US RUMBLE DRAWS NEAR
by Anil Batra – Irish and Chin are back again with the 2015 edition of the US Rumble. On October 10 seven of the nation’s hottest reggae sound systems will converge at the Amazura nightclub in Queens, NY. One will emerge victorious.
“The main objective of US Rumble is to cultivate a new structure that will usher in young talents, excitement and interest in the sport of sound clashing. For many years, the only established crown in the sound clash arena has been the World Clash title. This title has primarily granted its recipients international fame,” Bourne explained.
The winner will earn bragging rights and a chance to compete against international sound systems awaits them in the upcoming World Clash and the UK Cup Clash.
The competition will consist of King Fargo from New York, Broken Silence from California, Love People from Virginia, King Shine from New Jersey, Innocent Sound from Florida, Black Hustler from Connecticut, and Nexxt Level from New York.
The sounds will gain a crowd response by playing a customized song, which calls the name of a sound system (a dubplate) or a regular song that is not customized (a 45). At the end of each round the audience will vote who wins the round or who will be eliminated.
The rules of engagement are as follows in the first round all seven sound systems will play ten minutes each. This is the sole no elimination round of the contest. In the second round, all seven sounds will play ten minutes each. One sound will be eliminated. In the third round, the remaining six sounds will play ten minutes each. In the fourth round no more 45s will be played. Each of the remaining five sounds will play a ten-minute round. At the end of the round two sounds will be eliminated. In the fifth round, the three competing sounds will play their last ten-minute segment. The crowd will again vote and a sound will be eliminated. The sixth round will culminate the tune fi tune round, a sound will play one tune and the remaining competitor will answer the back. At the conclusion of both sound systems the crowd will vote determining who will earn a point. The victor will be chosen when the first competitor which reaches six points.
There is a lot at stake here and there can only be one winner. I wish the best of luck to all seven of these sounds.