‘Strictly 2K’ good to go!
IT was non-stop dancing and high-energy vibes as headliner Elephant Man returned to stage at ‘Strictly 2K’ held at Mas Camp in St Andrew last Saturday.
The “Energy Gad” kept the party crowd on their feet with songs including Log On, Gully Creepa, Pon Di River, Crazy Hype, Nuh Linga and his recent single, Touch Yuh Head.
“My performance was lit! The show was sold out so I decided to give the patrons their money’s worth. We gave them a treat and something that they weren’t looking for — we brought all the dancers from 2000s to put the icing on the cake for the Strictly 2K-themed show. If you heard Pon Di River, you saw John Hype; if you heard Crazy Hype, you going to see Shelly Belly come on stage; and if you heard Log On, you going to see Keiva,” Elephant Man told the Jamaica Observer.
According to Elephant Man, another highlight of his set was when he climbed the scaffolding on the stage and jumped into the sea of fans.
“That’s Elephant Man — I’m always climbing and jumping into crowds. I have been jumping into crowds from the early stages of my career. I decided to jump into the Strictly 2K crowd to show them that nothing has changed and I am still that high-risk performer that everyone knows. I also saw everyone in the crowd partying and dancing so I wanted to be a part of the vibe. My song Crazy Hype is a song that I like to perform and be in the crowd; it’s not a song that you should be on no stage performing. I had to interact and vibe with my people once I am singing that song,” he said.
Before and after the entertainer’s performance, DJ Chrome, Chromatic Live, and Coppershot kept patrons singing and dancing to hits from the 2000s, which included Beres Hammond’s song Can You Play Some More, Beenie Man’s Dude, and Kiprich’s Telephone Thing.
Marc Hines, director of promotions for Strictly 2K, was pleased with the event.
“The very real significance that it plays [is] not only in the importance of commemorating the dancehall as a musical powerhouse but also [in] recognising the people who were at the forefront who helped to shape the dance moves that we love so much today,” Hines said.
In an emotional social media post, Keiva expressed that it has been years since her last performance on stage and she was grateful to be recognised .
“Tears of joy. Crying while typing. I have not performed on a stage since I gave birth to my daughter! It felt so good to be able to do what I love. I don’t think you guys understand the way I am feeling to be amongst so many legends last night — the unity, the love, the joy, the fun. I know Bogle in heaven smiling down on us. To have my sisters, Mad Michelle and Dyema, beside me last night, oh God, leave me let me cry in peace,” Keiva said in her Instagram post.
Strictly 2K began in December 2016 and has featured acts including Twin of Twins, Tony Matterhorn, Kurt Riley, Jazzy T, and Black Chiney.