“The Gentleman Clash”
Gold Rush Cup 2012: Ivory vs. Jahwed (The Zoo, Hasselt – 21/01/2012)
A little argument on the web, some people who jumped on it and in a blink of an eye this clash was fixed. A lot of sounds talk the talk, but these two proved to have the walk too.
Silverbullet lined up this first edition of the Gold Rush Cup in the Zoo in Hasselt. It was a nice turnout, and The Zoo was the right venue for this crowd size. With the dj booth moved forward, the mc’s would be in the crowd’s faces – perfect to add some more excitement.
Ivory Sound comes from Hoeilart (also known as Dundaland) near Brussels. Founded in 2004, they have a few clashes under belt already: versus Boom-A-Ranks (Belgium) in 2006, Sting Like A Bee (Germany) in 2009 and entered the Time to Shine competition last year.
Jahwed Sound is from Comines in the western part of Belgium. After ending up as runner-up in Present Your Sound earlier last year, they won the Beljam Cup Clash in December.
So with two sounds who are ready and willing, this promised to be a good war.
Even though Silverbullet did a good, but not always flawless, job on the warm-up, getting the massive ready for war nice and easy. But the clash was only to start at 1 o’clock, making it a long wait.
Then finally time had come for Foundation Sound’s mc Zebulon, host of the night, to kick off the clash. Normally there would be a 45’ round, Jahwed brought their vinyl, but there were no turntables so this round would be skipped. Promoter’s mistake, but it seemed like the massive came for dubplates in the first place, so they didn’t seem to care too much.
First Round (20’ dubplates)
Ivory won the toss and chose to kick off the war. After giving Jahwed a late Christmas present, they started the round with Loyal Flames, followed by Romain Virgo, a nice updated Lukie D that got a first forward, followed by the Feel Good riddim. Dropped some more new tunes with Tarrus Riley, Assassin and a couple Konshens tunes, surprising with new tunes. First verbal attack when Ivory mc Rascal wonders if Jahwed’s MC is fat or pregnant. After that I also heard the Punany riddim, a TOK-Bounty combination, more Bounty and Shaggy. Good opening round from Ivory Sound.
Jahwed came up with a speech about the 45’ round, because they would play it with real 45’s opposed to Ivory that plays with a laptop. Start the round with a big Luciano dubplate that immeadiatly gets a forward, followed by Romain Virgo and a next great Luciano that gets a huge response. Also played Anthony Redrose, Wayne Smith’s E-20, Junior Cat, a Ward 21 (“See them run” – wasn’t that played already?), Capleton, but end their round with two minutes remaining. They get the chance to play out their round, but decide to leave it as it is.
Some commotion, but it’s time to vote. Even though Jahwed might have been doing better in the round, the crowd judged hard on the early end of their round, and Ivory took the first point.
Second round (20’ dubplates)
As the second round starts, Ivory brings back the Christmas present they gave to Jahwed earlier. As they didn’t want to open it, they show the crowd the clown outfit that’s in it, stating they will kill Jahwed in a real clash after they won a circus clash, referring to the Beljam Cup Clash. Play the Peanie Peanie riddim with Chaka Demus, Bounty, followed by the Sleng Teng with Grindsman (big tune !), Junior Demus Shot mek yuh wiggle and Pinchers. Heard a Capleton-Bounty combination, the Cordyroy riddim with Beenie Man and Terry Ganzie and finishing a round with a Duck jugglin with Baby Cham, Spragga Benz and a Bounty serial. Solid round.
Jahwed’s mc Mad Codiouf looked well confident before, but he gave a weak impression returning on the stage for their second round. He claims he can outplay Ivory on any artisty they play, but after that Bounty segment they would need to dig up some serious Bounty after the truckload that Ivory just finished their round with. Start with Bunny General, Echo Minott and counteracting Ivory with Pinchers. Play some digital but they lose the vibe a bit. Recover with some dancehall including some Sizzla’s. Try to counteract the Bounty’s, play two good ones, but it’s not enough to kill Ivory’s. Not the best round from Jahwed.
