WORLD BASH NY 2024 // Sustaining & Communicating Sound System Culture

As much as I would have preferred to be live in the building at Amazura in Queens, NY on Black Friday night (November 29) to watch the World Bash New York Edition event, I instead was settled in to observe the Pay Per View stream from my home in Toronto.

Presented by Irish and Chin's Sound Chat Radio, the Sound System Concert featured the Dons of NYC: Massive B's Bobby Konders and Jabba, Nexxt Level, Steelie Bashment, and Noah Powa and Polish. Also highlighted was a special crowning of the 4 Kings: Rory (Stone Love Sound), Sky Juice (Metro Media Sound), Jagga B (Affrique Sound), and Glamour Wayne (Gemini Sound).

The World Bash Canadian Edition back in August was a vibe; the energy in Toronto's Rebel Night Club was impeccable. High vibrations. I was happy to be there to witness the historic night of culture, tribute, and music in our city, and so I definitely wasn't going to miss the New York one.

Like countless others, I rate Garfield Chin Bourne and the significance of the infrastructure he continues to nurture as a visionary and leader.

It is so important for us all to do our part to sustain, maintain, support, and endorse our culture to the best of our abilities. Whether you're the international brand director, one of the participating sounds, a legendary honouree, active selector, or patron...each role is crucial.

The night of Buju Banton's return concert in March 2019, there was a tangible buzz. Not only in the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, but on all digital platforms. From television, to Instagram live, to Twitter feeds, the journalists, patrons, entertainers, and organizers conducted an engaging night of communication with hours of music, commentary, community, and love.

Love for the culture and an appreciation for the moment. The way the world is moving these days, we have to really appreciate the moments while we have them, and have access to them. In the flesh, or virtually.

"You need different entities to invest in the culture for the culture to grow in the right way," Chin said in an interview (posted below) earlier this month. 

This reminded me of Buju's release, and how dynamic the energy was. The way the culture and music lovers gathered together and communicated across countries and platforms was nothing short of magnificent. Those on the ground were looking out for those back at home.

Everyone knew how significant the moment was, and did their part to share and preserve it for their global brothers and sisters in reggae music. From the news stations and media, to the artists, influencers, and the attendees covering all angles and spaces in the National Stadium so that we as viewers outside of Jamaica could still experience the night like we were there.

Team work. Coordination. A moment that could have been confined to that one location in Jamaica was instead shared across numerous platforms, in numerous styles, in real-time. Commentary in the feeds was epic. Joyful.

I wrote about the night's communication activities here: "Reggae Media Connects Buju Banton Fans for Historic Jamaican Performance". The collective support during this moment was phenomenal, recognizing that cultural support comes in all forms (although the less financially lucrative and subtle forms of system maintenance are often overlooked or ignored).

World Bash New York reminded me of Buju's Long Walk to Freedom because of the connectivity. It was an excellent event. Like Toronto, the video and sound quality was top tier. Stage design, and procedures were professional.

Remembering those at home was a small-but-important part of this night. Accommodating reggae music and sound system fans of all levels, and welcoming new listeners in a way that is convenient and comfortable.

9:00pm | The PPV stream began with Ninja Crown and Iron Voice providing the early warm from Amazura

10:30pm | Juggling continued 

11:00pm | The host, Chin addressed the crowd, speaking about the role and relevance of the Sound Man to reggae culture. He provided an overview of the World Bash concept of the Sound System Concert, and he previewed World Bash Japan coming up in 2025, also sponsored by SoundChat Radio.

11:15pm | The first sound came to the stage, Nexxt Level.

11:40pm | Chin thanked the selectors that keep the dancehall industry going, "week after week, month after month, year after year."

11:45pm | The next sound was introduced, from Toronto, Polly Famous/King Klepto. Just as things were getting nice...the stream started buffering. I initially thought it was just me, but the comments said otherwise.

11:50pm | I've accepted that when it comes to production, and live production at that: shit happens. We all know this. The online viewers of the stream began to communicate with one another in the chatroom sidebar in the interim, passing the time and building community in its own way. Some mild cussing and "kmt" going on in frustration, but we must wait as patience is a virture. At this point, I imagine (and hope) there'll be a recording of the full performances available to fill in the blanks missed. The momentum will be off, but overall, I'll still be able to enjoy it.

