THE teenAGE Expression Tour made a second stop in the parish of Clarendon — destination Clarendon College. The Clarendon College, Citadel on a Hill, welcomed the Expression crew and sponsors with open arms. The show began with DJ Cash Price wearing the cap of both emcee and disc jockey for the day. The first female to take the stage, Kacia Williams, delivered an original piece entitled Mek It Inna Life.

Her stage presence and crowd interaction was remarkable. She had the crowd waving during her performance of another original piece called YOLO. Moesha Salmon performed Dutty Tough by Louise Bennett. This young lady made the poem her own with her facial expressions and gestures. The crowd applauded her effort. Following Moesha’s performance Jordan Simpson took centre stage. He deejayed an original piece on the popular Intoxicated Riddim.

His piece was focused on school work and its importance. Britney Buckley performed a melodious rendition of Adele’s One and Only. Her petite frame hid very powerful vocal abilities. She was accompanied by the school band. Britney was clearly engulfed in her performance, that she had to sing the song at least three times before she left the stage. After a performance like that, it was time for a giveaway. Amoya Bryson won herself a giveaway courtesy of Flow. DJ Cash Price got the crowd hyped and ready for the next set of performances. Vanise Fisher took the stage decked out in a dress made from newspaper.

She performed a dub poem Talk Up Yutes. In this piece, she spoke on hot-button issues that affect youth in particular, such as peer pressure, rape and child trafficking. Kimone Dyke performed a rendition of Adele’s Someone Like You. The crowd sang along with Kimone and she was applauded at the end of her performance. Phillip Jackson also known as Jkidfour5, performed two original songs. He took the stage and delivered Bad Mind, which the crowd seemingly enjoyed.

He then gave another song, Whine Her Waist on the Intoxicated Riddim, confessing his love for a female counterpart. The duo, Xavier and Jahvani Campbell performed a piece about school and adhering to the rules to the delight of the crowd. Daeshawn Goldbourne performed a piece on the popular Happy Hour Riddim. Tarekk Friginette certainly wooed the crowd with his performance. He performed a medley comprising of Romaine Virgo’s Rain Is Falling, Rich In Love, Take You Home and Busy Signal’s Night Shift. He wasn’t afraid to interact with female members of the crowd and a member of the teenAGE Observer Expression Tours team.

Small in structure, but big dance moves was the case of little Benjamin Whyte, performing to Aidonia’s High Up Deh. AAMM Co-operative Credit Union trivia giveaway was won by Nerline Ferguson. Next to perform was Tarekk Friginette, Bryan Johnson and Company. The crowd loved this group and their original piece. Tiny Rajae Coleman was next — he sang the roof off. His powerful and melodious voice was carried through the school’s auditorium as he belted the words of Sia’s Titanium.

Naomi Thompson and Denelia Irving performed a dub poem Good Education. However, they failed to please their peers and as a result they were urged off. Despite the urging of the crowd, these two girls showed that restlessness from the crowd did not faze them as they stayed and finished their performance. $erial and Bryan took the stage. The weirdest performance of the day had to be these two.

The crowd was forced to focus on $erial and his antics on stage. $erial gave the crowd a bellyful of laughter, and Bryan left the stage signalling the end of this performance. It was left up to the dancers to close the show. Sharpshooters danced to Dexta Daps Morning Love, Charley Blacks featuring J-Capri Whine n Kotch, Vybz Kartel ft Keshan’s Goods and Vybz Kartel’s Keystone. An all-girl dance group took the stage to wrap things up. Vanise and Company danced to the crowds delight. Judges for the afternoon Cleveland Anderson, Anya Hall, Troy Peters and Andre Robinson from the sponsor Flow.

At the end of their calculations, in third place was Vanise Fisher, second was Tareek Friginette and the winner of the day was Jkidfour5. Jkidfour5 advances to the teenAGE Expression Tour finals in Kingston.

— Moya Hinds