and CEO of Xterminator Records. In honor of his life, a show titled ‘The Resistance’ was held on December 27^th at the South Beach Cafe located on Lady Musgrave Road in Kingston.

The brainchild of his son Kareem Burrell, the event featured artistes from the Xterminator Camp among the performers. Other artistes performing at the event included Raging Fyah, Jah9, Protoje, Jesse Royal and Sizzla Kalonji with members of his Firehouse Crew.

The venue was full to its capacity, with the change in the vibe from the Café’s usual laid back atmosphere to one of musical anticipation. Upcoming singer Jah9 along with Raging Fyah were first to perform and delivered their usual conscious and hard hitting lyrics. They were followed by Brooklyn born singer Kayla Bliss, who was one of Fattis’ most recent addition to the Xterminator Camp. Her set was welcomed by the audience, with her talented delivery an indication that she has a future in the industry.

Jesse Royal had a lengthy and engaging performance which commanded the audience’s full attention. Regarded as an ‘upcoming artiste’, his performance ensured that his name won’t soon be forgotten by those who saw him in action Thursday night. In the latter part of his performance he was joined on stage by Kayla Bliss to do I Need You, which was one of the last songs released by Fattis Burrell before his passing.

And then it was time for Sizzla Kalonji to take the stage, and take it he did! Backed by the Firehouse Crew, the crowd erupted when he emerged on stage. He mesmerized his audience with songs like Babylon a Listen, Standing Firm, Good Ways, and Solid as a Rock to name a few. He maintained a first class performance, delivering hit after hit until the arrival of the police, who came on the stage to announce that it was time for the show to end. The well behaved audience offered no ‘resistance’ to the decision by the Police as they were fully satisfied with the performances of the night.

South Beach Café has never staged and event of this type of caliber, however judging from the turnout it is likely that they will contemplate similar offerings in the future.