EVER since it was announced that Irish and Chin would stage the final Death Before Dishonor on Monday, April 5 at Pier 1 in Montego Bay, the question has been: Who will go home with the bragging rights for winning the final coveted Death Before Dishonor trophy? Even more pressing is the fact that this event will represent a formal end of Irish and Chin’s World Clash series.

Death Before Dishonour is the last of the industry’s trilogy of premiere sound clashes produced by Irish and Chin. In 2007, World Clash New York was the first of the premiere clashes to close its curtains. This historical staging featured the likes of all the past winners of World Clash. Additionally, the audience was afforded the presence of Beenie Man and Ninja Man, who both donned the hats of selectors for the event. When the smoke cleared, Mighty Crown clenched the final World Clash New York trophy, going down in history as the sound system whose victories opened the event in 1999 and closed it in 2007.

Irish and Chin devised World Clash in 1998 as a vehicle to strengthen New York’s once vibrant sound clash arena. But to give the sound clash a special twist, they added a “world” component, inviting sounds from all over the world.

UK Cup Clash was the second event of the three to close its chapter in 2008. Held in London, the event had the same impact: sold out stagings, heavy line-ups and intense exposure for the industry. During the final UK Cup Clash, Mighty Crown was eliminated in an early round and the powerful country sound killers Bass Odyssey went on to hold the bragging rights as the event’s final champion. This was clash icon Squingy’s last sound performance before passing away.

Death Before Dishonour 10 will mark the last of the World Clash competitions and truly define the end of an era.