12:00pm | Comments continue in the chat, and I'm not even stressing. An event of this magnitude streaming to an audience this big. We have to give thanks that the option exists. One viewer commented "if it can happen to Netflix, it can happen to anybody" referencing the streaming issues with the recent Tyson vs. Paul fight.

12:10pm | "The show naw wait pon wi," someone in the chat declared. Momentum has been lost, but the ongoing commentary is jokes. We wait, as we have invested in the experience.

12:30pm | Someone in the chat shared a livestream link from IG, where I migrated in time to catch the rest of Bass Odyssey's performance.

12:40pm | A link to a YouTube channel for Sound Chat Radio was shared in the chat, broadcasting live, and giving the at-home audience our first view and perspective of the crowd in Amazura.  

12:50pm | Apology issued in YouTube chat, explaning they are working on a fix.

1:00am | Chin returns to the stage, speaks about 90s Dancehall in New York, and gives thanks. Announces that each upcoming veteran selector will play ten-minute rounds before their individual crownings. 

1:20pm | "Class in session," says someone in the chat as the veterans refresh the stage's energy and bring the outsiders back into the room's vibe.

Now with a steady livestream secured once again, I sat back, refreshed my substances of choice, and was ready to enjoy the rest of my exciting Friday night. Needless to say, I also stopped taking notes at this point because I was ready to party!

The concert continued until about 4am, and I didn't miss a beat.

Now, I am not qualified to speak on the nuances of the playing styles and performances of the selectors and sounds. My knowledge of the anthems, dubplates, events, politics, and historical relationships is limited at best. As much as I'd love to continue with a play-by-play of the action...I can not pretend to be an expert.

That being said, I do know from authentic vibes, and I intimately know and recognize good energy on sight, and I recognized that both were present. It was a long night, but patrons committed to the seven-hour exposition, and supported another chapter in this legacy until the end.

Do I have favourites? Absolutely. Did I purchase my PPV access to see particular moments and performances? Mos def. However, if you've come to this page for resources and specific references, please defer to SoundChat Radio and the Irish and Chin social media network for additional insights and the most current, informed, and relevant conclusions from this particular night, and from sound clash culture overall.

Respectfully, I also love the culture too much to pretend to be able to assess the night's music details on a level that is constructive or informed. The communications perspective, however: I got you.

The medium is the message.

For more links to the scene and continued commentary, there's a private Canadian Sound Clash Fraternity Facebook group that has its finger on the pulse of the culture, along with the Sound Clash Fraternity group, and the UK Sound Clash Fraternity group. I've heard the lore over the years, and am trying to reconnect to Facebook to tap in.

This recent Reggae Interviews video features a well-articulated discussion on sound system culture with Garfield Chin Bourne, for context, history, and perspective:

I love reggae culture, and everything that it represents.

I've been taking notes. Learning. Writing. Documenting. Archiving. Doing my part by shining a spotlight and bringing support where I can... from the 90s, when I was a teenager growing up in Ajax listening to clash cassettes, ReggaeMania radio, and catching big sounds live whenever they came east of Toronto.

The access is everything. The small things matter too. The ecosystem requires that all elements work together.

Every lyric. Every legend. Our history is tangible, and we can't take for granted that we are living in significant moments that require preservation.

Why preserve our beloved reggae music culture that sometimes appears to be vanishing from the eyes and interest of our Caribbean youth? Because we know reggae music has the power to heal, the insight to lead change, and the strength to sustain our people, as we all find ways to commit to the same vision: progress.

We know this because many of us have witnessed and experienced its power over the course of decades in our lives. Gen Z and Gen Alpha may not be enticed by it like we were, but we are living proof that the essence of this genre is magnificent. Our ancestors knew what they were doing, and alas, so do we.

Friday night was a great reminder of that; it's always inspiring to see our beloved reggae music culture continue to grow and thrive, and to witness generations collaborating and creating in new ways.

Respect to the Sound Chat Radio team for their coordination and execution of this event (it was a fun night!) and countless others. Intellectual leadership is a must, across industries. 

Thanks for reading!

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I invite you to view Kya Publishing's Jamaican Canadian Zone Archive of articles, photos, videos, and event coverage.

The website also features a collection of novels and short stories, highlighting relationships, music, and entertainment culture in Toronto from 1993 to 2023.

Also, my teen novel "Dancehall Rebel" (2024) is available through Amazon and Chapters/Indigo stores across Canada.

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Written by Stacey Robinson for Kya Publishing's "Reflection & Reason" blog.