If all LL Cool J's showings are like his Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest performance, then it's easy to understand why his celebrated career spans 20 years.

The American multi-platinum rapper - who performed on Friday night's instalment of the festival - was as effervescent as he was charming, gliding across the stage, throwing roses and licking-lips, all the while appeasing screaming female fans.
"It's been a long time since I been here, got a lot of love for the culture. dancehall, reggae, but we gonna take you to my world, hip hop," the rapper said to the opening strains of Phenomenon before going into Radio.

Jamaican deejay Buju Banton in full flight Friday night at Sumfest.

Wearing a white T-shirt with encrusted crystals, matching 'bling' belt and blue jeans, the artiste, born James Todd Smith, was a consummate professional, maintaining energy and bravado throughout his hour-long performance.

"Put your 'L' in the air as high as you can," he demanded, a request which the audience unanimously obeyed as the 1980s I'm Bad music video projected on screen synchronised with LL's performance. The Queens, New York-born rapper further journeyed through the decades with Number One (Love You Better), Phatty Girl, A 'Round the Way Girl and I Need Love among others.
The breezy swagger accompanied by a smooth lilt indicated that LL Cool J was definitely in full on 'player' mode, inviting fanatic females to the stage. After being joined by his 20 impromptu dancers, LL continued to 'bring the sexy' with other favourites like Hey Lover and Doin' It Well.

"I'm king (of hip hop), but there's only one king in Jamaica," he said, striking the introductory chords of Could You Be Loved followed by Jammin'. The Bob Marley ode gave way to 2003 head bopper, Head Sprung, which had the ladies on stage bumping and grinding, vying for the rapper's attention. But it seemed he was more interested in showmanship than 'wining', since, at several points the female-magnet wriggled his way out of compromising positions. The high-energy performance in full swing, ladies screamed for the international sensation to take off his sweaty merino. "Make me," he responded, obviously putting off their request. He closed with Loose Control.

US rapper LL Coool J delivers a scorching set at Sumfest Friday night.

Despite the rappper's scorching set, Rastafarian harbingers Buju Banton and Morgan's Heritage were not outdone.
The latter, however, who performed minutes before LL, were simply awe-inspiring with their reggae-meets-R&B set, which included A Man Is Still A Man and Don't Haffi Dread. The red, green and gold lighting seemed to enhance the group's performance of their new music Ask Me Bout and Since I Been Loving You.

"A St Thomas we come from, not St Thomas, Virgin Islands, but Jamaica," said lead singer Peter Morgan as he delivered Down By The River.

"[We want to] let you know what time it is and where we are as a world," he continued before the socially conscious So Much Blood and Tell Me How Come. However, the audience seemed most appreciative of their delivery of Best Friend followed by an a cappella version of She's Still Loving Me. But the social commentary would resume when they closed with their latest single Headline.
With locks flashing, militant artistry was once again a mainstay when Banton took to the stage, giving a superb delivery of his classics as well as modern sounds like Destiny, Til Shiloh and Drivah.

'Mr Boombastic', the international reggae recording artiste that is Shaggy, was not his usually entertaining self, but still managed to do a fair job at pleasing his mostly female niche market. The artiste, dressed in tropically-inspired garb, entered the stage with Church Heathen followed by Wild Tonight and Bashment Party featuring Ravon. Shaggy, who said he attributes his longevity to having "manners, respect and humility", also performed Angel, and the female anthem Strength Of A Woman.

"As much as I love you, I love to lie to you," he said as the band struck the introductory chords of It Wasn't Me, featuring Rick Rock. Hey Sexy Lady was the set closer.

But reggae and hip hop weren't the only genres that were featured on the second night of the festival, soca songstress Allison Hinds also gave a good showing, charming with high-paced tracks like In the Name of Love, Carnival Baby and This Is Carnival.

Though smaller acts like singers Da'Ville, Cherine Anderson, Christopher Martin and, to a lesser extent, Alaine were well received, the show was plagued by lengthy band changes that caused it to lag.
The show climaxed with performances from some of Jamaica's veteran acts, including Pluto Shervington, Ernie Smith and Fab 5.

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