Red Bull Culture Clash 2024 exploded into a vibrant night of fierce musical competition, cultural pride, and unexpected twists at the National Arena on Saturday.

Bringing the heat were four powerhouse crews — MadHouse Experience, Big Bad Soca, Jamaica Wi Seh, and the Lon Don Crew. MadHouse, driven by the genius pairing of Cham and Dave Kelly, ultimately rose to claim the title.

The energy overflowed as each crew took its place within its colourfully adorned quadrant, embodying distinct sounds, styles, and stories. Cham and Dave Kelly anchored MadHouse’s set with an unmistakable nod to classic dancehall, skilfully weaving 1990s and early 2000s hits with appearances from Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Junior Reid, and Louie Culture. The audience roared, captivated by the nostalgia reverberating through each beat.

Reflecting on the win, Cham described his feelings as “elated, grateful, excited, thankful, and proud of the whole team”, thanking Red Bull and celebrating his line-up, which included Tanya Stephens and “General Dave Kelly”.

DJ Colin Hines shed light on their preparation, noting that Cham and Kelly had conceptualised the set only 10 days prior.

“We understand the culture, so what we didn’t rehearse; we prepared at the moment,” Hines remarked.

According to Cham, “We are the only sound who played for the females. We didn’t call any sound’s name in our dubs.” This approach kept MadHouse’s set uniquely impactful.

Aaron Fingall of Big Bad Soca proudly represented Trinidad, bringing the unmistakable pulse of soca to the clash.

“Super happy to be part of Red Bull Culture Clash as a Trinidadian,” Fingall said. He shared his passion for dancehall, adding, “We Trinidadians have a genuine love for dancehall music; it’s a genre we hold close to our hearts.”

Highlights of the night included an electrifying performance from Stefflon Don and the Lon Don Crew. Dressed in eye-catching chaps, Stefflon captivated the audience alongside dancers in bold masks. Although Lon Don’s sets at times seemed to drift stylistically — jumping between dancehall and hip hop, and eventually being disqualified in one round for not playing soca — they compensated with visuals, bringing a coffin decorated with “RIP MadHouse” and dancers in colourful Carnival costumes.

Jamaica Wi Seh added their unique flair with performances from Capleton, Armani, and Likkle Addi. The excitement intensified when fans spotted Vybz Kartel himself enjoying the clash from a cabana near the crew.

From start to finish, Red Bull Culture Clash 2024 was a euphoric celebration of Caribbean musical heritage, rich with the sounds that define Jamaica and its musical influence worldwide. As the lights dimmed on the night’s final song, fans were left with memories of an unforgettable sound clash.

Bounty Killer (centre), Junior Reid (second right), and Beenie Man (right) join the MadHouse crew onstage. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Fans enjoy the vibes.

Vybz Kartel (second right) and Likkle Addi take in the clash. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)