September 23, 2017 saw thousands of fans flock to Orlando Stadium to support their favourite crews in one of the biggest music showdowns to hit the country.
Over four intensely competitive rounds, AKA fronting Top Boyz Sound System, battled it out against DJ Tira’s Durban Massacre Sound System, Patoranking and Red Hot Sound System and Admiral & Jahseed with African Storm – each repping their respective genres – hip hop, house, afro-beats and reggae. In the end, it was DJ Tira and Durban Massacre Sound System that won over the crowd and took the coveted title.
Despite having brought out King Beenie Man on stage as a surprise guest
MO FIYAAAAH! African Storm just brought out Beenie Man y’all 🇯🇲 #RedBullCultureClash pic.twitter.com/mGa2wgmfm7
— Channel O (@ChannelOTV) September 23, 2017
and bringing the full dancehall experience to the crowd
MASH IT UP!!! 🇯🇲 #RedBullCultureClash pic.twitter.com/ElNQiAqP1L
— Channel O (@ChannelOTV) September 23, 2017
with a set that included cuts like Dawn Penn’s classic “You Don’t Love Me (No No No)” and Lucky Dube’s “Together As One” and dropping a dubplate special of Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” which dissed the other crews and referenced the night and gave them a massive forward from the crowd. It was DJ Tira and The Durban Massacre who deservedly took it home to Durban. Their support base is unshakable.
The DURBAN signs were genius!!! ❤️
Shout out to @DJTira
“Durban Massacre” #redbullcultureclash pic.twitter.com/DP70s317iK— NomT (@NomtZ1) September 24, 2017
With Patoranking disqualified for repeating The Game’s “It’s Okay (One Blood)” which African Storm Sound System had previously played, it was between the Top Boyz Sound System and Durban Massacre Sound System. The round was close but ultimately DJ Tira won over the crowd and took home the belt.
“I felt like dropping on the floor and just collapsing! It was such an amazing experience. I thought I was dreaming. Even right now, I can’t believe I won this. We’ve put so much work into it and the unity that we had as the Durban Massacre, it’s all about Durban. We did it for our city.” exclaimed DJ Tira after winning.
Shout Out to AKA and Top Boys, for staying true to their craft and knowing how to clash and entertain. They even dropped a special dub from Busy Signal.
REAL WATCH OUT FI DIS BUSY SIGNAL 🔝 BOYZ DUB PLATE!!! #RedBullCultureClash 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/ak9uoJz8hS
— AKA (@akaworldwide) September 25, 2017
How African Storm lost the Red Bull Culture Clash Battle
African Storm Sound presents Battle Crew for Culture Clash
Get the Blow by Blow account of the clash here.
Image credit: Tyrone Bradley