Guinness Sounds of Greatness
Ricky Trooper, Pink Panther To Square Off In ‘Guinness Sounds Of Greatness’ Clash
After initially declaring the days of soundclashes over in February, veteran music selector Ricky Trooper—the ‘Serial Killer’ of soundclashes, is set to square off with clash legend Pink Panther at Friday night’s Guinness Sounds of Greatness competition at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston.
The clash comes only four months after Trooper, the former Kilimanjaro chief selector, in an Instagram rant, declared himself the “Emperor of Clashing” and cursed out persons whom he said were comparing him to other selectors and giving them props over him and claiming that his musical days were numbered.
Trooper in his usual brazen fashion had said no selector should be compared with him unless they were adept at clashes, had ‘bussed’ numerous songs, or artists as he had, or decimated more sounds in World Clashes as he had done.
In brushing aside people whom he said were claiming that other sound system selectors such as Pink Panther and the late Squingy, were better than he, Trooper had declared that he had no match, as not only had he single-handedly decimated a multitude of A-list selectors throughout his career, but had “bussed” numerous Dancehall and Reggae artistes.
“Mi have six world clash trophy a mi yard… Ricky Trooper a di ongle man use two different sound and win bl__dclaat world clash. Mi use Kilimanjaro and mi use Sound Trooper dweet,” he said.
On Friday night, Trooper is expected to be tested to the limit, as Pink Panther is a formidable foe, who, while at the Black Kat Sound System, won the most World Clash titles in the 20-year run of the Series with six World Clash trophies.
As lead selector of Kilimanjaro, Trooper, who played on the sound from 1989 to 2000, won the first ever Irish and Chin World Clash, which was held in 1998 at the Amazura nightclub in Queens, New York.
Trooper, joined Kilimanjaro decades ago and immediately set about destroying anything in his path. Under his command, Kilimanjaro, fondly known as Jarro, became the number one clash sound, flattening sounds after sounds and claiming numerous trophies and winning trophies, among them Rockers and Binns Awards.
Among the St Mary native’s biggest clashes was one which took place on April 22, 1995 at the Portmore Entertainment Centre, when he ripped New York-based King Addies to shreds, and subsequently became known as the ‘serial killer’ of clashing.
In one of his first big face-offs Trooper decimated British selector David Rodigan. Other sound systems and selectors who have fallen at his feet include: Bodyguard, Stone Love, Metro Media, Bass Odyssey, Black Kat, King Jammys and Mighty Crown from Japan.
Trooper, whose given name is Garfield Mckoy, had first major win under his own sound system, Sound Trooper at World Clash Jamaica, dubbed Death Before Dishonor, in 2006.
In addition to Pink Panther and Trooper, selectors DJ Banka and Shukkle Bus will square off for the Guinness “new-school category.
The judging panel for the clashes will comprise Keith Walford, owner of Bass Odyssey, DJ Delano of Renaissance Disco, and Zip FM announcer personality ZJ Sparks.
Many eyes and ears will be focused on Ricky Trooper and his dub plate choices, as he had also stated in his February rant that soundclash days are over and done with, as the new crop of ‘Trap’ deejays, among them Skillibeng and Jahshii, are not competent at interpolating phrases, in order to properly execute dubplates, which are commanding enough to win soundclashes.
Trooper had said that because the newer set of Trap deejays are so weak at voicing dubplates, and cannot deejay on foundation riddims, sound system selectors have to be relying on the senior, hard-core Dancehall artists to create quality specials, in order to not be embarrassed, and to score victories in clashes.
“Skillibeng caan kill no bl_odclaat soun! Jahshii dem caan kill no soun! None a dem artiste deh, dem likkle deejay yah caan kill no sound!” he had declared.
