Photos by Andre CQ

Look how we carryin' on…. We Dutty!

It's the July 4th holiday peoples and the TJJ NY crew has two big day fetes to cover in Brooklyn. 1st stop is Wideshut Entertainment's So Fresh So Clean…. "the dutty edition". Now is years now we feting in Brooklyn, so even though the fete carded from 10AM-6PM, we reach around 4PM. Who in their right mind reaching ah fete for 10AM on a holiday? Not we! On the other hand, we don't exactly know why, but in BK, people love to arrive at a fete 2-3 hours before the stated cut off time and then boldly demand an extra hour or two or three of feteing!

Photos by Andre CQ
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At the entrance we were greeting by a bunch of sexy ladies wearing all white with some hombre style hats… definitely looking so fresh, so clean! Most of the crowd was in a chill mode as they were busy keeping an eye on the over cast sky…. while the rest was pelting waist to tunes like Denise Belfon's "Saucy Baby". It was not the kinda weather we want on a 4th of July. Say wha…. Drinks anyone? Oh geeeeze, nah man…. you wouldn't believe it was all you can drink premium drinks from 10AM-3PM. Note to self…. please read fliers properly at least a day or two before the actual event!! So we missed out on the free drinks, but were still able to take advantage of the free food catered by Grubs Catering. We buss up some roti with pumpkin, channa and bagi…. and could only wonder how much better it would have tasted if we got it when it was hot. There was even kumar and salt prunes to snack on. Early movements from now on, yes!

DJ Spice, Natural Freaks and Back to Basics got the dance warmed up with the live Rhythm & Tassa section joining in. You know vibes was nice when you see one smallie beating another smallie backside with some drumsticks like she playing ah steel drum (photos 103 & 104). Shortly after 6:30PM (yes we called it... fete will be going to 11 or 12 now), Benjie (Wideshut Ent) thanked everyone for coming out and wished his wife a happy anniversary before introducing "The Dutty Crew" direct from T&T to bless the dance with their 1st 2007 NYC performance. Yeah man, two of Roy Cape's front line signers, Blaxx and Olatunji, were on the inside.

First up, "Mr. Yip Yip Yip Aa Ha Ah Ha" Olatunji, who joined Roy Cape in 2007 after a short stint with Caribbean Traffik Jam. He wasted no time, singing his popular 2k7 hit "Get Wild". The crowd was split between those that didn't care about getting wet and those that kept under or close proximity to shelter, not giving Olatunji the full response he was demanding. Not too long after, he passed the mic onto Blaxx who first sang a couple of his classic numbers.

Peoples, Blaxx only had to say three words… "Alllllllll my crew" and the madness start!!! Well yes, powder in ah frenzy!! "Look at meh pants….. dutty, look at meh shoe….. dutty, look at meh t-shirt….. dutty, and even you!" We even had to add a few new lines of our own to the song yes…. "look at we lens…. dutty" (lol). Man, all de social social people definitely start to run. All man jack, including Blaxx, was covered in powder…. Blaxx could have easily changed his name to "Whitezz" if he wanted. (lol)

What was even more fascinating was the fact that the powder couldn't dunnnnnn. We would see ah whole bottle empty out, and then a few seconds later, braaapppps…. MORE POWDER!! De dread was not joking when he tell us he had powder in his bag…. like he buy out Johnson & Johnson's baby powder 2007 supplies, yes!

So Blaxx mash up and buy back the fete…. putting his official stamp on "the dutty edition". As we were cleaning off our cameras, Sound City got on the 1s and 2s. Unfortunately, Sprang International, who drove up all de way from DC on zero sleep, didn't get to spin (technical difficulties). Large up same speed. Okay, time to link up the TJJ Blue Team over at De Official Good Mornin Neighbour 4th of July Day Fete with 3 Canal. Iz rel pace as usual gentle peoples.

Happy Anniversary Desma and Benjie! Thanks for having us.

Chooks aka Daddy Juice