PICS: Best of the Best Concert Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Beres, Tarrus, Elephant Man and More!

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Queen of Bacchanal, Destra Garcia
Queen of Bacchanal, Destra Garcia
BOTB2016--0230
Beres Hammond performs at Best of the Best 2016 in Miami, FL

 

One of North America’s largest Caribbean music festival Best of the Best Concert (BOTB) returned for its 10th year. This year’s festivities saw a return to the beautiful backdrop of Miami’s Bayfront Park on Memorial Day Weekend, Sunday May 29, 2016. In celebration of its 10th year anniversary, BOTB organizers put together a stellar line-up of top international reggae and soca performers.  Of course, the Team RCS  was in attendance!

Sandie "The Dutchess" (Left) with Red Carpet Shelley
Sandie “The Dutchess” (Left) with Red Carpet Shelley

 

BOTB always has a  fantastic line up, but this year was par excellence.  The line up included the best ot the best women in Soca, Denise Belfon, Patrice Roberts and Destra.  The best of the best Reggae artists with Half Pint, Kranium, Nesbeth, Chris  Martin, Beres Hammond (of course) Tarrus Riley, Cham, Mr. Vegas, and Elephant Man.  

Queen of Bacchanal, Destra Garcia
Queen of Bacchanal, Destra Garcia
The crowd gave ‘Nuff Respect” to the the only female dancehall performer on the show, Lady G.  I spoke with her following her performance and discussed the lack of females being represented on dancehall shows. That being said, she was preceded by a trio of female soca performers Denise Belfon, Patrice Roberts and the Queen of Bachannal, Destra.
Red Carpet Shelley and Vershon
Red Carpet Shelley with Vershon Inna Real Life!
Vershon, a new artist with a song “Inna Real Life” gave a good performance…but who knew within 24 hrs he would perform at New York’s Oracabessa Concert and use profanity in front of a family audience!  Ironically, his set was preceded by the legendary foundation artist Half Pint.
Half Pint at Best of the Best 2016 in Miami, FL
Half Pint at Best of the Best 2016 in Miami, FL
Nesbeth
Nesbeth
Queens, New York’s own Kranium performed “Nobody Haffi Know”. He gave a good performance and was followed by Nesbeth.  I raved about Nesbeth at Rebel Salute earlier this year.  He shared that he buried his wife of 10 years her on February 17, 2016.  Sadly, he also lost his little sister at the same time.  He sang a song for his wife and when I listened to the words I cried and I know I wasn’t the only one.  He sang about their love, he sang “why you and not me”, he sang about how when he buried her it was raining very hard and he knew it must have been God’s tears.  I know tears were streaming down my face.  He thanked the BOTB team for giving him a commemorative candle for his wife.  I saw him the next morning at the airport and went up to him and told him that he made me cry, gave him a hug and offered my condolences.
Fun Selfie with Tarrus Riley!
Fun Selfie with Tarrus Riley!
The very important Christopher Martin, reggae’s young crooner, was a Big Deal and gave a memorable performance.  Not to be outdone, Beres Hammond, reigning King of Lovers Rock, gave the audience what they wanted from his large repertoire.  He sang crowd pleasers like Putting Up a Resistance, She Loves Me Now, What One Dance Can Do, Pull it up, I Feel Good.  He paid tribute to the late greats like Dennis Brown, Bob Marley, and Alton Ellis.  He ended his 50 minute set with Rockaway.
Who knew that comedic genius Majah Hype was also a great dancehall performer!  He and Noah got the crowd going by singing many dancehall hits from the 1990s.  His set was very well received.
Tarrus ‘Singy Singy’ Riley gave a set which was full of tributes.  First, he gave a tribute to the living legend Beres Hammond and sang Groovy Little Thing, then a tribute to Garnett Silk  with Hello Mama Africa.  Tarrus then paid homage to his father Jimmy Riley who passed recently and was was also a singer.  He then turned his attention to  Buju Banton, Its Not an Easy Road … “he is not dead,  just has not been seen in a while”.  And of course the Empress anthem ‘She’s Royal.
We met as young singer by the name of Meleku, he gave me a cd, he has a great voice, it must run in the family , he is the son of Sizzla Kolonji.
The concert ended with Elephant Man, who has been making his triumphant return to the States after being absent for a few years.  The crowd was happy to see him back.  He almost gave me a heart attack when he started to climb up the stage as high as he could go.
All in all, once again Best of the Best lived up to its moniker!  It was a well produced and well performed show.
BY:  The Dutchess
RCS Sidebar:  Can someone please tell me what happened to Cocoa Tea??!!  Shoutout to Tracii McGregor and her team.   They’re always on point and VERY nice!

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