EXCEPT for a physical confrontation between deejays Ryno and Popcaan, the 2012 version of Sting may be considered the annual show’s best in recent years.

The event, held at Jamworld in Portmore on Wednesday, featured tag team lyrical clashes and outstanding performances from upcoming and established acts.

However, the show-stealer was deejay Busy Signal.

“Free up” was all he uttered for thousands of hardcore fans to go wild. Aerosol cans, lighters and torches ignited when Busy Signal did his big hit, Nah Go A Jail Again.

He took his fans down memory lane with Full Clip, Buy We Out, Da Style De and Pon di Edge. The artiste was performing live for the first time since his release from prison in the United States last month.

As he began performing some of his latest singles, the jam-packed venue became silent as he recalled his time in US Federal prison.

“I collapsed twice while serving time and although it was just six months it felt like six million years,” he said.

“I know exactly what Buju Banton is going through and I wouldn’t wish prison for my worst enemy. I would rather accept an instant death penalty than to do time again,” he added.

Inviting a small choir to join him on stage, Busy went into gospel. He had the throng singing along to spiritual standards like By the Rivers of Babylon, Real (Christ So Real to Me), When the Saints Go Marching In and Wings Of a Dove.

After his performance, he was given the Game Changer Award by Downsound Records CEO Josef Bogdanovich.

Earlier, Etana captivated the audience with soulful melodies. Roots, Wrong Address, Free and Wifey all went over well.

Lady G, I Shawna, Stylish and Stacious also delivered tight sets.

Sting was divided into six categories: 12 Disciples of Dancehall, Best of Reggae, Independent Ladies, the Fantastic Four, Three the Hard Way and Next Generation.

The Fantastic Four — Nature, Droop Lion, Iba Mahr and Chronixx lived up to their billing, while Romain Virgo, George Nooks and Errol Dunkley also did well.

Konshens and members of his Subkonshous team which included his brother Delus and deejay Darrio, also delivered strong sets.

Dawn greeted headliner Tommy Lee. The controversial artiste, suited in red and black, delivered a ‘fiery’ set. During his performance, some of his fans lit bonfires to show their approval.

A lively Popcaan stint was cut short by a physical altercation with Ryno. The latter, a former member of Vybz Kartel’s Portmore Empire, walked on stage during Popcaan’s set which triggered the fight.

Supporters of both artistes rushed the stage to join the melee but security quickly ended the dispute. Roots singers I Wayne and Lutan Fyah were called on to calm the tense atmosphere.

Sizzla Kalonji once again ‘bun a fire’ on homosexuals, the police and child molesters, and at approximately 7:00 am, Spice emerged for her much hyped confrontation with arch-rival Macka Diamond.

She even brought on a donkey which she claimed resembled the Bun Him deejay.

After learning Macka Diamond was a no-show, the fired-up Spice made her exit, making way for the main event which took place in a boxing ring.

The tag team clash paired Kiprich and Sting favourite Ninjaman against Tony Matterhorn and Merciless. Minutes after the bout began, Kiprich ‘killed’ both his opposing contenders.

A friendly clash then took place between himself and Ninjaman after which the latter gave Kiprich his blessings, saying he had handed over the ‘clash’ baton to him.