Ivory takes the round, making it 2-0.
Third Round (10’ dubplates)
Next round is kicked off by Ivory again with Johnny Osbourne, Cocoa Tea, Louie Culture’s Bogus Badge, on to the Ba Ba Boom riddim with Lloyd D Stiff, Junior Demus and Super C. The round ends with Junior Reid, Junior Murvin and Bounty on the Real Rock. Another good round with mainly Ivory signature dubs.
Mad Codiouf comes back and killed me with a speech saying Rascal looks like a garden gnome. Start with a big Tarrus Riley – Capleton combination, but the Tarrus Riley part – Beware – was played by Ivory already.They lose track again, but recover on the Duck riddim with Major Mackerel, Little Harry and Bounty.
Ivory also wins the next vote and before the dub fi dub, they lead with 3-0. With Jahwed playing good but maybe not consistent enough, this is a fair result.
Dub fi Dub
Time to get down to the Nitty Gritty then. Normally the clash would be up to 10 points, so the first sound to reach six wins the clash. But ‘The Boss’ Zebulon decides we’ll play until the first sound reaches 10 points.
First tune Ivory plays a Can't Hold Me by Al Campbell, Jahwed plays Frankie Paul. Ivory takes the point, 4-0.
Next Ivory plays Jacob Miller’s Tenement Yard, voiced by George Nooks. Jahwed takes the point with Michael Prophet’s Gunman, taking their first point.
Ivory play Trying to Conquer Me by Horace Andy (originally by the late Delroy Wilson), Jahwed counteracts with a next Horace Andy. Close vote, but Jahwed takes the point and makes it 4-2.
Both sounds play big Barrington Levy’s (21 Girl Salute and My Woman if I remember correctly) the next tune, another very sticky vote, but eventually Ivory wins it. Jahwed fans weren’t too sure about this, but with the hands for Ivory in the back this was a correct decision.
Then Ivory states in dub fi dub you don’t have to play old tune, and reminding the people about the Tarrus Riley playback from earlier they play a Tarrus dub. Jahwed plays John Holt and clearly takes this point, the score is 5-3.
Tune number 5 is Alton Ellis for Ivory, Jahwed plays Rumours by Gregory Isaacs. At this stage of the clash, it’s a bit late for “rumours of war” to me. Alton Ellis wins it, 6-3 now.
Rascal points out Mad Codiouf used to be on a different sound, Tribal Poursuite, and with the Wailing Souls’ Old Broom “they come to kill your new sound”. Jahwed counteracts with a different Wailing Souls, taking the point.
Jahwed makes it even stickier with the next tune, when their Norma Frazer wins it from Dobby Dobson. With 6 points to 5 everything is still possible.
Earlier Ivory stated they don’t follow man, but now they do when they play John Holt’s Sister Big Stuff. Taking back talk can be dangerous in clash, but with a regular Hopeton Lindo (Cemetery) Jahwed can’t profit from this and Ivory still wins the tune.
A next John Holt from Jahwed can’t beat Ivory’s Mighty Diamonds, and with a Leroy Sibbles against Ernest Wilson, they make it a 9-5 lead.
Another John Holt from Ivory, but Jahwed wins the point with Gregory Isaacs Number One.
Next tune Ivory plays Steel Pulse, Jahwed responds with Bunny Rugs (Third World), Ivory takes the point again and take the trophy.
Jahwed present the trophy to Ivory themselves, showed great sportsmanship. They played a very good clash, respect for the clash attitude. But overall Ivory was the most consistent, and especially speechwise I believe they were a lot stronger. Some might say both sounds played a lot of the same tunes as in previous clashes, but keep in mind these are still young sounds.
Very good clashed overall. Especially loved the vibe and how everything went fair.
A real gentleman’s clash.
