Trending Dancehall news: Sting is real. Jamaica’s most famous one-night dancehall event is finally back for real. After a seven-year respite due to a lack of funding and sponsorship, Sting returns on Boxing Day, December 26, 2022, at the Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann. The line-up includes new-age dancehall sensations Skeng and Jahshii. And veterans Christopher Martin, Etana, Shane O, Kraff, and Jada Kingdom.
For many years, Sting was a staple on Jamaica’s entertainment calendar. And it was the most anticipated event of the year. It attracted Dancehall patrons and fans from all over the world. No wonder the fans kept begging the promoter to bring the event back.
But when the promoter hinted in July that he was bringing the special event back this year, many people doubted whether he could. Because sponsors had walked away, complaining about the songs’ lyrics and the music’s direction. They refused to continue associating their brand with Dancehall. But Sting is back, and fans are stoked.
Sting is the brainchild of ex-cop Isiah Laing. And the concept was to have two artists on the stage simultaneously clashing with each other lyrically. And the audience would decide who was the better of the two. Of course, the fans loved it and would come out in droves to support their favorite artist.
The first staging was on Boxing Day in 1984 at Cinema 2 in New Kingston, Jamaica. It was held at the dawn of Dancehall as a genre and featured singers like Sugar Minott, Tenor Saw, and Michael Palmer. All of whom were at the top of their game.
Some of the genre’s most prominent names in business have played the Boxing Day event over the years. Many reputations have gotten made at Sting, and many high-profile artists have had their pride hurt. The Sting crowd was tough as nails. Each performer has to be at the top of their game. Still, artists would do almost anything to get the chance to perform at Sting. Because if they did well at Sting, their lives would change forever.