Place of Death 2012: Supertuff vs Silverbullet vs Reggae Bash

Host for the night was Matthia from Warrior Sound, the rules were simple. All sounds play four 10 minute rounds, after wich one sound drops out and the two other sounds decide the outcome in dub fi dub, playing 10 dubplates each.

The numbers were drawn and we were good to go…

Round 1
Reggae Bash will play first. They start the war with Tanya Stephens, followed by dubplates from Busy Signal (Forever Young), Romain Virgo and Aidonia, a few combinations like The Slickers & Jigsy King. Although they're playing decent, they're kinda cruising not getting much reaction. A Tommy Lee at the end has to save the round.

Supertuff is playing 2nd, and starts a nice juggling with Virgo, Tarrus Riley, followed up by Lexxus, Burro Banton, Bounty Killer, Mad Cobra on the Fat Teng, Too Blessed by Charly Black and Tarrus Riley. The crowd, including a pack of Supertuff supporters, connected well with this selection, good round.

Silverbullet is the last sound to play their first round, and kick it off with Luciano a capella. MC Frizco makes an aggressive speech on Reggae Bash's first round, introducing Sanchez with Here I Am, followed by Beres Hammond. Heard a Luciano-Cocoa Tea combination, a couple Cobra's and Bounty's, Sizzla, Cham, ending their round with As We Enter by Damian Marley & Nas. Good round, but struggling to get the people on their side.

Votes would be taken each round, but the host never really said who won the round. The winner would be decided after the dub fi dub. I'd say Supertuff took this first round.

Round 2
The Reggae Bash MC made a speech about Frizco sounding like Freddie Krueger from Jaro that made me laugh, was indeed true at some points. They also address Silverbullet's Damian-Nas combo, and play an older Damian. Heard dubs from VC, Grindsman, Red Foxx, Stitchie. Again the MC comes with a speech against Silverbullet, claiming they're stuck in the 'Twilight' series. More dubs by Beenie, Assassin, Movado and more.

Some good speeches this round, and much more vibes.

Supertuff MC comes in hot too, first countering a RB speech, then calling Frizco a rental MC for SB – the latter giving mixed reactions from the crowd. Their selection contains Tarrus again, Luciano, Louie Culture, Hopeton Lindo (with a Territory speech that isn't really appreciated), Johnny Osbourne. Then they make a mistake by playing back a Pinchers that Silverbullet played earlier. They get some boo's, but still continue their round, with Busy, Konshens, Bounty and a custom Taranchyla dissing SB's Damian-Nas, Reggae Bash MC's hairstyle and Frizco.

Frizco exposes the playback. Their round kicks off with Rougher Yet and continue with Beres, Wayne Wonder, Spragga Benz, Stronger (Bounty – Cham – Michael Rose), more Bounty's and Cobra's, Anthony Redrose, Admiral Bailey and John Wayne. Big tunes, but maybe they stay on the same riddim or play the same vibe for too long to keep the crowd's attention.

For me Silverbullet won this round, but the crowd decided Supertuff took it, despite the playback.

Round 3
Reggaebash starts on point again, starting with Glen Washington, Bounty, Sizzla, Aidonia, Cobra. Filio stated the wave rag Supertuff's MC was waving the whole time was a sign of surrendering for the playback, followed by the right white flag tune. Too bad their round kinda boils down later.

Supertuff kicks in with some foundations first, I remember Lloyd Parks and a Freddie McGregor – Glen Washington combination. A custom Duana Stephenson Cottage in Negril (where Frizco comes from) gets a big forward. Also heard Half Pint, Tarrus, Beres, Gappy Ranks, Cobra, Beenie Man and end with Toots. Good round, although it might have lacked some fire.

Shabba Ranks begins Silverbullet's round and a selection on the Punany riddim with Wayne Wonder, and Junior Cat. The rest of the round contains some more Bounty (I'm getting repetitive here), Capleton, Assassin, Spragga. Big forward for Stitchie and Cocoa Tea, more Cobra's, Capleton, Admiral Bailey …

Close call this round. Couldn't tell.

Round 4
Reggaebash releases Buju Banton, Hopeton James, Tarrus Riley and Jah Mason. Aidonia again, followed by Capleton, Konshens. I can remember a nice Tarrus Riley too, and they too play a Damian Marley dub. Ended with a Bounty-Assassin combination.

Supertuff starts their round with an excellent Chris Martin custom calling Silverbullet an Addies wannabee, keep the vibe with some new tunes, Cobra, Gappy, Burro, Beenie, Josey Wales and end with another Beenie.

Silverbullet opens with a wicked Cocoa Tea – Sanchez combination, followed by Bounty Tired to see your face, Richie Stephens, Ninja Man and King Kong. Shabba again, Wayne Wonder, a Papa San-Stitchie combo. Solid round.

Silverbullet takes the round, although not announced.

The vote to see who proceeds to the dub fi dub puts Supertuff safe right away, a next vote between Reggae Bash and Silverbullet decides Reggae Bash drops out.

Dub fi Dub
Supertuff and Silverbullet will play 10 tunes each. Once again, no real decision is announced for each tune, everything will be decided in the end.
1st tune: Johnny Osbourne Ready or Not vs Dawn Penn Talk talk talk (No No No)
2nd tune: Eric Donaldson Cherry Oh Baby (supposedly a playback, must have missed it myself) vs The Gladiators
3rd tune: Keith & Tex Stop that Train vs Same Song by Israel Vibration
4th tune: John Holt vs Carlton Coffee (Inner Circle) with Bad Boys
5th tune: Mafia from Lloyd Parks vs Norma Frazer
6th tune: Bunny Wailer vs The Cables
7th tune: Ernie Smith Duppy or Gunman vs Long Shot Kick the Bucket by The Pioneers

Right now Matthia asks who is in the lead, with 3 more tunes to go. The crowd is clear: Silverbullet.

8th tune: Alton Ellis vs Max Romeo
9th tune: Prince Alla Great Stone vs Judy Mowatt

Final tune: Freddie McGregor vs Norma Frazer with First Cut. Smart move, as this is one of Warrior Sound's anthems in U-club.

A quick vote points Silverbullet as winner of the dub fi dub.

Then Matthia asks who wins the whole clash. The vote is sticky, but it is decided that Supertuff wins the clash.

Supertuff might have had the most vibes during the rounds, had balanced and consistent selections, I think they were lucky to take it away despite the playback mistake. But that's the people's choice, so big up for taking the trophy to Münster.

Silverbullet did a good job, and although they could use some more variety, they might have deserved more.

From Reggae Bash I enjoyed some wicked speeches, but overall I think their selection was a bit too 'soft' for soundclash, had a little too much downtimes to win the crowd and push through. Still, they did a good job.

More war !